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Saint
Elizabeth Catholic
Parish
SACRAMENTS
(Details)
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revised:
June 21, 2024
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Sacraments
of Initiation
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Baptism
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"Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost." -
Acts 2:38
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The
Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The
door of the Church," because it is the
first of the seven Sacraments not only in
time, but also in priority. The reception
of all other Sacraments depends on it.
Baptism is the first of the three
Sacraments of Initiation, the other two
being the Sacrament of Confirmation and
the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Once
baptized, a person becomes a member of the
Church.
Baptism
Preparation Classes: contact the Parish
Office for information. Download the
'Baptism
Registration
Form'.
Who
may have the Baptism at St.
Elizabeth?
- Catholics
living within the parish boundaries
registered or not.
- Catholics
living outside the parish boundaries,
if they are registered in the
parish.
- Catholics
living outside the parish boundaries
MUST have some connection with the
parish. However, they must obtain
permission from their parish of
residence to have the Baptism here. It
is a matter of courtesy between
parishes.
For
infants and children up to six (6) years
of age:
Parents
of the child are
responsible:
- To
contact the office.
- To
provide a copy of the childs
birth certificate.
- To
provide $100.00 fee per
child.
- To
attend a preparation
class.
For
children ages six (6) years up to fourteen
(14) of age:
Parents
of the child are
responsible:
- To
Register the child in the School of
Religion in this parish or another
parish/or in a Catholic
School.
- To
participate in the preparation, which
involves them and the child over a
period of time, no less than six
months.
- To
provide a copy of the childs
birth certificate and any other papers
required.
- To
see that the primary godparents
(sponsors) attend a preparation
class.
For
youngsters fourteen (14) years up to
eighteen (18) of age:
Parents
with the youngster are responsible to
contact the office;
- To
provide a copy of the youngsters
birth certificate.
- To
enroll the youngster in a catechetical
program here or in another
parish.
- To
participate in the preparation over a
period of time no less than six months
or longer if the individual is to
receive the three sacraments of
initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and
Holy Eucharist
together.
For
persons eighteen years (18) or older, the
individual is responsible to contact the
parish office for information regarding
the RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults).
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Eucharist
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The
Sacrament of Eucharist, also known as
"Holy Communion", is the third of the
Sacraments of Initiation. Even though we
are required to receive Communion at least
once per year (our Easter Duty), and the
Church urges us to receive Communion
frequently (even daily, if possible), it
is called a Sacrament of Initiation
because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it
brings us into the fullness of our life in
Christ.
In
Holy Communion, we are eating the True
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without
which "you shall not have life in you"
(John 6:53).
Because
of the intimate connection of the
Sacrament of Holy Communion to our life in
Christ, we must be free of any grave or
mortal sin before receiving it, as St.
Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29.
Otherwise, as he warns, we receive the
Sacrament unworthily, and we "eateth and
drinketh damnation" to
ourselves.
If
we are aware of having committed a mortal
sin, we must participate in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation first. The Church sees
the two Sacraments as connected and urges
us, when we can, to join frequent
Reconciliation with frequent
Communion.
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Confirmation
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It
is evident from its celebration that the
effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation is
the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit
as once granted to the apostles on the day
of Pentecost.
From
this fact, Confirmation brings an increase
and deepening of baptismal
grace:
- it
roots us more deeply in the divine
filiation which makes us cry, "Abba!
Father!" (Romans 8:15);
- it
unites us more firmly to
Christ;
- it
increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit
in us;
- it
renders our bond with the Church more
perfect;
- it
gives us a special strength of the Holy
Spirit to spread and defend the faith
by word and action as true witnesses of
Christ, to confess the name of Christ
boldly, and never to be ashamed of the
Cross:
Recall
then that you have received the spiritual
seal, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of right
judgment and courage, the spirit of
knowledge and reverence, the spirit of
holy fear in God's presence. Guard what
you have received. God the Father has
marked you with his sign; Christ the Lord
has confirmed you and has placed his
pledge, the Spirit, in your hearts.
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Sacraments
of Vocation
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Marriage
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"Husbands,
love your wives, just as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her."
Ephesians 5:15
At
its most basic level, marriage is a union
between a man and a woman for the purpose
of procreation and mutual love and
support.
In the Catholic Church, marriage is
considered to be more than a natural
institution. It was elevated by Christ
Himself, in His participation in the
wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), to be one
of the seven Sacraments. A marriage
between two Christians, therefore, has a
supernatural element as well as a natural
one.
Call the Parish Office at least six months
before the desired date.
REHEARSAL:
A rehearsal for all members of the wedding
party will be conducted on an evening
before the wedding day, usually a Friday.
Please bring with you to the rehearsal the
following: the marriage license and
certificate, the offering for the Church,
fees for organist (and soloist.)
OFFERING:
The offering to the Church is $750.00.
MUSIC:
Please contact the Parish Office
(415-468-0820).
FLOWERS:
Flowers, a sign of gratitude to God for
your life and a new vocation are to remain
in the Church. If there is more than one
wedding on the same day, the couples may
want to coordinate their floral
arrangements in order to cut down on
expenses. If flowers or bows decorate the
pews, no scotch tape or tacks are to be
used to secure them.
RICE:
For the sake of safety as well as the
cleanliness of the church property, the
throwing of rice, birdseed or confetti is
not allowed. Please inform your friends
about this matter.
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Please notify your photographers to check
with the priest or deacon before the
ceremony. Flash pictures may be taken only
as the bridal party enters and leaves the
church. Photographers are asked not to
move around during the ceremony. Pictures
may also be taken in the sanctuary for no
longer than half an hour after the
wedding. Those participating in the photo
session should be quiet and show respect
for the sacred environment.
PUNCTUALITY:
Please be on time for both the rehearsal
and the wedding itself. It is a simple
courtesy to the guests and the priest or
deacon.
RING
BEARER AND FLOWER
GIRLS:
We discourage using children under the age
of five for the role of ring bearer or
flower girls because their attention span
is very short and their behavior sometimes
unmanageable and unpredictable. Flower
girls must not scatter petals or flowers
in the Church wedding.
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Holy
Orders
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The
Sacrament of Holy Orders is the
continuation of Christ's priesthood, which
He bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, the
Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to
the Sacrament of Holy Orders as "the
Sacrament of Apostolic
Ministry."
In
the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is
incorporated into the priesthood of Christ
at one of three levels: the episcopate,
the priesthood, or the
diaconate.
The
Sacrament of Holy Orders can be validly
conferred only on baptized men, following
the example set by Christ and His
Apostles, who chose only men as their
successors and collaborators. A man cannot
demand ordination; the Church has the
authority to determine eligibility for the
Sacrament.
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Sacraments
of Healing
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Reconciliation
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Through
Reconciliation, Christians are freed from
sins committed after Baptism. The
Sacrament of Reconciliation is considered
the normal way to be absolved from mortal
sins which, it is believed, would
otherwise condemn a person to
Hell.
The
Sacrament has four elements, three on the
part of the penitent (contrition,
confession and satisfaction) and one on
the part of the minister of the Sacrament
(absolution).
Catholics
distinguish between two types of sin:
Mortal sins are a grave violation of God's
law that turns man away from God. Someone
who is aware of having committed mortal
sins must repent of having done so, and
must confess them in order to benefit from
the Sacrament. Venial sins, the kind that
"does not set us in direct opposition to
the will and friendship of God", can be
remitted by contrition and reception of
other Sacraments, but they too are rightly
and usefully declared in confession.
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Anointing
of the Sick
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"Pain
& suffering have come into your life,
but remember pain, sorrow, suffering are
but the kiss of Jesus - a sign that you
have come so close to Him that He can kiss
you."
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Mother
Teresa
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Formerly
known as "Last Rites" or "Extreme
Unction", the Anointing of the Sick is one
of the three repeatable Sacraments in the
Catholic Church. The proper time for
receiving this holy anointing has arrived
when the believer begins to be in danger
of death because of illness or old age.
Each time a Christian falls seriously ill,
they may receive the Anointing of the
Sick, and after they have received it, if
the illness worsens.
- The
belief that the Anointing of the Sick
should be received only in the moments
before death, is a misconception. The
Sacrament is often
received:
- Before
surgery, or a serious medical
procedure.
- During
a long-term or terminal
illness.
- Experiencing
health issues related to old
age.
The
Anointing of the Sick is a prayer of
healing, not only for our physical
healing, but also for spiritual health,
and for the strength, peace, and courage
to bear the burden of illness.
As Catholics, we are asked to see our
sufferings as a way of being united with
the sufferings of Christ.
The Anointing of the Sick also imparts the
forgiveness of sins, and therefore can
only be administered by a priest or
bishop.
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