Baptism
All the sacraments are celebrations of God’s love for us. In Baptism we are freed from sin and are reborn as children of God. We become members of the Church and sharers in the mission to make Christ known to all.
Through baptism we become members of the Church, the family of God. Our parish community welcomes each child and supports the parents (and godparents) in their responsibility as the first teachers of their child in the ways of the faith.
As the child grows older, the community helps parents to prepare them to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.
The Godparents help the parents in living their example of faith, and they join with parents in making the act of faith on behalf of the child.
It is now the practice that parents who wish their child to be baptised attend a preparation course which takes place at 7.45 pm over two consecutive Tuesday evenings.
Celebrations of Baptism take place normally on the second Saturday of each month, at 12.30, and 1.45 if numbers dictate. Occasionally, by prior agreement with the Parish Priest, a celebration of Baptism may take place at a Sunday Mass.
For more details pick up a booklet on “Infant Baptism” from the rack just outside the parish office in the gathering area of the Church. You may download the Booklet in Adobe (pdf) format by clicking here.
Then complete and return the form (click here to download) to the parish office. If you need any further information, please ring Deacon Russell Young on 07807 765417.
PDF format can be read using Adobe Acrobat.
If you do not already have Acrobat installed, please click here.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
A baby is brought to baptism in the Church by the faith of his/her parents. This is clearly not so for adults who, after hearing about Jesus Christ, are moved by the Holy Spirit within them consciously and freely to seek baptism.
The whole period of deepening, conversion and the ceremonies that accompany it have been brought together in what the Church calls The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. The RCIA is a reminder of a truth that has always been recognised by the Christian community: to be a Christian it isn’t enough to walk off the street and into a church and ask a priest for baptism.
Growth in faith is a gradual process and it is this gradual process that is referred to as a “journey” or “pilgrimage”. So all the steps of the RCIA take a year or two or even more. The steps mark important moments of growth in knowledge and love of God which apply to people seeking baptism but which can be applied equally to a Christians who seek to mature in faith.
Reconciliation
In the sacrament of Reconciliation God’s love for us is experienced through the gift of his forgiveness of our sins. By his grace we are renewed and strengthened in our commitment to live as Christ has taught us.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the sacraments of healing celebrated by the Church. This calls to mind the ministry of Jesus where healing miracles are often accompanied by the forgiveness of sins. Sin offends God, who is love, and damages both our own human dignity as children of God, and our relationships with those around us. Through the confession and forgiveness of sins we are reconciled to God and to the community of the Church, and we are renewed in our striving to live faithfully the Christian life.
Reconciliation is thus a personal encounter in humility with the love and mercy of God, admitting our weaknesses but trusting in the Lord’s help in order to overcome them.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is normally available on Saturdays after Mass on Saturday (but you should check the Newsletter for any changes). If you would like to celebrate the sacrament at other times, please ring one of the priests (01483 760652) or see details of our parish celebrations (four times per year) in the newsletter.
The Eucharist
In the Eucharist, the heart of the Church’s life, the Church shares in the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving made by Christ to the Father on the cross. When we receive Holy Communion, we receive the body and blood of Christ, who is really and truly present under the forms of bread and wine. Such communion increases our love for God. It also strengthens the unity of the Church, also called the Body of Christ.
We have all heard the saying, “Faith is caught, not taught!” This tries to convey the idea that it is through our lifestyle and attitude towards faith that our children’s faith will develop and grow.
For further details, please ring the Parish Office (01483-760652)
Confirmation
In this sacrament, the grace first received in baptism is perfected. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are united more closely to Christ and our relationship with the Father as adopted sons is strengthened. As our connection with the Church is increased, so is our responsibility to take part in her mission deepened – by our words and deeds we bear witness to the Christian faith.
All those who have been baptised are encouraged to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation, since it completes the initiation process begun in baptism, and of which the apex is the celebration of the Eucharist. How does someone decide that they want to be confirmed? By Confirmation a person declares their faith openly in the middle of the community and commits, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live out that faith every day.
Preparation to receive the sacrament involves various meetings and a weekend retreat. The aim is to deepen the candidates personal relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit and to awaken in them a sense of belonging to the Church in whose life they are to take an active part.
Those who are 14 years of age on the 1st September (Year 10) are invited to prepare by joining the parish programme. Contact the Parish Office (01483 760652) for more details.
