Sacramental Preparation
BAPTISM*
In the Rite of Baptism, parents make a commitment to God and to their child to raise them in the Catholic faith. A community of family, friends, music ministers and Baptismal team gather to welcome these newest members of our church. In Baptism, Jesus shares his divine life with these children and they become heirs to the Kingdom of God. This is an awesome responsibility and privilege given by God to the parents of children.
In Baptismal preparation, the Baptismal team shares their faith with the child's parents and godparents. The role of the parents, godparents, and community is raising these children in their Catholic faith is explained. Families are encouraged to grow in faith as they raise their sons and daughters and make them aware of the community support available to them here at St. Catherine Parish. To make all participants more comfortable, the rite and symbolism of the water, oils, candle, and white garment are explained. There is a brief rehearsal of the Sunday Baptism Rite - the rite that welcomes each child and his or her family into their spiritual home, the Church. To register for Baptism and Baptism preparation, please call or stop by the main parish office to complete the paperwork and schedule the class and baptism. Typically a donatiuon is requested for baptism services and can be given at the time of registration.
Baptisms are offered monthly. Please contact the Parish Office for the baptism schedule. Pre-registration for the baptism is required.
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- On occasion the baptism schedule is altered. Call the Parish Office for confirmed dates.
 Baptismal Preparation volunteer opportunities 
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST
Our First Eucharist preparation program is designed to help guide children and their parents as they continue their journey of Christian initiation in the life of Christ and his Church. The program provides a theology and vision that maintains a close connection between Baptism and Confirmation while recognizing the primacy of Eucharist as the culminiation of Christian initiation.
As Christians, we share in the Eucharist each week, when we gather as a community for Mass. It is through the rich liturgical symbols and rituals that we are drawn to a deeper understanding and celebration of the mysteries of our faith. Liturgy is a starting point for this sacramental preparation.
Children, ages 7 and older, typically in the second grade, are invited along with their parents, to participate in a program that will prepare them for reception of both the sacraments of Reconciliation (see below) and Eucharitst. The FIrst Reconciliation consists of four preparation 11/2 hour sessions and the First Eucharist program consists of four 11/2 hour sessions plus a mini retreat of experience.
First Eucharist volunteer opportunities
RECONCILIATION
As Catholics, we share in God's forgiveness and love each time we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. Our preparation program is designed to help guide children and young people as they prepare for a lifetime of being healed and forgiven in the sacrament of Reconciliation and of the practice of forgiving others as well. Our program is designed as part of our overall preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist and takes place before that preparation begins. Registration for First Reconciliation preparation takes place in the fall, along with the first Eucharist registration.
Others who wish to receive the sacrament for the first time may make special arrangements with the pastor or a Director of Faith Formation. For those who are a "little rusty" on the process, the priest who will be administering the sacrament is always happy to gently give directions and answer questions. The sacrament of Reconciliation is available every Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 in the church or by appointment.
Please call the parish office to make arrangement for preparation or to make an appointment for the sacrament.
First Reconciliation volunteer opportunities
CONFIRMATION
The Confirmation preparation program is designed to help guide the youth on their journey of Christian initiation in the life of christ and his church. The program provides guidance to understanding what it truly means to be a fully initiated member of the Catholic church. Preparation for Confirmation is a 2-year program that typically takes place in 9th and 10th grade; however the preparation program is open to all high school students who have not yet been confirmed.
Registration is available in September of each year. A registration packed will be mailed to all 9th and 10th grade students who have been enrolled in the Faith Formation program the prior year. If you would like to obtain a registration packet and you have not been enrolled in Faith Formation, or if you are in 11th or 12th grade and would like to register for this preparation program, please contact the Faith Formation Office.
Confirmation volunteer opportunities
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
The letters "RCIA" stand for the "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults", the document flowing from Vatican II, which guides the process by which adults are initiated into our Roman Catholic community. The RCIA describes a process in which men and women are guided and cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the Catholic way of life.
The RCIA process is a series of carefully planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community, in which new Catholics embark on and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship. The RCIA takes the distinctive history and spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating between the baptized and the unbaptized, the catechized and the uncatechized. The needs of mature, practicing Christians from other faith traditions are condisered on an individual basis.
1. Pre Catechumenate or Inquiry: Seekers ask hard questions about Christianity and receive truthful, life-sharing answers from Catholic Christians through informal discussion as they decide whether or not to embark on this journey.
2. Catechumenate: The word catechumenate means "time of serious study" and inquirers who become catechumens -- those who have not been baptized -- or candidates -- baptized Christians who have not been confirmed as Roman Catholics -- join us at Sunday Mass during the Liturgy of the Word, after which they move to a parish meeting area to continue reflecting on the Scriptures. The length of the catechumenate varies according to individual need. The norm is a year or more.
3. Mystagogy: During the phase of mystagogia , which means "leading into the mysteries". The newly initiated meet weekly between Easter and Pentecost to explore and confirm the Easter experience. From Pentecost until the following Easter, Mystagogia continues with intermittent meetings. Mystagogia is the final stage of the RCIA process, but it is in turn the beginning of a pilgrimage of lifelong, continuous conversion in full communion with the Roman Catholic community of Christians.
This is a process that will enrich the lives of the candidates as well as the life of our parish. People who would like more information on this process should contact Deacon Russ Morey at (978)-263-0708.
RCIA volunteer opportunities
MARRIAGE
The sacrament of marriage is a sacrament of vocation that is a life-changing, life-long covenant. Couples wishing to celebrate this sacrament at St. Catherine Church should participate in marriage preparation. During this preparation, a Priest of Deacon prepares the couple to be married by examining the spiritual, sacramental, and practical/relational aspects of marriage. Combined with a weekend experience offered by the Diocese, this preparation provides the couple the opportunity to become more-full-aware of what they are committing themselves to and why.
Couples interested in beginning marriage preparation should call the parish office to set up an appointment to begin the process with a parish priest or deacon at least six months prior (and preferably 12 months) to the desired wedding date. |
