QUICKLINKS
Baptism-Reconciliation-Eucharist
Confirmation-Marraige-Pre Cana-RCIA
These
programs are a response to the directives of the Second Vatican
Council: Since parents have conferred life on their children, they
have a most solemn right and obligation to educate their offspring.
Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators
of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely
anything can compensate for their failure in it. For it devolves
on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and
reverence for God and men that well-rounded personal and social
development will be fostered among the children. Hence the family
is the first school of those social virtues which every society
needs.
The
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy calls pastors to take seriously
the duty of helping people to take part in the sacraments "knowingly,
actively and fruitfully." (No. 11)
BAPTISM
Parents
and godparents, before or after the birth of the baby, will be required
to attend an evening of instruction prior to the day of Baptism
itself. Special circumstances will be considered by the priest who
takes the information for the Baptism. Pastoral teams have been
trained for the program, and new members are always welcome to become
a part of the teams. Audio-visual materials are used. Through the
combined efforts of parish and parents, we hope to make the sacrament
of Baptism a new birth for the infant as well as for the parents
and godparents.
RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation
and Eucharist are two distinct and separate sacraments. The children
in the second grade receive the sacrament of Reconciliation several
months prior to their reception of First Communion. The parents
of children preparing for confession are expected to attend the
parent educator session for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
EUCHARIST
The
First Communion program consists of two years of preparation. Parents
of children in the second grade are expected to attend the parent
educator session for the Eucharist.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation
is received during Grade 8, after seven years of religious education.
The sacrament of Confirmation is seen today as a sacrament of maturity.
The Church sees the sacrament as a call to commit oneself to the
mission of the Church -- to spread the Gospel of Jesus. In order
to do this, one must know what Jesus has said and have the emotional
and intellectual ability to make a commitment to the work of Christ
and His Church. Parents of those to be confirmed are expected to
attend the scheduled meetings.
MARRIAGE
-- PRE-CANA
A
full sacramental marriage is one in which the partners believe that
their faith shapes their values, influences their attitudes and
motivates their behavior as they risk and commit themselves to begin
(and constantly work at) the ongoing process of a unique, permanent
and exclusive love relationship in which each strives to be present
to the other with an unselfish growth-producing love, which may
sometimes even be sacrificial and heroic in character, in order
to fill the other's needs and call forth the best that is in the
partner. There are three in-home Pre-Cana cycles conducted each
year at Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Each cycle consists of six sessions:
the first and last sessions are held at the school and church, and
the remaining four sessions are held in married couples' homes.
Approximately five engaged couples are put into a small informal
group which is led by two married couples. The informal atmosphere
fosters a free exchange of thoughts, ideas and feelings concerning
marriage. Couples register for this or another Pre-Cana program
when they make wedding arrangements. We always welcome new host
couples.
RCIA
- THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
This
comprehensive and dynamic program focuses on individuals seeking
to convert to the Catholic Faith, but is also appropriate for:
