The Catholic Church
Recognizes Seven Sacraments

The liturgical life of the Catholic Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. The seven sacraments in the Church are listed below, please click on title for full description.

Baptism is celebrated in Ss. Peter & Paul’s Church upon request.

Please give as much notice as possible to the parish office.

Congratulations

We congratulate you as you prepare to take part in the Baptism of your child. Christening is a time of celebration and joy, shared by family, friends and the parish community. God has blessed you with the precious gift of your son/daughter. We praise and thank Him for this new life. In the Catholic Church Baptism is a sacrament of faith. It is the first step to full Christian initiation. The other steps in this process are the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the doorway to the other sacraments.

Through baptism we are incorporated into Christ. We are formed into God’s people, and we obtain forgiveness of all our sins. Furthermore, Baptism is necessary for salvation. It is the beginning of the journey to the promised eternal life in heaven, when our life on earth is complete. To fulfil the meaning of the sacrament of Baptism, children must be formed in the faith in which they have been baptised.

A Sacrament of Faith

Faith is not theoretical or magical; neither is it something automatically poured into your child in baptism. It is something concrete and practical, witnessed daily in our own lives and the lives of others. We have all known people of great faith: parents, grandparents, teachers and priests, and we are grateful for the formative influences they have had on us. They have set us an good example; let us now do likewise for our children. Your child will grow imitating your actions, mannerisms, and later on, your words. The same principle applies to the ways of faith. If we are not people of faith, the seed of faith sown in baptism, will come to nothing. The Church insists that there be a ‘well founded hope’ that the child be brought up in the ways of faith. It is important that you as parents/guardians agree on the way your baby will be brought up.

Choosing a Sponsor

In the ancient Church, it was mainly adults that were baptised. Without Christian parents, they had a sponsor to teach them about Christian faith. Today, godparents act by helping the child persevere in the faith and in the Christian way of life. Their own lifestyle should reflect their faith and therefore the church insists that one of them, at least, is Catholic and have received Confirmation.

Our own Faith Commitment

In the case of infant baptism, the parents, godparents and the Christian community provide the bedrock of faith. This faith is often weak and in need of constant nourishment and renewal. We nourish and sustain our own faith by praying and by attending Sunday Mass, where we encounter the signs of faith and strengthen our spiritual self. The Church considers regular participation at Sunday Mass very important when presenting your child for baptism. During the Sacrament of Baptism, you as parents are reminded ‘that you will be the first teachers of your children in the ways of faith… you must also be the best teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what you say and do…’

Your child’s faith will grow through family prayer and later, their own personal prayers. Faith doesn’t stand still; it either grows and matures, or withers and dies. There is no profit in bringing your child to the Waters of Baptism if you abandon him/her there. You must be prepared to walk with your child, remembering ‘Christians are made, not born’. It is a lifelong process with you as the parent/guardian initiating it.

The Baptism Ceremony

The ceremony begins with the priest addressing the child ‘The Christian community welcomes you with great joy’. He asks what name you have given your child and if you accept the responsibility of bringing up your child in the practice of faith. You have requested baptism for your child; this is a public sign of your own faith and trust in God’s love.

The priest makes the sign of the cross on the baby’s forehead, and the parents and godparents are invited to do likewise. Those present then listen to the Word of God, which feeds our spiritual nourishment, and helps strengthen our faith in times of doubt.Readingsfrom the Scriptures remind us of how people in Old Testament times lived in knowledge and respect of God; and in the New Testament of how people believed, witnessed and spread the Good News of the resurrection; the Gospel of course tells us about Jesus, His life, death and resurrection. The Prayer of the Faithful may follow.

Preparing for baptism itself, each child is anointed on the chest with the Oil of Catechumens. This oil is an ancient symbol of the strength required to grow and live as a Christian. Water is essential for life. The Waters of Baptism give new life to these children. The priest asks the parents and godparents, to renew their baptismal promises and reminds them that it is they who profess the faith, which they seek and long for their child to share. The priest now baptises the child by pouring water on the head and saying: N… I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

The child’s head is anointed with the Oil of Chrism. Jesus was anointed and given a special calling to suffer, die and rise again for us, thus bringing about the Kingdom of God. Every Christian shares this calling to build love, justice and peace in the world.

Following Baptism, the child is wrapped in a white shawl by a sponsor, as an outward sign that he/she is now a new creation clothed in Christ. The sponsor then lights the child’s Baptismal Candle from the Paschal candle. The light and love of Jesus is being passed onto a new Christian through the faith of those around them. A special prayer is recited over the ears and mouth of the child, in the hope that they will hear and speak the Word of God. This is followed by the congregation saying the Lord’s Prayer. The ceremony ends with special blessing for the mother, father, and all who have joined with the child for this sacred celebration.

Throughout the ceremony parents and godparents should lead the responses to the question and invitations being asked by the priest.

May God bless and enrich you and your family in the faith, tradition and teaching of the Church of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Confirmation celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 2, verses 1 to 13, we read of the Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit. They had been hiding after Jesus’ death, afraid and uncertain. The coming of the Holy Spirit with his gifts inspired them and enabled them to take the step of preaching the good news. We are made members of God’s family at Baptism. At Confirmation, our Baptism is completed or “sealed” by the Holy Spirit and we are called to be Christian witnesses, just like the apostles. The whole of our Christian living and the life of the Church, too, are sustained by the same Spirit.

Who Can Receive Confirmation?

Any baptised Catholic wishing to advance on the path of developing their faith. For young people, this is usually part of the 5th/6th class primary school programme. For adults who were not confirmed as children, it means taking part in the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.)

Sponsor

A sponsor stands behind the candidate for Confirmation at the Confirmation ceremony and places their hand on the shoulder of the candidate as a sign that they will support them in living out their baptismal promises. However, the role of the sponsor is not just for one day. The sponsor undertakes to assist the confirmed person in growing in the fullness of their faith and in their membership of the Catholic Church.

A person qualifies as a sponsor by being a reasonably mature adult, who is at least 16 years old, and has already received the Sacraments of Initiation, (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) themselves. The Confirmation sponsor may be one of the people who was a sponsor at Baptism (subject to the notes here).

Choosing a sponsor

(Ref. Code of Canon Law §874) To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

be appointed by the candidate, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister;

to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;

be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;

be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; not be either the father or the mother of the candidate.

Name

The tradition of taking a new name at Confirmation emphasises the new identity of a Christian being called to witness to their faith. People are encouraged to take the name of a saint or a person from the Bible who inspires them in some way.

Oil

The oil used is called the Oil of Chrism. It is olive oil mixed with balsam that is blessed by the bishop and priests of the diocese in the Cathedral at the ‘Chrism Mass’ on Holy Thursday. The Sacrament is conferred with the anointing with this ‘Oil of Chrism’ on the forehead as the Bishop says ‘Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy.

The programme of preparation for First Holy Communion involves the home, school and parish. It is this three-fold partnership that will enable children to learn, deepen and enrich their faith and grow in a love for the body and blood of Christ.

The home is the most important element of this partnership as parents are the first and best teachers of their children. The school and parish will support and celebrate what is being taught and lived in the home.

Preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion is a very special time for children as they celebrate the second stage of their initiation into the Catholic Church.

Preparation for First Holy Communion

All children will complete the “Do this in Memory” programme prior to receiving their First Holy Communion. The programme is designed to facilitate the active involvement of parents, guardians and the wider parish community in the preparation for First Communion. From September to June, the Sunday Family Mass, once a month is dedicated as the ‘Do this in Memory’ programme’. The Parents and families of those preparing for First Holy Communion are invited to participate in this Mass.

First Holy Communion usually takes place within the Parish of Straide on the second Sunday in May.

What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

The Sacrament of Penance is also known as the ‘Sacrament of Reconciliation’ or traditionally called ‘Confession’. It is the rite by which sins are confessed and forgiven. Sin is failure to recognise and love God in the way we think or act. Sin is also not just a failure to love God directly but also a failure to love one another. This is referred to as “the community sense of sin”.

Absolution

In this sacrament people are forgiven their sins by the words and actions of the priest. We call this ‘Absolution’. The priest represents God and the community who is affected by sin and the priest ministers forgiveness on behalf of God and the community.

Forms of Celebration

The sacrament can be celebrated in a one-to-one encounter with a priest: this is known as ‘individual confession’. Many parishes also organise ‘Penitential Services’ at special times; e.g. Advent, Lent and Parish Missions. In this form of celebration, which is communal, people prepare as a community and many priests hear the confessions individually and people receive absolution individually.

Penance

Penance is a sign of sorrow and a commitment to try to make amends. It is also a sign of our sincerity to change our lives. This is what is meant by conversion. When the Sacrament is a communal celebration, the penance is said as a community, once all have had the opportunity to confess. When celebrated in the traditional one-to-one form, a penance is given and the person takes on that penance privately.

Who can receive the sacrament?

Any person who has been baptised and prepared appropriately can celebrate this sacrament.

Congratulations on your decision to get married, it’s an exciting time with lots of wedding planning ahead!

While you need only give four months notice to the Church of your intention to marry it is common practice for a couple to book the church a long time in advance. So it is important to contact the Parish Office to make sure that the church is available on the day you require. You will also need to look at participating in a marriage preparation course which is a lovely way for you as a couple to take a look at your own relationship.

The Civil Authorities also have state requirements which must be fulfilled.

Go to a priest in the parish of the bride at least THREE MONTHS before the date on which you plan to marry. The meetings of the couple with their priest are a key part of the preparation process. These meetings have taken on a new significance in recent times, because it can no longer be assumed that seeking a Church wedding is an expression of Christian faith on the part of one or both partners. These meetings are an opportunity for a couple to reflect on what Christian marriage asks of them.

The priest will also begin the process of filling out Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Forms and advise you about the various documents that you need to collect. You will need to get a Certificate of Baptism from the parish in which you were baptised and a Certificate of Confirmation from the parish in which you were confirmed. These documents should be issued no less than six months prior to the date of marriage.

If you have lived somewhere else, other than your present parish, since you were sixteen, then you will need to get a Letter of Freedom from each parish in which you lived for more than six months to state that you did not get married while you lived there. Any priest from the parish (or parishes) where you lived will supply you with this document.

The bishop’s permission is required for a Church marriage involving someone under 18. Christian marriage requires the capability for a mature commitment and therefore such permissions are only granted in exceptional circumstances

Freedom to marry: The rules governing freedom to marry in the Catholic church can be complicated. The best advice when one party has been married previously (either in a civil or religious ceremony) is not to make arrangements until the diocesan office has been consulted.

Mixed Marriages: Special permissions are required for full church recognition of marriages between a Roman Catholic and a baptised non-RC or someone unbaptised. Applications are handled by the diocesan office once the priest of the catholic party has forwarded the standard paperwork.

It is recommended that all couples who are getting married should attend a Pre-Marriage Course, you can get an application form from a priest in your parish. It is better to attend the course well before the date of the Marriage.

The marriage ceremony should normally take place in a church in the bride’s parish. If the couple have a good reason for getting married elsewhere, the bride should inform a priest in the parish where she is now living to give her the necessary Letter of Permission to get married outside the parish. Obviously, in this case, the couple will need to make arrangements for the use of the church in the parish where they intend to get married.

Normally a priest from the bride’s parish officiates at the marriage ceremony, assuming that the ceremony takes place in the bride’s parish. If you wish to have some other priest (e.g. a relative or friend) officiate, inform the priest in the parish where the ceremony is to take place and he will give the necessary authorisation. In Civil Law, it is now a legal requirement for the solemniser (the priest who officiates at the marriage) to be on the ‘List of Solemnisers’ submitted by each local Bishop to the Registrar-General.

Celebrants From Overseas: All diocesan priests in the Republic of Ireland are on the State’s ‘List of Solmnisers’. In order for a priest from oversees to be placed on this list in a temporary capacity, it is necessary for him to send his name, address and telephone number to the Diocesan Office. The Diocesan Office in Ballaghaderreen will then contact the officiating priest to formalise matters with him.

Ask the priest who is to officiate at your wedding to help you with the task of creating your marriage ceremony. There are a variety of prayers, blessings, readings, etc. Read through these together and choose the ones you prefer. Choose the person(s) who will read at Mass, person(s) to read the Prayers of the Faithful and the people to bring up the gifts at the Offertory. Rehearse the ceremony in church with the priest before the wedding day.

To celebrate the sacrament of Marriage does not require the celebration of Eucharist (Mass). While it has been generally the custom, it may not always be appropriate for example in a “mixed” marriage or when a couple are not regularly practising. Some couples today find the celebration of Marriage without the Eucharist, to be more appropriate for them.

Marriages on Sundays, Holydays and some special Church celebrations (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Feast of All Souls) are not permitted in this parish.

It is recommended that all couples who are getting married should attend a Pre-Marriage Course, you can get an application form from a priest in your parish. It is better to attend the course well before the date of the Marriage.

The marriage ceremony should normally take place in a church in the bride’s parish. If the couple have a good reason for getting married elsewhere, the bride should inform a priest in the parish where she is now living to give her the necessary Letter of Permission to get married outside the parish. Obviously, in this case, the couple will need to make arrangements for the use of the church in the parish where they intend to get married.

Normally a priest from the bride’s parish officiates at the marriage ceremony, assuming that the ceremony takes place in the bride’s parish. If you wish to have some other priest (e.g. a relative or friend) officiate, inform the priest in the parish where the ceremony is to take place and he will give the necessary authorisation. In Civil Law, it is now a legal requirement for the solemniser (the priest who officiates at the marriage) to be on the ‘List of Solemnisers’ submitted by each local Bishop to the Registrar-General.

Celebrants From Overseas: All diocesan priests in the Republic of Ireland are on the State’s ‘List of Solmnisers’. In order for a priest from oversees to be placed on this list in a temporary capacity, it is necessary for him to send his name, address and telephone number to the Diocesan Office. The Diocesan Office in Ballaghaderreen will then contact the officiating priest to formalise matters with him.

Ask the priest who is to officiate at your wedding to help you with the task of creating your marriage ceremony. There are a variety of prayers, blessings, readings, etc. Read through these together and choose the ones you prefer. Choose the person(s) who will read at Mass, person(s) to read the Prayers of the Faithful and the people to bring up the gifts at the Offertory. Rehearse the ceremony in church with the priest before the wedding day.

To celebrate the sacrament of Marriage does not require the celebration of Eucharist (Mass). While it has been generally the custom, it may not always be appropriate for example in a “mixed” marriage or when a couple are not regularly practising. Some couples today find the celebration of Marriage without the Eucharist, to be more appropriate for them.

Marriages on Sundays, Holydays and some special Church celebrations (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Feast of All Souls) are not permitted in this parish.

If you have any further queries regarding your Church Ceremony, please contact the Parish Office.

You may also find the following links helpful:

What Is the Sacrament of the sick?

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is exactly what it says. It is a prayerful celebration for someone or for a group of people who are ill and are blessed by the priest with Holy Oil.

It is not a sign that someone is dying as it was perceived in olden times. It is not a magical ritual; the person doesn’t automatically get better immediately after an anointing. God’s healing and loving presence are called upon that the sick person might be raised up and restored to health.

Symbolism

The words of blessing over the oil say it all. It is “oil intended to ease the sufferings of your people”. Oil soothes and heals. Oil blessed for the sick is a sign of the Anointed One (Messiah) of God. The person so anointed receives the healing, saving power of the One who saves (Messiah).

Oil

The oil that is used is Olive Oil. The Bishop and priests bless it at the ‘Chrism Mass’ on Holy Thursday in the Cathedral.The holy oils are then taken each year to each parish and hospital for use throughout the year in the Sacrament of the Sick.

How?

A person is anointed on the forehead and the palms of the hands while the priest says: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you by the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who heals you, save you and raise you up.”

Who Can Be Anointed?

Anyone in ‘serious illness’, those who are infirm, in advanced years, or anyone prior to surgery. (It is not only for when a person is in ‘danger of death’.

Please contact the parish office for this Sacrament.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. Thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1536).

It is in the liturgical ritual of the “laying on of hands” that a man is ordained as a bishop, a priest or a deacon. While the bishop is recognized as receiving the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders-to lead, to teach, and to sanctify-the priest is, likewise, united with him in this sacerdotal dignity. The priest is called to be the bishops’ prudent co-worker. The priesthood is a great gift of God to the Church.

Deacons are clergy ordained for service in the Church. Under the authority of the bishop, theirs is a ministry of the Word and charity exercised according to the assignment given by the diocesan Bishop. Inherent with these is performing baptisms, blessing marriages, conducting funeral services, preaching and ministering in a number of other capacities specific the pastoral needs of the parish or institution.

The call to Holy Orders is a mystery directed by God who initiates and plants the seed of a vocation to serve His people. Those individuals who would consider a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate must engage in a careful and thorough process of discernment. A dedicated prayer life, faithful attendance at Mass and the regular reception of the sacraments of the Church will certainly enhance the process by which a person may come to understand God’s plan for his life. Secondly, a discernment of a call to Holy Orders necessitates conversation with others – family, trusted friends, a priest or a deacon. And thirdly, a willingness to trust always in the Lord. God will provide a discerning soul with the signs and the tools to do His will.

Holy Orders, then, is a call and a response. For more information on the sacrament of holy orders or discuss the ordained life, please contact the parish office or contact the diocesan Vocations Director: Fr Gabriel Murphy, Curate’s House, Kiltimgah, Co. Mayo, Tel. 094-938 1492