Christian Formation: Sacraments of the Church
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Sacraments of the Church: What are they and how do I receive them?
The sacraments are instituted by Jesus Christ as the
means God uses to bring us to salvation. The sacraments are
visible signs and instruments of God’s invisible power and
grace. They make concrete the power of God in our lives. There
are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church:
Baptism
“Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).
In Baptism we are born again by water and spirit to be
forgiven of sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God. Through
this beautiful sacrament, we become members of the Church and share in
its mission—to spread the Gospel through our lives in the
world. Baptism is only given once and imparts an indelible
spiritual mark that can never be erased.
Catholics will most often be baptized as
infants—when a baby is baptized the parents and godparents speak
for the child, expressing the desire for baptism. Infant baptism
emphasizes Christ’s desire to “let the little ones come to
me” and emphasizes the important role of family and community in
our life of faith.
Some people are also baptized as adults through a
special process called Rite of Christian initiation of Adults.
This beautiful journey introduces you to Christ and the faith
community, who walks with you as you grow in faith and seek Baptism at
Easter.
Interested in having your child baptized?
Congratulations on your new baby! Those parents interested in having their child baptized at our parish
must become registered members of the parish or have permission from
their home parish to do so. For a first child, parents must
attend a baptism prep session.
What is a godparent?
Godparents,
known as baptismal sponsors, have the special role of helping the
parents of the child pass on their Catholic faith. Each child
must have at at least one godparent.
This godparent must be a practicing Catholic who has been
Confirmed, who is not a parent of the child, and who is at least 16
years old. Catholic godparents need to be confirmed because the
Sacrament of Confirmation completes our initiation into our Catholic
life, and a godparent is promising to help the child also become an
adult person of faith. A second, practicing Catholic who has
received the Sacrament of Confirmation may serve as a second godparent
if the parents choose to have a second godparent.
A practicing Catholic who is not yet confirmed but who is currently
preparing to receive confirmation and intends to receive the sacrament
may serve as a second godparent. A Catholic who is not confirmed
and does not intend to be confirmed may not serve as a godparent.
A
baptized Christian may
serve as a second goparent, known as a Christian witness. This is
usually fitting if one of the parents is from another denomination.
Godparents are asked to read our godparent guide and
complete a commitment form and return it to the parish. Copies of
the materials are available at the links below:
For Catholics who have been asked to serve as godparents, please use this packet: Catholic Godparent Packet For non-Catholic Christians who have been asked to serve as godparents, please use this packet:
Christian Witness Packet
Scheduling a Baptism at Our Parish
To
begin the process for scheduling a baptism and/or setting up a baptism
prep session, please call Emily Kang at the parish office at
414-271-6577, or
email ekang@threeholywomen.org
. For all baptisms, before baptism dates can be set, we must
first receive the godparent commitment forms back from the godparents.
Before baptisms are scheduled for a first child, both a baptism
class and the godparent forms must be completed. Classes are done
on an individual basis, and the scheduling is flexible.
Are you an adult interested in being baptized?
Every year adults are welcomed into the Catholic Church through the
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). RCIA is the preparation
process for people interested in being fully initiated into the
Catholic Church. Through prayer, worship, classes on Catholic basics,
and Bible study, members of the RCIA seek the living God and grow in
faith together with the Three Holy Women Catholic parish community and
worldwide Catholic Church.
The process begins in early September and runs through June.
Celebration of Baptism and the other sacraments of initiation are held
at the Easter Vigil.
Call anytime during the year to get started or for more information.
The RCIA is a process of seeking and growth. We
invite you to check it out—you don’t have to be sure you
want to finish the process to join us. All interested people are
welcome!
For more information, contact Emily Kang, Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at the parish office, 414-271-6577 or ekang@threeholywomen.org .
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy
Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only
been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their
hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14-17).
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a strengthening of the
graces received in Baptism—just as the Holy Spirit descended upon
the Apostles at Pentecost, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are
strengthened in those who receive Confirmation, so that they are better
able to witness to Christ in the world. Confirmation completes
our initiation into the Church and strengthens us for our Christian
life.
Confirmation Preparation for Teens
Confirmation preparation for youth (those in high school) in our parish
is done at Eastside Child and Youth Ministry (ESCYM). For more
information, contact Ralph Stewart at 414-263-8230 or escym@sbcglobal.net .
Adult Confirmation
For those adults already joined to Christ in Baptism and the Eucharist,
the Sacrament of Confirmation deepens and strengthens our relationship
with Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is the third "sacrament
of intiation" that we receive, and is needed to serve as a godparent at
a Catholic baptism. This sacrament should be received before the
Sacrament of Marriage if possible, and soon after marriage if it is
impossible to do so beforehand. This Sacrament imparts many
spiritual gifts that help us live our Christian lives and be witnesses
to Christ in the world. Preparation
sessions to receive Confirmation as an adult begin on Wednesday,
January 13 at the Old Saint Mary Parish Center. We meet
approximately two Wednesday evenings per month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m., and Confirmation is celebrated on Ascension Sunday, May 16, at
the Cathedral. The Adult Confirmation process is a great way to grow in
faith and meet others from our community as you prepare for this
wonderful sacrament.
For
more information and to arrange a time to come to to the parish for a
brief orientation and sign up meeting, contact Emily Kang, Director of
Adult
Formation and Evangelization at the parish office, 414-271-6577, or ekang@threeholywomen.org . Please call and register before sessions begin!
The Holy Eucharist
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever;…he who
eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…abides in
me, and I in him” (John 6:51, 54, 56).
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the
Church’s life. In the Eucharist, the Church is joined to
the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, partakes of Christ’s Body
and Blood, and is brought into communion with Christ and one
another. In the Eucharist, the Lord is present in a true, real
and substantial manner in his Body, Blood, soul and divinity.
Because Christ himself is present in this sacrament, it is to be
honored with the worship of adoration.
For the guidelines on receiving communion, go to
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml
Preparation for First Communion for Children
Parents interested in finding out more about First
Communion for their children should call Ralph Stewart at East Side
Child and Youth Ministry at 414-263-8230, or escym@sbcglobal.net .
Adults Seeking First Communion
Adults seeking to receive their First Communion should
contact Emily Kang, Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at
414-271-6577 or ekang@threeholywomen.org .
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Penance or Confession)
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the
week,” Jesus showed himself to his apostles. “He breathed
on them, and said to them: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of
any, they are retained’” (Jn 20:19, 22-23).
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called
“Confession” or “Penance”) is a beautiful
encounter with our Lord and the Church, in which the mercy of God is
poured out for us, and we received forgiveness for our sin.
Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives our sin, and we
also are reconciled with the entire Church.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation can be received on
Saturdays at Holy Rosary Church, 2011 N. Oakland Ave., from 3:30 to
4:15, or by appointment. To contact Fr. Tim or Fr. Brian, call
the parish office at 414-271-6577. Even
if you are unsure about how to go to confession, or if it's been awhile
since you've received it, we invite you to experience this sacrament of
mercy! The priest will help you through it as you are
receiving it, and if you are unsure of how to proceed, simply ask! We
also have provided some resources below to help you learn more about
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What is most important in
receiving Reconciliation is not simply knowing the order, but
approaching God with sorrow for your sin, desire for his mercy and
forgiveness, and the intention to try to do better in the future. Below you will find some guides to help walk you
through the sacrament and explain more about it. Click on the
title to access the guides. A Walk Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation Brochure
Preparation for First Reconciliation for Children
First Reconciliation preparation is done at East Side Child and Youth Ministry. Contact Ralph Stewart at 414-263-8230 or escym@sbcglobal.net .
Anointing of the Sick
“Is any among you sick? Let him call the
presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the
sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins,
he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives those
experiencing the difficulties inherent in grave illness or advancement
of years special grace and comfort. Each time someone falls
seriously ill, he or she is encouraged to receive this sacrament, and
he or she may receive it again each time the illness worsens. The
strength and peace of the Lord that may be received in this sacrament
helps the ill to be united to Christ during their trials
Anointing of the Sick is given every first Friday of the
month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Hedwig. Call the parish
office if you seek anointing at other times, 414-271-6577.
The Sacrament of Marriage
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a
woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life,
is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the
procreation and education of children; this covenant between baptized
persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a
sacrament” (Gaudium et Spes, 48).
The Sacrament of Marriage is the sacrament by which a
man and a woman pledge a lifelong commitment to one another, and which
God joins them together by an unbreakable bond. A couple discerns
marriage over a period of time, and can come to see that God wills that
they spend their lives together, helping one another grow in holiness
and living in service to their family and the world.
The preparation process to receive the sacrament of
marriage helps a couple grow in love for one another, and open their
lives to God’s love and grace.
To be married at our parish, one or both of the couple
must be registered, practicing members of Three Holy Women Catholic
Parish. If you are a member of another Catholic parish, a letter
of parish membership and permission from your pastor is necessary.
Other situations will be addressed by the pastor or associate pastor.
Each couple must meet with the pastor or associate pastor before a wedding
date can be set.
The preparation process also includes meeting with a
parish FOCCUS couple, and attending an archdiocesan Engaged Enrichment
Conference.
A FOCCUS couple is a married couple from our parish who you will be matched up with when your marriage date is
set. You will meet with them at least once before your wedding.
The Engaged Enrichment Conference for the Archdiocese of
Milwaukee is a day-long event during which the engaged couple explores
and discusses the meaning of a sacramental marriage, and gains valuable
tools for the road ahead. To view the schedule of conferences and
to register, click here.
For more information, please contact the parish
office, 414-271-6577, or email Michele Bergemann at mbergemann@threeholywomen.org .
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
“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. In includes three degrees: episcopate,
presbyterate, and deaconate” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536).
The Sacrament of Holy Orders ordains those men who have been called by God to receive it to be a deacon, priest, or bishop.
For more information on vocations to the deaconate and priesthood in the Church, go to http://www.archmil.org/vocations/voc_opp.asp .
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