The Sacraments

“The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and, finally, to give worship to God.” – Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 59

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Eucharist
4. Reconciliation
5. Anointing of the Sick
6. Matrimony
7. Holy Orders

Baptism

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments” – Catechism of the Catholic Church #1213

For infants and children under 7 years old, the parent(s) must make a formal request at the parish office. Parents who request Baptism must have been registered in our parish for at least 4 months (unless the Pastor approves otherwise). After the request has been made, parents must attend a preparation session. The preparation sessions are hosted from 6:15-7:30pm on the second Monday of each month, in the Our Lady of Medjugorje Room near the Holy Family Hall entrance. Parents MUST REGISTER for the preparation session by contacting our parish office.

For children 7 years old and above, it is necessary to speak with our Director of Religious Education. This will allow us to determine the best path to Baptism for a person. Contact the Parish office.

For adults, the journey toward Baptism happens through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Confirmation

“The effect of this sacrament is that in it the Holy Spirit is given for strength, as he was given to the apostles on the day of Pentecost, in order that Christians may courageously confess the name of Christ.” – Pope Eugene IV, Exsultate Deo

The ordinary age in the Diocese of Memphis for a baptized child to receive this sacrament is 8th grade, after two years of formation and preparation. For more information on preparing for this sacrament as a teen and the current calendar of preparation events, please visit our Family Faith Formation page.

Adults who have not received this sacrament, or adults who are not Catholic but desire to inquire about the Catholic Church, can find the necessary information on our page about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Eucharist

“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ ‘The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.’” – Catechism of the Catholic Church #1324

The ordinary age in the Diocese of Memphis for a baptized child to receive their first Communion is 2nd grade, after two years of formation and preparation. For more information on preparing your child for this sacrament, please visit our Family Faith Formation page.

We also have avenues in place for children, teens, and adults who have been baptized as Catholics, but who have missed the usual year to receive the sacrament.  It is never too late to begin preparing for First Holy Eucharist!  Contact us today.

Baptized adults who desire to come into full communion with the Catholic Church and receive the Eucharist ordinarily walk through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults process to do so.

Reconciliation

“We will never be holy enough not to need this sacramental purification: humble confession, made lovingly, gives rise to an ever more delicate purity in our service to God and the motivation that sustains it…. Those who make frequent use of Confession and do so desiring to make progress know that in this sacrament, together with God’s forgiveness and the grace of the Holy Spirit, they will receive a precious light for their journey towards perfection.” – Pope St. John Paul II

The ordinary age for a person to celebrate this sacrament for the first time (i.e., “First Reconciliation”) is 2nd grade.  The preparation for receiving this sacrament happens concurrently with preparation for First Holy Communion.

After receiving Reconciliation for the first time, many people find that receiving this sacrament at least once each month allows them to remain close to the Lord.  In order to make a good confession of sins, a person should use an Examination of Conscience in order to think and pray about what needs to be confessed.  Many good examples of Examinations of Conscience are available on the Internet.  For example, you can find them here, or here.

For adults who are journeying toward the Catholic Church, Reconciliation happens as a part of the Order of Christian Initiation process.  If you are interested in coming home to the Church, please contact the Parish Office.

If you have been away from the Church for some time, and you would like to return, making a good, full Confession is the first, best step.  We are overjoyed that you have come home!  You may participate in our regularly-scheduled confession times, or you may call the parish office to make an appointment with one of our priests.

Our regular schedule of Confession times is:

• Saturdays from 3:20-3:50pm (before Vigil Mass)
• Sundays from 7:30-7:50am
• Sundays from 10:00-10:20am
• Sundays from 12:30-12:50pm
• Tuesdays from 5:45-6:15pm
• Wednesdays from 11:30am-Noon
  Confessions are heard in the Church confessionals.
• Parish Penance Services during Advent & Lent (watch parish bulletin & social media for information)

Anointing of the Sick

“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1499

The Church mercifully and joyfully celebrates this sacrament for any Catholic who is (1) in good standing with the Church, and (2) who is seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or even near death.  If you or someone you know would like to receive this sacrament, please contact our parish office immediately and ask for a priest to schedule the sacrament for you at the earliest possible convenience.

Also, to better serve our St. Mary’s parishioners:
If you are a patient, family member or loved one of a patient at Jackson-Madison General Hospital and wish to receive a visit from St. Mary’s Hospital Ministry to the Sick, please contact the Parish Office with the patient’s name & hospital room number.

Matrimony

“By coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, he himself gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension of the Reign of God. It is by following Christ, renouncing themselves, and taking up their crosses that spouses will be able to “receive” the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ. This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ’s cross, the source of all Christian life” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1615

The Catholic Church is extremely joyful that couples seek the Sacrament of Matrimony!  And, our parish seeks to provide the best marriage preparation and enrichment so that our world sees the example of holy marriages!

Check out this fun video that provides a great example of a faith-filled marriage in which both spouses have the till-death-do-us-part attitude.

A couple that wishes to get married in the Catholic Church should contact the parish office six months to one year prior to the planned wedding date.  That allows plenty of time for our marriage preparation process to take place.

Our marriage preparation process includes:

• At least two meetings with the Pastor, for him to get to know the couple and begin planning the wedding liturgy.
• A mentor-couple process, in which the engaged couple will gather with a mentor couple to discuss marriage and family life.  Getting to know other couples who have been married for a longer period of time is the BEST PART of our preparation process!
• Videos from the series Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage, which give couples a deeper understanding of the reality & practicalities of married life
• A communication inventory and discussion with one of our parish’s deacons
• A one-day marriage preparation retreat day
• Education in the gift of human life & sexuality, including specific information about Natural Family Planning

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. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1536

In the Catholic Church, certain men are called to serve in specific ways.  Jesus established a special sacrament to give these men the graces that they need to carry out their calling.

Deacons assist in the parish’s liturgy and works of mercy.  To this very day, deacons are called to be servants of the needs of the pastor and the people of the community.  If you would like more information about the diaconate, please see the Catholic Diocese of Memphis’s page on deacons, or contact the parish office.

Priests are called to serve in a variety of ways, but the primary way is in Catholic parishes.  Their primary role is to bring the sacraments to the People of God so that the People of God can be strengthened for their mission in the world.  The Church is extremely grateful for the priests that God has provided!  For more information about priests, or if you are discerning a call from God to the priesthood, see our diocesan page or contact the parish office.