Baptism

Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature." This sacrament is also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."

"This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ." Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been "enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he becomes "light" himself:

Requirements:

• Parents are to be registered members of the Parish Community, at least six months prior to the desired baptismal date or live in the Parish boundaries.
• If the child is older than 7 years, needs to go thru the RCIA.
• The child’s birth certificate is to be provided.
• Donation: According to their Stewardship record.
• Godparent/s: Select Godparent/s who meet the following requirement
• At least one; if two must be man and woman
• Catholic who is actively practicing their faith.
• At least 16 years of age and has received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).
• If married they must be in the Catholic Church (need to provide Marriage certificate)
• Both parent/s and godparent/s are to attend the baptismal preparation class.

Confirmation

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

Please call the Religious Education Office at (214) 678-0487 for more information about your child getting confirmed.

Adults who wish to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, please call the Religious Education Office at (214) 678-0487 to receive information on the R.C.I.A. or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Eucharist

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church.

Eucharist Celebration:

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 offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

Theses web pages may be of help as you begin your wedding preparation

Congratulations on your decision to marry!

The sacrament of Matrimony may be done in a very simple manner in the Catholic Church. Did you know that with five (5) people, in a brief ceremony you can be married in the eyes of the Catholic Church? The couple, two witnesses and a qualified witness, either a deacon or a priest, is all it takes!

Since there is a need for some prenuptial spiritual preparation and some prenuptial paperwork, do contact the Parish office with ample time before the desired date at least 6 months prior to the tentative date.

Anointing of the Sick

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

One of the many mysteries in our Christian life is illness, hurt, and pain; how to combine God’s love towards his creatures and the fact that many times we fall sick, sometimes gravelly, is, to say the least, a challenge to our faith. In our Catholic Tradition one of the seven sacraments deals with that reality: the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick. From the very beginning, as we read in James 5:14-15, the Church has approached that reality from the point of view of faith and community, as Church approaches everything in our Christian life.

The Sacrament of Anointing is for any Catholic who is seriously ill or facing serious surgery or treatment; it can be received as many times as one is seriously ill –a serious illness is not the influenza or a tooth ache! - and what we ask God is to heal the sick and for them to be comforted with God’s presence though the Sacrament. Many people consider this the “last rites” when someone is dying, and even though dying people may receive this Sacrament, or even better find solace in the Viaticum (Holy Communion being brought to the dying as help for their journey to the Father´s Home) the subject of this Sacrament is the sick person, not the dying.

Do not wait until the last minute! Celebrate the Sacrament in a communal setting, with family, friends, the same way we do celebrate the other Sacraments; and of course, keep always in mind that there are many, many, many faithful and fewer, fewer, and fewer priests to confer this Sacrament –Deacons cannot anoint. This situation may be a thinking opportunity for us to ponder about the disproportion between the large Catholic population and the dwindling number of priests.

So if someone in your family is seriously ill do not wait until the last minute and call the Parish office so that the sick person may be comforted with the presence of the Community and the help of the Sacrament.

Holy Orders

For information on vocations to the priestly life, go to www.dallasvocations.org