Sacraments

Through the Sacra, men and women enter the family of God and the faith community of the Church through the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Baptism is the "gateway" to the other sacraments, and to all the spiritual benefits offered through the Church. Persons may prepare for Baptism in different ways, depending on their age.

Adults:

Adults interested in joining the Church, including those who wish to be baptized, as well as those who wish to complete their initiation through the reception of Confirmation and Eucharist, participate in a year-long program known as the Right of Christian Initiation of Adults. This process includes study, together with periodic celebrations and liturgies in church, and culminates in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Anyone interested in the OCIA for themselves, or who would like to help with this process as a sponsor, is asked to contact the Religious Education Office.

School-Age Children:

Children at least 7 years of age who have not yet been baptized, are prepared for the sacraments in the course of their preparation in the spiritual formation offered by our school or R.E. program. For more information, please contact the Religious Education Office.

Baptisms are usually celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 1:30PM. Instructions for parents are required. These are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:30 PM in the Rectory.

Arrangements must be made in advance. Please call the Parish Office, 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday.

If there is one mystery of faith around which revolves the whole Catholic liturgy, it is the Eucharist.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist, in which we remember Christ’s saving death and resurrection, and receive His Body and Blood, is our principal source of spiritual nourishment. Therefore, the preparation of Catholic children and adults to frequently share in this sacrament is especially crucial to their faith lives.

For adults, reception of the Eucharist, a sign of one’s full membership in the Catholic Church, comes at the culmination of the RCIA process.

Young people enrolled in St. Hilary School or Religious Education are ordinarily invited to prepare for First Eucharist when they are at least at the second grade level. Please call the Religious Education Office or the School Office.

Our priests and Ministers of Care will be happy to bring Holy Communion to you if you are hospitalized or homebound. Please arrange for this by calling the Parish Office.

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, a Catholic receives the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit, who energizes and directs our lives of faith. Like Baptism, Confirmation may be prepared for in several ways.

The Confirmation of adults takes place through participation in the RCIA. Please call the Parish Office for additional information.

The opportunity to be confirmed is ordinarily offered to young men and women at the eighth grade level in both our parish Religious Education program and School.

Throughout his public life, Christ proclaimed the mercy of God toward sinners. He had come, he said, to preach the good news of salvation and deliverance from sin. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just people who have no need of repentance.

Reconciliation is offered every Saturday in the Church. To receive this sacrament at another time, please call the Parish Office and set up an appointment with a priest.

Children prepare for and receive First Reconciliation in the course of preparation for First Eucharist.

Adults are prepared to receive Reconciliation through the RCIA.

In the Sacrament of Marriage, a man and a woman are joined in a permanent covenant of faith and love with one another and with God. The holy union of marriage enriches both the married couple, and the entire community of the Church. The Church wants to do everything possible to help an engaged couple understand, prepare for, and celebrate marriage.

Therefore, arrangements for marriages must be made at least four months in advance. Please call the Parish Office, 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday for more information.

The Church continues Jesus’ healing ministry, and extends His compassion for the sick, through the Sacrament of Anointing. Any Catholic who is seriously ill in body or mind is encouraged to receive this sacrament in one of the following ways:

Each year, usually in the fall and spring, an Anointing Mass is celebrated. During this liturgy, the Sacrament of Anointing is offered to all the infirm who are present. Watch our parish bulletin, or call the Parish Office for information on this special Mass.

Anointing of the Sick may also be received individually at any time of the year, whether the sick person is at home, in a hospital or a nursing home. To arrange for this, please contact the Parish Office.