Sacraments

Baptism | Penance, Reconciliation and Eucharist| Confirmation
Adult Confirmation| RCIA| Marriage| Anointing of the Sick
Holy Orders | Sacramental Records

Sacramental Recordstitle

Sacramental Certificates - To obtain information about or a copy of a certificate for a sacrament you received at St. Mary's or St. Francis of Assisi Campus Parish, contact: Parish Office, (315)265-9680.

Be prepared to supply the following information:

  1. The sacrament
  2. The approximate date of celebration
  3. Name(s) of the party(ies) (including maiden name(s), if possible)

The Parish office will provide the forms requested, no fee is necessary.

Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors - A sponsor must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic over the age of 16. A parent cannot be a sponsor for his or her own child. To obtain a certificate from the Pastor in order to be a godparent or Confirmation sponsor at another church contact: Parish Office, (315)265-9680.

Baptismtitle

Infant Baptism - Infant Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation that welcomes a child into our faith community of Catholic Christian believers. It is the celebration that begins the faith life of the child in and with Christ. The Church invites the parents and godparents into a preparation process prior to the Baptism Celebration. Baptisms are celebrated monthly except during the season of Lent.

Baptism Information - At least one parent needs to be registered in St. Mary's Parish. For information about infant Baptisms, please contact the parish office 315-265-9680. It is highly recommended that parents attend preparation sessions during pregnancy. While preparing for your child's birth, it is important to begin preparing for your child's Christian formation as well.

Preparation Program Schedule 2007-2008 - Please call the office for the schedule of preparation meetings and to register for one of these sessions. Parents are asked to arrange for child care.

Penance and Eucharisttitle

The immediate preparation for First Penance and Eucharist is generally a one-year process. Both the family and the parish participate in the religious formation of the child.

  • Family - Parents are primary teachers and role models. Extended family and friends are also role models.
  • Christian Formation Classes - The Catechists share the Church's teachings and history and also serve as role models.
  • The Parish - The parish community is a witness to and supports the child and family. Parishioners are role models for the community at prayer and for Christian works.

Parents work at home with their children using sacramental texts to reinforce the classroom experience. The combination of family experience, Scripture, Church teaching and prayer helps prepare the child for reception of the sacraments.

Parishioners pray and support families and catechists throughout the process.

Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Eucharist

The requirements:

  1. The family is a registered member of St. Mary's Parish.
  2. Copy of Baptismal Certificate. If your child was baptized at St. Mary's or St. Francis of Assisi, please call the Parish Office, (315)265-9680 giving your child's name and approximate date of baptism. If your child was baptized at another parish, please submit a copy of the Baptismal Certificate to the Religious Education Office.
  3. Three parent/child meetings for each sacrament
  4. A day retreat for each sacrament

The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated prior to to preparing for First Eucharist.

Confirmationtitle

St. Mary's particpates in a regional confirmation program with the parish and missions of Colton. Preparing students for the Sacrament of Confirmation involves a partnership among the youth, their families, parishioners, and catechists. Those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation will have the ability to tailor their preparation to their individual needs and schedule. While it is possible to complete all the topics in one year, more time may be taken. The student attends the sessions at a time convenient for them.

Basic Program Requirements

  • Family must be registered in the parish
  • A Roman Catholic Baptismal certificate
  • The child has celebrated the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist
  • Full participation in the sacramental preparation process

Specific Requirements for Confirmation

  • Age: Confirmation sessions are open to all who are grade 9 or above.
  • Class Time: Sunday, 6:15 - 7:45pm
  • Class Topics: All eight topics need to be completed prior to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation. Class topics do not have to be taken in sequence.
  • Class Attendance Policy: Both sessions of any given topic must be attended in sequence. (e.g., Student attends session 1, but misses session 2. The entire topic must be repeated when it is offered again.)
  • Mass Attendance: Weekend Mass attendance is required. A sign in sheet will be available in the student's home parish. If the student attends a Mass at another parish, a signed bulletin from that parish is required.
  • Service: Serving in the context of the faith community is required. (e.g., helping with the Word of God for Children, Greeter, Music Ministry, meals, special events, a list of opportunities will be provided)
  • Retreat: An overnight retreat experience is required. One will be offered each February. Five topics have to have been completed prior to the retreat.
  • Sponsor: A Sponsor must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic over the age of 16. A parent cannot be a sponsor for his or her own child. Sponsor forms will be provided by and returned to the Confirmation candidate's home parish. If the sponsor is not from your home parish a sponsor certificate is needed.
  • Parish Involvement: Each Parish will have required participation in a Parish Mission or other special event.
  • Parental Involvement: Parents are welcome and encouraged to join us for any class.
  • Proof of Baptism: A copy of the Confirmation candidate's baptismal certificate must be submitted to your home parish.
  • Interview - Prior to Confirmation each candidate will have an interview with a member of their parish leadership team.
  • Confirmation - Confirmation will be celebrated each spring.

St. Mary's provides a preparation program for baptized, Catholic adults who have received their First Penance and Eucharist, but who never celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation. The yearly preparation begins in mid-October with the celebration of Confirmation in the spring. Watch the bulletin or check upcoming events on this website for announcements on the upcoming program.

RCIAtitle

Rites for Christian Initiation Adults - A process for people interested in inquiring about the Catholic Faith and preparing for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Are you interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith? Do you know someone who may want to become Catholic? The RCIA process may be the answer.

What is the RCIA Process? "Becoming a Catholic" is a journey. A person enters the life of the church through periods of study, faith-sharing, scripture reflection, and rites (steps along the way, celebrated with the parish faith community). The usual culmination of this process is held during the Easter Vigil or during the Easter season.

Who should consider the RCIA process?

  • Adults who have never been baptized
  • Adults who have been baptized in another Christian denomination and wishes to profess their faith as a Catholic Christian
  • Adults, baptized Catholics as infants, who have not celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist

The process begins in early September. Meetings are held on Mondays from 7:00-8:30pm. Watch the bulletin for announcements. For more information, call Rose Preston, 265-2764.

Rites For Children - Children over the age of 7 who have not been baptized are invited into the process of Christian initiation based on the adult rite of Christian initiation. This process will prepare young people and their families for the celebration of the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Children should be enrolled in the parish Religious Education program. For more information, call the Parish Office, 315-265-9680

Marriagetitle

St. Mary's offers a marriage preparation program that is designed to support engaged couples as they prepare for their wedding and marital commitment.

Registration Requirements for the Program

  • At least one person of the couple must be a registered member of St. Mary's
  • Contact: Parish Office, (315)265-9680., to make an appointment with the pastor as least 8 months in advance of the proposed wedding date
  • The couple is asked not to schedule the reception, photographer, etc. prior to setting the date with the parish
  • A copy of a recent baptismal certificate (issued within the past six months)

The Program Structure consists of a series of monthly meetings. A suggested offering to the parish for the preparation and celebration of marriage is $100 per couple. For more information call: Parish Office, (315)265-9680.

Anointing of the Sicktitle

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is rooted in scriptures of the New Testament. The Gospel according to Mark refers to this sacrament when it recounts Jesus sending out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they. . . anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13). In the Epistle of St. James we read, "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders 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" (Jas. 5:1415).

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during a serious illness, in preparation for major surgery, or near the time of death. Does a person have to be dying to receive this sacrament? No. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The anointing of the sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived" (CCC 1514).

The Anointing of the Sick imparts special graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit that strengthen the individual against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). The Anointing of the Sick also grants the forgiveness of sins for the sick person if the individual was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance (CCC 1532).

Viaticum Food for the Journey

"In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum. Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of "passing over" to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. . . The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father" CCC 1524.

Holy Orderstitle

The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred in three ranks: bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops have the care of multiple congregations and ordain and appoint priests and deacons. They sometimes appear to be called "evangelists" in the New Testament. Priests are also known as "presbyters" or "elders" in the New Testament. In fact, the English term "priest" is simply a contraction of the Greek word presbuteros. They have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the sacraments in a given congregation. Deacons are the assistants of the bishops and are responsible for teaching and administering certain Church tasks, such as charitable works.

Although the terms "bishop," "priest," and "deacon" were somewhat fluid in the apostolic age, by the beginning of the second century they achieved the fixed form in which they are used today to designate the three offices whose functions are clearly distinct in the New Testament.

The writings of the early Church Fathers recognized all three offices and regarded them as essential to the Church's structure. Especially significant are the letters of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, who was martyred in Rome around A.D. 110. On his journey from Antioch to Rome, Ignatius wrote letters to the various local churches through which he passed. Each of these churches possessed the same threefold ministry of bishop, priest and deacon. Without this threefold ministry, Ignatius said, a group cannot be called a church.