What is a Sacrament?
Sacraments are special encounters with the living God in Jesus Christ. They touch
all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth
and increase, healing, and mission to the Christian’s life of faith.
Sacraments of Initiation
In the sacrament of Baptism, you become a member of Jesus’s mystical body,
the Church. In Baptism you are born again by water and the Spirit and become
an adopted son or daughter of God.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life (Catechism 1324).
It is Christ himself who gives himself to the faithful under the appearance of
the consecrated Bread and Christ’s blood is present under the appearance of wine.
The baptized Christian is more perfectly bound to the Church and is enriched
with a special strength of the Holy Spirit (Catechism 1285). Confirmation
deepens our baptismal life, strengthening us to defend, witness and share the Good News.
Sacraments of Healing
The Sacrament of Confession (Penance or Reconciliation) is the means by which Christ
offers forgiveness to his people and restores the Christian back to life.
At times of sickness and being near death, the Church comes to spiritually
heal the sick in the Anointing of the Sick.
Sacraments of Vocation
Marriage is a covenant which man and woman establish between themselves for the
whole of life, and is ordered to the good of each spouse and any future children.
It reflects the love of Christ as bridegroom and his bride the Church.
Holy Orders continues Christ’s leadership as the Good Shepherd of his flock.
Holy Orders is expressed in three different degrees: deacon, priest or bishop.