Baptism
Reconciliation
Holy Communion
Confirmation
Marriage
Anointing of the Sick
 

Why is Baptism so important?

We passed from the state of original sin, in which we are deprived of divine life, into what is known as the state of grace, in which we are given a share in God’s own life. By Baptism we become, as St. Paul puts it ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’. (1 Cor 6:19).​

On that day, three divine Persons – Father, Son and The Holy Spirit- took up residence in our soul for the first time. With this new state, the baptized person is raised to the dignity of a child of God, adopted by the Father in his Son, Jesus Christ. We are no longer merely creatures, like the rest of creation, but God’s very own children. The Father can say of us what he said of Jesus after his baptism by John: “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17).​

In the words of St. Peter, we become “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Pet 1:4). That is, in some way we share in the very nature of God.

Why do we use water in Baptism?

Baptism, meaning ‘immersion’ in Greek, symbolises the cleansing of the soul from the stain of sin. When an infant, who has committed no personal sins, is baptised, what is washed away is the stain of original sin, which prevents the child from sharing in the life of God. In the Baptism of an adult, in addition to original sin both the guilt and the punishment owing for all personal sins are cleansed, provided the person is truly repentant.

Please contact Fr Patrick for any enquires about your Baptism requirements.

During this sacrament we make friends again by reconciling with God and our neighbours. It gives us a new beginning in the spiritual and worldly life. The more often we go to confession, the more often we get renewed and we grow in holiness.

Through confession we open the doors for receiving the Holy Spirit. Priests offer words of encouragement, advice, or clarification of conscience relevant to what we have just confessed. It may be only a brief encounter but the impact on our life is enormous when we go to reconciliation with full hearted preparedness and it makes us to grow in spiritual maturity.

Another very important benefit is the healing which often accompanies it. People who were weighed down by bitterness, anger, desire for revenge, sadness, grief and even depression - sometimes for years – have found that only after a good confession were they truly healed and interiorly renewed.

From a human point of view, confession helps us to grow in self-knowledge, when we examine our conscience as a preparation for confession, and in humility and sincerity when we confess our sins to the priest.

And finally, as the fruit of all we have mentioned, confession invariably gives great joy and peace, stemming from the knowledge that we have been forgiven and that the burden that was weighing us down has been lifted. Not for nothing did Jesus say, not once but twice, on giving the apostles the power to forgive sins: “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19,21) It is the indescribable joy the Prodigal Son experienced on being welcomed home by his father.

For all of these reasons, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is truly one of the greatest treasures of the Church.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays : 5:30 - 5:45pm

For further information please contact the Parish Office.

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’​

The sacrament of the Eucharist is the second sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church, after Baptism. Generally, children who are in Year 4 or above who have made their First Reconciliation are invited to receive their First Holy Communion. The children who attend Catholic schools are given instruction for enrolling this Sacrament. Those who are not in the Catholic schools are encouraged to contact the Parish Priest or one of the Liturgy committee members for alternate arrangements.

Confirmation is a Blessed Sacrament that is generally received at the same time as Baptism. 

The Holy Spirit is received in both the sacraments, but in a slightly different way. St. Augustine explains the difference – in Baptism we are mixed with water so that we might take on the form of bread, the body of Christ. But bread, he points out, then needs to be baked in the fire and this fire is supplied by the Chrism which is ‘the sacrament of the Holy Spirit’. In other words at Baptism we are made members of Christ's body, but at Confirmation we are given the power of God to bear fruit in our Christian life.​

To live as an adult Christian in the world takes more than courage; a special gift from God. God shares a very special gift with us when God offers us the sacrament of Confirmation. We believe in God, we go to Church and we try to treat our neighbour well, but events happen that try our faith and belief in a caring and loving God.​

The children who attend Catholic schools receive information about all Sacraments at the school. Anyone interested in knowing more about the Sacrament of Confirmation is encouraged to contact Father Patrickor any of the Liturgy Committee members.

"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it. Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 1: 27-28​ 

One can see from the Bible and the very biology of the human body that it is natural for a man and a woman to be together. God created woman because "it is not good for man to be alone" [Genesis 2:18]. True love between a man and a woman leads to marriage. Marriage brings mutual comfort and a family. Children are the fruit and bond of a marriage. The family provides a framework for each family member to grow as a person in love and security. ​

God is important to your love relationship! Love of God grows as you mature in life. We become grateful for all his gifts, such as the beauty of creation and our family. And we become especially grateful for his forgiveness when we fall. His gifts to us are so plentiful that it is only just that we love him.​

 Someone who loves God will strive to be good, honest, and faithful, and develop all the values necessary to sustain a love relationship through the years. Loving God means you are both trying to live His way and that you are being fair and true to each other.​

Marriage Preparation

The priest has a key role in the preparation of a couple for marriage. He helps lay the foundation of a couple's happiness as well as providing preparation for the realities of married life, according to the law of the Church. Before any booking is finalised with any church or chapel, the priest who is going to celebrate the marriage must interview the couple personally.​

The Catholic Marriage Education Service strongly recommends that you attend a Marriage Preparation before the wedding. They are held at the Cathedral Parish Centre. Details are available from Fr Patrick.​

Fr Patrick will guide you through the selection of readings, prayers and blessings from the Rite of Marriage and also liturgical music for the occasion.​

What is Anointing of the Sick?

Anointing of the Sick is one of the two Sacraments of Healing – the other is Reconciliation. This sacrament is a powerful and effective sign of Jesus' presence that brings strength and healing to the sick, the elderly and the dying. The celebration of this sacrament can help the sick get well again. When that does not happen, the sacrament helps the sick face their illness with faith and trust. It also helps dying people continue their faith journey to God in heaven.​

This sacrament’s name has changed over time. It was once called Extreme Unction, which means "the last anointing," and has been referred to as part of the "last rites." The current day observance of this Sacrament in the Catholic Church is as per Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1511. It conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude. These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’" (Matt. 8:17). The Church exhorts the Christian who is ill to unite with the Passion and Death of Christ.

Who can receive Anointing of the Sick?

The Anointing of the Sick can be administered to any baptized member of the faithful who, having reached the age of reason, or begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person had recovered after previous reception of anointing. It can also be conferred again if, during the same illness, a dangerous condition becomes more serious. Individuals who are planning to enter the hospital or anticipating out-patient surgery are particularly encouraged to receive the sacrament before their admission or surgery.​

The sacrament of anointing of the sick does NOT replace the sacrament of Reconciliation.