152 Q. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a Sacrament which cleanses us from Original Sin, makes us
Christians, children of God, and heirs of Heaven.

153 Q. Are actual sins ever remitted by Baptism? 
A. Actual sins and all the punishment due to them are remitted by Baptism, if the person baptized be guilty of any.

157 Q. How many kinds of Baptism are there? 
A. There are three kinds of Baptism: Baptism of water, of desire, and of blood.

162 Q. What do we promise in Baptism? 
A. In Baptism we promise to renounce the devil with all his works and pomps.
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

Please contact Fr. Francis or Fr. Pardue to schedule baptisms. You can use the online form found here: Request for Baptism. Parents should be aware of their grave obligation to have their children baptized as soon as possible. Parents must have their children baptized within at least one month of their birth.

Adults seeking baptism should contact Fr. Francis or Fr. Pardue to assess their knowledge of the Faith and develop a plan of study so that Baptism can be administered as soon as prudently possible.

If you were validly baptized (according to the judgement of the Pastor) in a Protestant sect or the Novus Ordo Modern Church, please approach us to receive the sacramental ceremonies that attend the traditional rite of baptism (exorcisms, blessed salt, prayers, etc.). This is NOT a re-baptism but a supplying of the non-essential ceremonies which would not have been received previously. These ceremonies of the Church are very powerful to help one live up to one's obligations as a Christian, a true follower of Christ.

187 Q. What is the Sacrament of Penance? 
A. Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.

191 Q. What must we do to receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily? 
A. To receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily we must do five things:
(1) We must examine our conscience. (2) We must have sorrow for our sins. (3) We must make a firm resolution never more to offend God. (4) We must confess our sins to the priest. (5) We must accept the penance which the priest gives us.

201 Q. Why should we be sorry for our sins? 
A. We should be sorry for our sins, because sin is the greatest of evils and an offense against God our Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, and because it shuts us out of Heaven and condemns us to the eternal pains of Hell.

221 Q. Which are the chief means by which we satisfy God for the temporal punishment due to sin? 
A. The chief means by which we satisfy God for the temporal punishment due to sin are: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, all spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and the patient suffering of the ills of life.
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

The scheduled times for the Sacrament of Penance, or Confession may be found on the home page, bulletin, or under the "Sacred Liturgy and Sacraments" tab. Those who have a 30 minute or greater drive have priority of access for Confessions. Those who are nearer to the chapel should strive to confess during the week. If you would like to receive this Sacrament at any other time, please do not hesitate to contact Fr. Francis or Fr. Pardue to schedule it. You may use the online form found here: Request for Confession.

Catholics are obliged to go to Confession once a year if they have committed any mortal sins, but they should strive to receive it at least once a month or even more frequently. This Sacrament was instituted by Christ to restore sanctifying grace to the soul once lost by mortal sin but also to strength and increase sanctifying grace when soiled or diminished by venial sins. Confession is one of the most powerful means for ridding oneself of habits of mortal and venial sins. Even if one does not have much to confess since one's last Confession, it is always profitable to confess sins from one's past life in order to renew sorrow for them and expiate them more and more.

238 Q. What is the Holy Eucharist? 
A. The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the body and blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

251 Q. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? 
A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist: (1) To unite us to Himself and to nourish our souls with His divine life. (2) To increase sanctifying grace and all the virtues in our souls. (3) To lessen our evil inclinations. (4) To be a pledge of everlasting life. (5) To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection. (6) To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church.

254 Q. What is necessary to make a good Communion? 
A. To make a good Communion it is necessary to be in a state of sanctifying grace, to be fasting from solid food and alcohol for 3 hours and from non-water liquids for 1 hour, and to have a right intention.
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

The 5th Precept of the Church obliges all Catholics, under pain of mortal sin, to receive the Holy Eucharist during the Easter time (The Easter time is, in this country, the time between the first Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday, inclusive). However, as the Council of Trent teaches us, Christ "instituted this sacrament, in which He poured forth, as it were, the riches of His divine love towards men...as the spiritual food of souls (Mt. 26:26 ff.), whereby they may be nourished and strengthened, living by the life of Him who said: He that eateth me, the same also shall live by me (Jn. 6:58), and as an antidote whereby we may be freed from daily faults and be preserved from mortal sins" (Sess. 13, ch. 2). We are all in danger of falling into mortal sin and all of us sin every single day ("for a just man shall fall seven times - Prov. 24:16). Therefore, we are all in need of Holy Eucharist as a daily remedy for our daily faults. Catholics should strive to receive Our Lord every time they come to Mass, attending Holy Mass not only on Sundays but as often as possible also during the week.

166 Q. What is Confirmation? 
A. Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

168 Q. How does the bishop give Confirmation? 
A. The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and anoints the forehead of each with holy chrism in the form of a cross.

171 Q. What is meant by anointing the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross? 
A. By anointing the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross is meant, that the Christian who is confirmed must openly profess and practice his faith, never be ashamed of it, and rather die than deny it.
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

His Excellency, the Most Rev. Bp. Mark Pivarunas, strives to visit us every year to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you were Confirmed in the Novus Ordo or are in need of Confirmation for any other reason, please speak with Sr. Mary Tarcisius, SCJM. You may also use the online form found here: Request for Confirmation. We have booklets for preparing for Confirmation in the church bookstore: Preparation for Confirmation from Angelus Press.

"God, we are told, assigned to everyone in this world a certain work to perform in a particular state of life, and this work is called "vocation." One, for instance, is to be a priest; another, a layman; one married; another single, etc. It is important for us to discover our true vocation; for if we are in the state of life to which God has called us, we shall be happy; but if we select our own work, our own state of life without consulting Him, we shall seldom be happy in it. How are we to know our vocation? Chiefly by praying to God and asking Him to make it known to us. Then if He gives us a strong inclination—constant, or nearly constant—for a certain state of life, and the ability to fulfill its duties, we may well believe that God wishes us to be in that state.

After we have begged God's assistance, we must ask our confessor's advice in the matter, and listen attentively to what the Holy Ghost inspires him to say. The signs of our vocation are, therefore, as stated: first, a strong desire, and second, an aptitude for the state to which we believe we are called. For example, a young man might be very holy, but if unable to learn, he could never be a priest. Another might be very learned and holy, but if too sickly to perform a priest's duties, he could not, or at least would not, be ordained. Another might be learned and healthy, but not virtuous, and so he could never be a priest. Aptitude, therefore, means all the qualities necessary, whether of mind, or soul, or body. The same is true for a young girl who wishes to become a religious; and the same, indeed, for any person's vocation. We should never enter a state of life to which we are not called, simply to please parents or others. Neither should we be persuaded by them to give up a state to which we are called; for we should embrace our true vocation at any sacrifice, that in it we may serve God better, and be more certain of saving our souls. Thus, parents and guardians who prevent their children from entering the state to which they are called may sin grievously by exposing them to eternal loss of salvation. Their sin is all the greater when they try to influence their children in this matter for selfish or worldly motives. As they may be selfish and prejudiced without knowing it, they too, should ask the advice of their confessor, and good persons of experience. Oh! how many children, sons and daughters, are made unhappy all the days of their life by parents or superiors forcing them into some state to which they were not called, or by keeping them from one to which they were called. This matter of your vocation rests with yourselves and Almighty God, and you are free to do what He directs without consideration for anyone" (Q. 51).
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

If there is any young man who feels an attraction for the priesthood or the brotherhood, or any young woman who feels an attraction for the sisterhood, please contact Fr. Francis. The most important prerequisite for a religious vocation is the generous will and desire to do great things for God. May God grant that many souls will answer the call of God to do something truly great and magnanimous with their lives, cooperating in the work for the salvation of souls. May God send many more laborers into His ​harvest. Below ​you ​may find some ​helpful reading for ​parents who ​think their children have a vocation or for any young man or woman considering what God may be calling them to in life.

"Vocations" by Fr. William Doyle, S.J.
"Shall I be a Priest?" by William Doyle, S.J.

271 Q. What is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction? 
A. Extreme Unction is the Sacrament which, through the anointing and prayer of the priest, gives health and strength to the soul, and sometimes to the body, when we are in danger of death from sickness.

272 Q. When should we receive Extreme Unction? 
A. We should receive Extreme Unction when we are in danger of death from sickness, or from a wound or accident.

273 Q. Should we wait until we are in extreme danger before we receive Extreme Unction? 
A. We should not wait until we are in extreme danger before we receive Extreme Unction, but if possible we should receive it whilst we have the use of our senses.

274 Q. Which are the effects of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction? 
A. The effects of Extreme Unction are: first, to comfort us in the pains of sickness and to strengthen us against temptations; second, to remit venial sins and to cleanse our soul from the remains of sin; third, to restore us to health when God sees fit.
(The Baltimore Catechism, #4)

Please contact Fr. Francis or Fr. Pardue immediately if there is someone who is in danger of death or is sick with an illness that will lead to death. The reception of this Sacrament should not be delayed until a person is very near death or has become unconscious. This Sacrament forgives sins, but also it can heal diseases of the body if it is according to God's Will.  

Please contact us if you know of someone who is not able to make it to Mass because of sickness or old age so that one of the Priests can come and offer the consolation of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.