St. Paul Church

BECOMING A CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
Intants: For children to be baptized at St. Paul, their Catholic parents must have been registered and practicing members of the parish for at least three months prior to the baptism. By "practicing" is meant regular participation in Sunday Eucharist in our parish church and support for the parish through the sharing of time, talent and/or treasure. This policy is being followed because we need reasonable assurance that children baptized into the Catholic Church will be raised in the faith. The faithful fulfillment of these responsibilities by parents provides such assurance.
Parents who have not been sacramentally married in the Catholic Church need to speak to one of the priests of the parish before they can register their child for baptism.

To ensure that parents are aware of the meaning of baptism in Christian life and of the commitment they are making, they are expected to participate in a Baptism preparation session. This session is held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. Parents are requested to register with the rectory in advance. Godparents, while not required to participate, are welcome to attend.
Parents are asked to choose someone to serve as godparent for their child. Since the sponsor's role is to assist the parents in passing on the faith in which the child is being baptized, parents should choose someone who will take the role seriously and who will be a good example for the child.

Church law sets minimum requirements for godparents: at least sixteen years-old, already confirmed and a practicing Catholic. If there are to be two sponsors, they should be one male and one female. Although non-Catholics may not serve as sponsors, they may serve as witnesses (in addition to a sponsor).

The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month at 12:30 pm. Parents need to register with the rectory in advance of the ceremony.

No baptisms are celebrated on Sundays during the season of Lent.

Adults: If an adult wants to join the Catholic Church, he/she is invited to participate in the Catechumenate Program within which are celebrated the Rites for the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

The group sessions are conducted on a regular basis from September through Easter and for the few weeks that follow. The sessions focus on the understanding of faith, the living of faith and the celebrating of faith in worship. The members of the Pastoral staff and the parishioners who facilitate the sessions make every effort to relate the topics to real-life experiences and to demonstrate through a spirit of community how our relationships can strengthen and enrich our faith life.

Various stages in the process are marked by celebrations during the Sunday Liturgy: Enrollment on the first Sunday of Advent, Election on the first Sunday of Lent and Scrutinies on the other Sundays of Lent. The process culminates at the Easter Vigil Service during which the individual is baptized (if he/she has not been baptized previously) or makes a profession of faith (if he/she has already been baptized), confirmed and welcomed to the Eucharist for the first time in the Catholic Church.
The parish Sunday bulletin will include announcements of when and how to register for the Catechumenate program. If you have any questions, please call the rectory.

CELEBRATING THE EUCHARIST
Sunday: This Catholic community gathers every week to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We do so through the Liturgy of the Eucharist at 5:30 pm on Saturday, and 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am and 11:30 am on Sunday.
Because styles of participation vary from one individual to another, we try to accommodate everyone's preference by offering various types of music at our weekend liturgies. Contemporary choirs with guitars and other instruments provide the music for the 5:30 pm mass on Saturday evening and the 8:30 am mass on Sunday morning. It is at this mass that the "Come On Down Choir" and the children's choir occasionally sing. The adult choir accompanied by organ music sings at 10:00 am. Both guitar and organ music is offered at the 11:30 am mass. The 7:00 am mass is celebrated without music.

The serving program welcomes both boys and girls from grades 6, 7 and 8 to assist at all the masses. Families are also invited to serve at the weekend masses or on special occasions.

Parishioners share their gifts and talents with the faith community by ministering as greeters, ushers, lectors, commentators and Eucharistic ministers.

Daily: Masses are celebrated daily at 6:15 am (except on Tuesday and Saturday) and 8:00 am. During the school year the teachers and children plan and participate in at least one weekly liturgy.

INITIATION TO THE EUCHARIST
Children are generally welcomed to join the community in receiving the Eucharist during their second grade year. Children must have been enrolled in a religious education program for at least one year before the year in which they wish to receive the Eucharist for the first time. If a child has completed second grade and has not as yet made his/her first Eucharist, the parents should contact the Director of Religious Education to make the appropriate arrangements.

CONFIRMATION
For Youth: Confirmation for youth generally takes place during their eighth grade year. In order to be confirmed, an individual must participate in a religious education program for at least one year prior to the year in which he/she will be confirmed. In addition to reflecting on their faith in these classes, candidates are invited to participate in the parish-sponsored formation program which consists of an initial personal conference, a selfdirected course of faith development, optional group activities and a day of recollection. If an individual has completed his/her eighth grade and has not as yet been confirmed, he/she is asked to contact the Director of Religious Education to make the appropriate arrangements. The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated here in the parish usually some time in the spring.
For Adults: Any adult who has not as yet been confirmed is invited to participate in the R.C.I.A. program.

RECONCILIATION
Weekly Celebration: The sacrament of reconciliation is offered in the church every Saturday from 4:00 - 4:30 pm. If it is not possible for an individual to come at that time, he or she should feel free to call one of the priests to arrange a time that would be mutually convenient.

Reconciliationb Service: Twice yearly, during the seasons of Advent and Lent, all parishioners are invited to gather in church for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Emphasis is placed on the healing power of the sacrament and our experience of God's saving love through the presence of the faith community.  The Sacrament 1st celebrated individually with the preparation & thanksgiving celebrated by the assembly.

Initiation to Reconciliation: As part of their preparation for the reception of First Eucharist, the children are invited with their families to experience God's loving acceptance through a communal celebration of Reconciliation. This sacrament is usually scheduled during the season of Advent.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Individual Anointing: The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for those who are in danger of death from a chronic condition, a specific illness or advancing years. Every hospital is cared for by a Catholic chaplain who will administer the sacrament as needed. Individual anointing here in the parish is administered on a regular basis to the shut-ins and upon request in case of emergency.
Communal Anointing: On one of the weekends in the season of Advent, the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated during designated Masses. This sacrament is available for all those who are in need of this grace due to the conditions previously mentioned.

MARRIAGE
Engaged couples planning to be married at St. Paul should contact one of the priests at least six months in advance, but should be aware that many couples do so at least a year in advance of their preferred date. Definite plans for a particular date should not be made until such contact has been completed. Only when a priest or deacon has decided that he will officiate at the marriage, will a definite date be set.

DEVOTIONS
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: These are held each Tuesday after the 8:00 am mass.
Rosary: There is a public recitation of the Rosary, led by parishioners, every Saturday after the 8:00 am mass.