As a Roman Catholic Church, sacraments are the central focus of everything that we do and celebrate as Catholics, and are indispensable by virtue of that fact. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that, “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” (Catechism 1131). The regular and faithful celebration of these sacraments, therefore, is of utmost importance. Saint Lawrence strives to be a parish that offers ease of access to the sacraments and liturgical reverence to help foster deeper faith and to enable each of us to join in the liturgical celebration of each of these rites in a way that glorifies God and edifies us who participate in these mysteries with the proper devotion.
Baptism
The path of Christian discipleship begins here, with the sacrament of baptism. In this sacrament, the scourge of Original Sin is removed from the recipient’s soul, and in its place an indelible (that is permanent) mark is placed upon the soul, as Christ claims this child or individual as His own son or daughter, and instills in that soul His grace and presence, as the child or individual is configured as a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is from this moment that a soul is configured to Christ’s death and resurrection so as to enjoy the benefit of eternal life, if that soul remain faithful through their entire journey.
This Sacrament is For: anyone who is not yet baptized.
To Receive this Sacrament: please contact the parish office to set up an appointment with our parish priest, to discuss the sacrament, and to schedule the baptism.
Confirmation
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all of the disciples as a special gift of grace, that configured the disciples to go out on mission. This outpouring came upon them and completely changed them into courageous missionaries, who were given gifts to further enable them to go out on mission, as they were tasked to be the “fishers of men” that they had been called to be. In the Church, this Pentecost is now celebrated as the Sacrament of Confirmation, in which the candidates for this Sacrament are further configured to Christ and given even greater gift of the Holy Spirit to go forward as missionaries from the Gospel. This is not, contrary to popular belief, a candidate reaffirming their faith, or stating their intention to continue their baptismal mandate. Rather, this is them receiving extra graces to go and to preach the Gospel in their own unique way to a world that needs to hear of Christ’s love, now more than ever before.
This Sacrament is For: Those who have been baptized, and are in communion with the Catholic Church, or have expressed a desire to be in communion.
To Receive this Sacrament: Please contact the parish office, or any of our PSR catechists for more information on how to receive this sacrament.
Eucharist
The Catechism, when addressing the Eucharist, says, “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ ‘The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.'” (Catechism 1324). It is in the Eucharist that we receive Christ in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, even as He remains under the humble appearances (or accidents) of simple bread and wine. This very Sacrament powerfully distinguishes the Catholic Church from any other denomination, Christian or not, because it is only the Catholic Church that celebrates the Eucharist, and makes Christ present in this sacrament of His Body and His Blood.
This Sacrament is For: the baptized faithful, who are or who have been brought into full communion with the Catholic Church, and have reached the age of reason.
To Receive this Sacrament: if you have not already celebrated your First Holy Communion, please contact the parish office. Otherwise, simply present yourself, properly disposed, at any weekday or weekend Mass.
Reconciliation
Admittedly, it is difficult to go through this life without making mistakes, especially against others, and against our Lord. We often do things that we should not, or do not do things that we should do. The Sacrament of Reconciliation enters into these mistakes, or “sins” as more commonly known, and offers Christ’s forgiveness and reconciliation, to restore the fullness of sanctifying grace in our souls, and to fortify us against future temptations. This sacrament is different than simply “asking God for forgiveness directly” because it allows us to have 100% certainty that our sins have been forgiven through the words of absolution of the priest, who sits “in persona Christi,” or “in the person of Christ.”
This Sacrament is For: the baptized faithful, in communion with the Catholic Church, who need Christ’s mercy and healing.
To Receive this Sacrament: If you have not celebrated your First Reconciliation, please contact the parish office. If you have, simply present yourself at our usual confession times, or contact our parish priest to set up an appointment (often he can simply just be asked after Mass!).
Anointing of the Sick
The Catechism, when addressing the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, states: “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.” (Catechism 1499). Thus, the purpose of this sacrament is twofold: to give those who are ill or preparing for some sort of medical risk the grace that they need for healing, and to remind them of the unity that they can achieve to Christ who suffered for our sins on the Cross. This does not mean that there will be physical healing as a direct effect of the sacrament (unless the will of God dictates that it happen, which may be the case!), but it is to promote the wellbeing and healing of a soul which is undergoing affliction.
This sacrament used to be called “Last Rites” but this name has been largely retired, due to the fact that this Sacrament is not just for the dying. That said, there are special prayers and a pardon that can be requested when a person is presumed to be in the final stages of their earthly journey.
This Sacrament is For: Baptized faithful, who are in communion with the Catholic Church, who are substantially ill (including severe mental illness) or beset by the frailty of old age, or may be facing any sort of surgery or procedure where a substantial risk is present. Please note, one does not have to be considered “dying” to receive this sacrament. This sacrament can also be celebrated repeatedly, as a condition worsens, or as a new illness becomes present.
To Receive this Sacrament: Please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.
IN EMERGENCIES: Please note that our parish priest will answer a need for this sacrament at any time, day or night. In these emergent cases, please call our sister parish, St. Denis, at 573-545-3864, and reach Father by using prompt #3.
Matrimony
The Catechism states, “‘The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws…. God himself is the author of marriage.'” (Catechism 1603). As God is the author of marriage, it has been raised to the dignity of a sacrament by Christ, and is now celebrated liturgically in the Church today, not simply as a civil institution, as often one may often be tempted to think, but as the Sacrament that it has been raised to. Thus, one man and one woman come together before God and His Church and declare their consent to a sacred bond, which no man may break nor put asunder.
“The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws…. God himself is the author of marriage.”
This Sacrament is For: An engaged couple where one or both of the parties were baptized Catholic. (Please note, Catholics are required to be married by the Church sacramentally, unless a dispensation from form for grave reason is obtained from the Diocese).
To Receive this Sacrament: Please contact the parish office at least six months before the desired wedding date. Please do not secure other venues or services before coordinating with the parish office.
Holy Orders
The Catechism states: “In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis.” (Catechism 1548). This Sacrament is essential in the Catholic Church, due to the necessity of ministers who are set apart as mediators and also persons who act in the person of “Christ the Head.” They lead the faithful as they represent Christ, and yet still serve as servants to all. These ministers, further distinguished into the clerical roles of deacons, priests, and bishops, are ordained to serve, and are concerned with leading the faithful in their journey of faith, and escorting them to their end destination: the Kingdom of Heaven.
This Sacrament is For: a baptized man, in communion with the Catholic Church, who has or is discerning that God may be calling Him to this life of service.
To Receive this Sacrament: Please contact the parish office, who will put you in touch with our parish priest.
