SACRAMENTS
A sacrament is a sacred sign instituted by Christ to give grace and share in God's own life. Catholics celebrate seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Penance and Anointing of the Sick. "The seven sacraments 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. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1210).
“The sacraments of Christian initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist lay the foundations of every Christian life. The grace of Christ in the sacraments bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishment of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. We receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life” (CCC, 1212). The Sacraments of Healing are: Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. These sacraments offer healing from physical and spiritual illness and suffering.
The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony “are directed towards the salvation of others. They serve to build up the People of God” (CCC, 1534)
Baptism
In Baptism, the first sacrament of initiation, a persons begins a life shared with God. Just as our natural birth is the beginning of our earthly life, baptism is our birth into an eternal life. Christ calls it being “born anew” (John 3:7). When we are baptized, we become adopted sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and members of the Catholic faith community.
Baptisms are held as often as possible. To schedule a baptism please call the parish office (636) 332 - 9269. If this is your first child to be baptized, the priest or deacon celebrating the sacrament of baptism with your family will request a chance to meet with you before the baptism.
Penance
Jesus always welcomed the sinner. The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the joy with which the father receives his repentant son. When the relationship with the father is restored, joy and peace are experienced by both.
A personal encounter with Jesus in Confession restores baptismal grace and reconciles the penitent with the Church. The sacrament results in bringing peace and serenity to the individual and a revitalization of the community. A personal encounter with Jesus in Confession restores baptismal grace and reconciles the penitent with the Church. The sacrament results in bringing peace and serenity to the individual and a revitalization of the community.
Catholics are obligated to receive the sacrament at least once a year.
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Elementary School and Parish School of Religion students will make their First Reconciliation in the months prior to receiving First Communion. Any baptized person who has not participated in the sacrament is welcome to do so
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Confession Times
Saturday: 4:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 7:20 a.m.
Anytime by appointment
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Holy Eucharist
As Catholics, we believe that the bread and wine brought forward at Mass truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the consecration which takes place at the altar. “At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322–1333)
The greatest of all the sacraments, the Holy Eucharist is the living presence of Christ in our Holy Church. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass is truly the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the source of our Christian life because from the Holy Eucharist all graces that aid the Christian life flow. It is the summit because all the graces that are given through the Holy Eucharist lead those who received the graces back to the Holy Eucharist. When we truly understand that the Eucharist is Christ himself and not a mere symbol, it all makes sense: the beginning and end of our lives as Christians is Christ and Christ alone.
Catholics wishing to make their First Communion should be prepared in understanding what takes place at the consecration of the Eucharist. School-aged children will receive instruction through our Elementary School or Parish School of Religion classes during the Second Grade school year. For others wishing to receive instruction about First Communion, contact Fr. Henry Purcell
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Mass Times
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am
Saturday: 5:00 pm
Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am
Confirmation
Just as Baptism makes us children of God and members of the Church, Confirmation is the sacrament that seals us with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthens us. “Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285).
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (CCC, 1831). “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity” (Gal. 5:22-23); (CCC, 1832).
Every baptized person can and should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. A confirmed person receives two callings: The first is the call to live a holy life. The second is the call to be a witness of the faith – to share their faith both by word and example.
School-aged children will receive instruction through our elementary School or Parish School of Religion during the Eight Grade school year. For others wishing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation please contact Fr. Henry Purcell at (636) 332 - 9269.
Marriage
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between the spouses. The consent the man and woman freely and mutually give to each other creates an eternal institution. Their love is a reflection of divine love. This love is confirmed, purified and completed in Jesus Christ, given through the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The intimate union of marriage, conjugal love involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter – appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and will. A deeply personal unity demands indissolubility, faithfulness in mutual giving and openness to fertility. Children then are the supreme gift of marriage. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1638 – 1651)
Couples seeking to be married in the Church must give at least six months’ time for marriage preparation with a priest or deacon. Marriage prep includes discussions with the priest/deacon preparing the couple, participation in a Natural Family Planning introduction course, and either multiple meetings with a married couple from the parish OR a Catholic engagement retreat. Parishioners (or children of parishioners) seeking marriage at St. Theodore or desire for a parish priest/deacon to witness the Marriage Sacrament should contact the parish office atleast 6 months prior to their intended wedding date.
The Church honors and upholds the bond between a husband and wife to such a degree that it still recognizes a marriage even if the couple should separate. Any person seeking to be married who has been married before should contact a priest concerning the annulment process.
Holy Orders
The ordained ministry makes the presence of Christ visible in the community … in a real person, the priest. In the celebration of Mass and the consecration of bread and wine, we experience the unfolding of God’s grace in our lives. It is the priest, the one chosen by God, who makes this possible. “In the service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock … Teacher of Truth” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1548). Any man considering a call to the priesthood is encouraged to call Fr. Henry Purcell.
Older men who are considering the possibility of serving as a permenant deacon should also speak with Fr. Henry Purcell.
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given to those who have encountered a serious illness that is threatening to them. The sacrament gives the supernatural grace first to resist the final temptation to despair our Lord’s mercy, but it also gives healing of the soul of venial sins and sometimes even healing of the body.
In the final moments of a Catholic’s life, he can be given what is known as the Last Rites. These Sacred Rites constitute the full arsenal of the Church’s blessings and graces that she has to offer the dying Christian. The priest who comes can hear the sick person’s confession. He can give these rites can immediately Confirm a Catholic in the faith if he has not yet received this sacrament. The priest then also gives Anointing of the Sick to the sick, gives the sick the Apostolic Pardon, and finally the sick is able to receive Viaticum. The Apostolic Pardon is a special blessing all priests are able to give as an individual approaches death to which a plenary indulgence is attached. If the individual is well disposed to received this indulgence, then by the merits of Christ’s cross he is released from the need of purgatory. Holy Viaticum is the final reception of the Holy Eucharist, the ‘food for the journey.’ Indeed, what better way can there be to prepare for death than to receive the very foretastes of eternal life, the very Body and Blood of Christ?
Any parishioner wishing to receive the anointing of the sick should contact the parish office. If it is an emergency they should call (314) 239 - 8479.