St. Paul said to his disciple Timothy: "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands" (? 2Tim 1:6). To Titus he said: "This is why I left you in Crete, that you amend what was defective, and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you" (? Titus 1:5).

St. Paul said: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church.... This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church" (? Eph 5:25, ? 32).

The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament (cf ? CIC, can. 1055 # 1; cf. GS 48 # 1).

Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest (or a witness authorized by the Church), the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful. From the Catechism of Catholic Church 1660, 1663.

Marriage Preparations:

Please call the parish office at least six months in advance of intended marriage. Please set no dates until the priest performing the ceremony has been consulted and the church of marriage is available.

Pre-Cana Class: Couples entering into the sacrament of matrimony are required to receive pre-marital instruction. Here at St. Peter the Apostle a Pre-Cana class is held two times a year. Couples contemplating marriage can register for the class by calling Cathy Scanlon in the parish office.

Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (? James 5:14-15)

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained". (? Jn 20:23).

The forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism is conferred by a particular sacrament

.... called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.

.... called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.

.... called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament.

.... called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."

.... called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because through it the penitent acknowledge and confess the sins to be reconciled to both God and the Church.

The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent (repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, the intention to make reparation and do the works of reparation) and the priest's absolution. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1423-1491.

• The sacrament of Penance is available each Saturday from 4:30-5:00 p.m.
• Parish Penance Services are celebrated during the seasons of Advent and Lent.
• First Penance Preparations:
  The children prepare for this sacrament by participating in Religious Education through CCD or Catholic school. Those wishing to receive the sacrament need to be attending religion class as first graders in order to be adequately prepared. Children receive the sacrament as second graders in January.

  Please see the First Penance guidelines for a list of important dates and information concerning your child’s First Holy Communion.

Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; . . . he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and . . . abides in me, and I in him" (? Jn 6:51, ? 54, ? 56).

"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (? Acts 8:14-17).

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.

"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven:

• Baptism,
• Confirmation (or Chrismation),
• The Eucharist,
• Penance,
• The Anointing of the Sick,
• Holy Orders and
• Matrimony

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." From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1210.

THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist

These sacraments lay the foundations of every Christian life.

"The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing 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. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." From Catechism of the Catholic Church 1212.

THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING - Penance and the Annointing of the Sick

"Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ. Now we carry this life 'in earthen vessels,' and it remains 'hidden with Christ in God.' We are still in our 'earthly tent,' subject to suffering, illness, and death. This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost by sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick." from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1420, 1421.

THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION - Holy Orders and Matrimony

"Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God.

Through these sacraments those already consecrated by Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can receive particular consecrations. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ's name 'to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.' On their part, 'Christian spouses are fortified and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and dignity of their state by a special sacrament.' " from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1534, 1535.