God invites us to turn to him for forgiveness, rebirth, and help. Ultimately it is the gift of his very self that he offers. The Eucharist, the Sacrament of Communion with Jesus, is the center of the Christian life, but God gives us the other sacraments to prepare us for this gift of gifts, and to help us live as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sacraments are “powers that comes forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are “the masterworks of God” in the new and everlasting covenant. Catechism 1116

Sacraments of Initiation:
- Baptism, First Communion/Eucharist, Confirmation

Sacraments of Healing:
- Confession/Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick/Viaticum

Sacraments at the Service of Communion:
- Holy Matrimony/Weddings, Priesthood/Religious Vocations

Christian Funerals: A collection of three rituals which assist the soul of the deceased and which brings consolation to family and friends.

Quinceañeras: A ritual by which a young woman thanks God and commits herself to his mission of salvation.

Other Rituals: Anniversary Masses and Memorial Masses are available as well as many types of blessings for different events.

Baptism

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Please click here for the page on Baptism.

Eucharist / First Communion

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

First Communion
- For Children or Youth: The Eucharist should be given to children as early as possible after they reach the age of reason, age 7. The ideal time to begin the two years of preparation is in the first grade. Youth in high school should enroll in Youth Confirmation. Registrations are July of every year. For more information, click here.
- For Adults: The preparation is one year and registration begins in June. Please make an appointment to speak with a priest anytime of the year.

The Eucharist
- Sunday Mass: For consistent growth in relationship and to please God, all Catholics need to celebrate Mass every week. If you are not able due to age or illness, please request the Eucharist to be brought to you.
- Holy Days of Obligation: There are other days that all Catholics need to celebrate Mass. They are: January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. If these fall on a Saturday or Monday, then the need is lifted. The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven is also included but is moved to Sunday in our Diocese.
- Daily Mass: All priests throughout the whole world are called to celebrate Mass every day. As Jesus said, “Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). As this is the most powerful prayer and most perfect gift, all Catholics are invited to participate as well. We have daily Mass at 8am Monday through Saturday.

Confirmation

Confirmation is important because “it brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace; … it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; … it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action”; and it helps us live out our vocations as husbands and wives, nuns and priests. Catechism 1303

Confirmation for Youth: There are two years of preparation, and it works best if the youth are enrolled the summer before their first year of high school. Youth attending Catholic high schools may skip the first year and begin as sophomores. Registration begins in July. For more information, click here.

Confirmation for Adults: There are three different scenarios. Please make an appointment with the priest to receive encouragement and to have your questions answered. Registration is in June.
- Unbaptized Adults will receive one year of preparation and then receive all the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass: Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Baptized Adults who are becoming Catholics will receive one year of preparation and then receive Confirmation in the Easter Vigil Mass.
- Baptized Catholics will receive one year of preparation and then receive Confirmation soon after Easter.

If you are preparing for Marriage, are seriously ill, or for any reason cannot complete the preparation, please make an appointment with the priest to discuss exceptions so that you may receive the grace of this Sacrament.

Confession / Penance and Reconciliation

Jesus said to apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21-23

God knows that after baptism we will struggle and fall as we grow in likeness to our Savior Jesus Christ. He gives us this Sacrament to experience his Mercy. He asks us to come before those he has called for this, his priests, so that we may confess our sin with our lips, and then hear with our own ears his forgiveness and encouragement. All Catholics age 7 and above need to experience this Sacrament every year especially during Easter. The mercy of God which we receive, we are able to then share with others.

This Sacrament is offered on Thursdays 6:00pm-6:30pm and Fridays at 6:00pm-6:30pm or by appointment.

Here is a Guide to Confession: English Spanish

Anointing of the Sick / Viaticum

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-16

Anointing of the Sick: If we are suffering serious illness, frailty from age or will have a serious operation, God asks us to turn to him and receive his help through this Sacrament. He may choose to heal miraculously or he may choose to give strength and consolation. Because it includes the forgiveness of all sin, it is for baptized Catholics who have reached the age of reason. Once we have received the Sacrament for our particular set of difficulties, we may request it again if there is a new illness or our condition worsens. We can read more in the Catechism.

Viaticum: There is a special Apostolic Blessing when it is clear that we are nearing death. If we are still able to swallow, we will also receive Holy Communion for the last time. Viaticum means “food for the journey.”

Call a priest to celebrate these sacraments for you or a loved one.

Holy Matrimony / Weddings

The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. Catechism 1601

Documents:

To begin the process (information and registration form): Click to View
To study the parts and words of the wedding: English Spanish
To choose Bible readings for the wedding: English Spanish
To watch the wedding rehearsal video: English Spanish

Priesthood / Religious Vocations

The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ – Head of the Church – before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name of the whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice. Catechism 1552

Do you think God may be calling you to ordained ministry: to be a deacon, a priest, or a bishop? Or to accept celibacy for the sake of salvation: to be a monk or nun, brother or sister? Discovering the vocation God has planned for you is important not only for happiness but for salvation. Please ask for an appointment with a priest for assistance.

Christian Funerals

For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Through the Funeral services, we receive God’s help not only for ourselves but for our loved ones who have passed on. We long to be with our loved ones forever, and so it is human and natural to grieve. Jesus grieved the passing of his friend Lazarus, and he grieved in the garden before leaving to take up his Cross. We are encouraged to accept all three rituals of God’s help for ourselves and our loved ones: the vigil/rosary, the Mass, and the burial/committal. These correspond to three movements of the heart: experiencing our grief, receiving God’s consolation, and accepting our new reality.

To choose scripture options for Mass: English Spanish

Quinceañeras

So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

The Quinceañera ritual celebrates a young women’s passage from childhood to adolescence. She expresses her thanksgiving to God, commits herself to the Christian way life, and receives the grace of a blessing for the years ahead.