BAPTISM
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word." Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
Baptisms are celebrated on the third weekend of each month. Parents must attend a catechetical preparation class prior to baptism. Contact your Parish Office for information.
Infants and young children: Baptism preparation classes for parents wishing to have their infants or young children baptized are offered several times throughout the year. To register for a class, please contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director, at 920-994-4380.
Children 7-17: If you have a child older than seven years of age who needs to be baptized, the child must attend a series of classes with a parent. Contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director, at 920-994-4380 to make arrangements.
Adults: If you are an adult who wishes to be baptized, you must participate in the RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program. Contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director, at 920-994-4380 for more information.
MARRIAGE
"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 of the Catholic Church 1601
We are always happy to help you celebrate your love through the Sacrament of Marriage. Thank you for choosing to include God in your celebration. Please contact the Parish Office at least six months prior to the date you have chosen for your Marriage. Either the Bride or Groom must be a registered member at one of our parishes. Preparation includes two meetings with the priest/deacon, participation in an Engaged Couples Enrichment Day, and two meetings with one of our FOCCUS Couples, who are specially-trained to help you prepare for a strong, healthy, and faith-filled Marriage.
CONFIRMATION
"For 'by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285
Youth Confirmation: Teens in 11th grade are prepared to celebrate Confirmation during faith formation classes.
Adult Confirmation: If you are an adult Catholic who never received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and would like to do so, please contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director. Preparation includes seven formation sessions. Sessions are offered at least once a year, usually in spring, but we are flexible to meet the needs of all.
RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults): If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the process of becoming Catholic, contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director, at 920-994-4380.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
"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 tot he good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ." Catechism of the Catholic Church 1499
Often times, in our journey in life, we feel and expericence pain. Sometimes it's physical pain, sometimes it's emotional or even spiritual pain. Such experiences remind us of our human condition, and more importantly, of our need for healing.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick does give us that healing. It heals our souls by taking our sins away, and gives us the confidence and courage to bear with Christian hope the hardships we encounter as a result of our human condition. In this sacrament, we encounter the soothing and healing presence of God through the prayers and support of others. This sacrament is not designted for the dying. Rather, any one of us can receive it as many times as we need for our own physical, spiritual, emotional, etc., healing.
Therefore, as a parish, we are making this Sacrament more available to our families. Every fourth Saturday of the month, after the 4:30pm Mass at Holy Cross, we will have a brief liturgy of the Anointing of the Sick. At Our Lady of the Lakes, the Anointing of the Sick will take place on the fourth Wednesday of the month during Mass.
Please contact either Parish Office to set up a time if you'd like to receive this sacrament at home or in the hospital. Due to the shortage of priests, it is suggested to make arrangements to receive this Sacrament several days or weeks prior to the end of life to ensure a priest is able to visit.
EUCHARIST
"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 1323
Children in grade 2: Children are prepared to celebrate First Holy Communion during faith formation classes.
Children in grade 3 and older: Children who desire to to make their First Holy Communion should be enrolled in faith formation and will be prepared separately.
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Communion Visits/Sick Calls If you or a loved one is sick, hospitalized or homebound, and would like to have home visits or Communion visits, please contact your parish office. We can arrange for someone to visit you regularly. Please know that because of privacy laws, hospitals rarely contact parishes to let them know that our parishioners are patients there. If you would like to take Communion to a loved one at home, pyxes are available in our sacristies for your use. Inquire with the sacristan before Mass. You may keep the pyx as long as you need it. Simply return it to the sacristy when you no longer have use for it. |
RECONCILIATION
"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance [Reconciliation] obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion." Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422
Children in grade 2: Children are prepared to celebrate their First Reconciliation during Faith Formation classes.
Children in grade 3 and older: Children who desire to to make their First Reconciliation should be enrolled in faith formation and will be prepared separately.
Confession Times: Saturdays at Holy Cross Chapel from 3:45-4:15 pm; Mondays at St. Rose Chapel, Fredonia from 5-5:25 pm; Wednesdays at St. Mary's Chapel, Random Lake after the 8:00 am Mass. For Reconciliation opportunities outside of the regular schedule, please contact the Parish Office or see our bulletin.
HOLY ORDERS
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrustred by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate." Catechism of the Catholic Church 1536
If you feel called to priestly ministry or to the religious life, information is available at all our parishes regarding our Priestly Formation Program through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as a variety of opportunities for serving in religious orders as priests, deacons, brothers or sisters. Please contact Deb Hamm, Parish Director at 920-994-4380.