Baptism

Baptism gives a person entrèe into the Christian community. In Baptism, the “one Spirit” makes us members of the Body of Christ and one another. At our Baptism we are washed clean of original sin and along with the other Sacraments of Initiation – Eucharist and Confirmation – given entrèe into the fullness of Christian life.

Baptism’s are celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Parents must attend Pre-Jordan class to help prepare for their child’s Baptism and the classes take place monthly in the Holy Child cry room. Please call the rectory to register for a Pre-Jordan class and to schedule a Baptism date

First Reconciliation / First Communion

Parents are expected to follow St. Anthony Parish policy with regard to sacramental preparation and celebration with their children. This policy will be explained more fully at the parent/child sessions held in conjunction with each sacrament.

The following are general guidelines:

Registration in the parish is required.
Children not baptized at St. Anthony must submit a baptismal certificate.
Children who are to celebrate a sacrament should have an age appropriate appreciation and understanding of the sacrament.
Families have a responsibility to regularly attend Mass with their children.
Parents of students in Grade 3 and above who have not received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and/or Eucharist should contact the Director for support in preparing their children for these sacraments.
First Reconciliation takes place during the Lenten season.
First Communion is traditionally the last Saturday of April.

Family First Reconciliation/First Communion Calendar 2013-14 (coming soon)

Confirmation

It is the expectation that Confirmation candidates:

Be baptized
Be participating regularly in Sunday Mass with their families
Be prepared through a Confirmation formation program including Spirit Camp, a retreat, service to the parish and community at large.

Confirmation Sponsors

The role of the sponsor is to help the candidate throughout his/her life to fulfill his or her baptismal promises. The sponsor should be one whose positive influence on the candidate is permanent and strong; hence it is not just an honorary title, but also a responsibility to set a good Catholic example. In conformity with the new Code of Canon Law:

Parents may not be sponsors.
Sponsors must be at least 16 years old.
Sponsors must be Catholics who have been confirmed, receive Eucharist and practice the Faith. (“Practicing” means, in the case of an adult, being registered in a parish, frequenting the Sacraments, regularly attending Mass and is in a valid marriage.)
Sponsors must have a Letter of Eligibility from the pastor of their present parish.

Eucharist

The Eucharist is the “sign” and “cause” of our communion with God andour unity as the People
of God. In the Eucharist, we “unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy” andwith one another. Together transformed, we are then sent forth to fulfill God’s will in our daily lives (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], nos. 1325-26, 1332). In this way, the Eucharistic Liturgy is social in nature. It is the celebration through which God draws us into communion with himself and with others, forming and transforming us to live as the Body of Christ in the world.

The Eucharist is celebrated every day at St. Anthony Parish. Daily Mass takes place at 6:30 & 8:15 am. as well as Monday evenings at 7:30 pm. Saturday daily Mass is 8:15. Masses for the Sunday Obligation are Saturday Vigil-5:15 and Sunday morning -7:15, 9:15 & 11:15.

Reconciliation: God’s Gift of Forgiveness and Mercy

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the Mary Chapel.

The Sacrament of Penance is an experience of the gift of God’s boundless mercy. Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”

Holy Matrimony

In Christian marriage, spouses model the love and self-gift of Christ. By giving of themselves and serving one another, their family, and community, they help one another live out Christ’s call to discipleship, love, and service. Marriage provides a foundation for a family committed to community, solidarity, and Jesus’ mission in the world.

Couples desiring to get married at St. Anthony’s should call the rectory and speak with Monsignor McHenry to make arrangements. A complete wedding planner packet can be found at the link below.

Anointing of the Sick

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anoininting but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention.

For those who are about to depart from this life, the Church offers the person Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as Viaticum (food for the journey) given at the end of life.

The Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by calling the rectory 215-646-4742. Additionally, there is Anointing of the Sick after the 9:15 mass each first Sunday of the month.