The Sacraments: Our Life in Christ
"The Church, in Christ, is like a sacrament - a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men." The Church's first purpose is to be the sacrament of the inner union of men with God. Because men's communion with one another is rooted in that union with God, the Church is also the sacrament of the unity of the human race. In her, this unity is already begun, since she gathers men "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues"; at the same time, the Church is the "sign and instrument" of the full realization of the unity yet to come. (CCC 775)
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. For information about the specific processes of receiving a sacrament, contact the parish. Learn more about The Sacraments below.
Baptism is the sacrament that is necessary for all other sacraments. through this sacrament, we are made children of God as we are joined to Christ and the Church, made heirs of heaven, and freed from original sin.
"The baptized have "put on Christ." Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies. Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect." (CCC 1227-1228)
Please click on the link below to find the answers to frequently asked questions about godparents.
http://shoj.org/wp-content/uploads/Godparents-FAQ.pdf
Please contact the parish at office@stsebastianri.org or call 751-0196 to inquire about this Sacrament at the Church of St. Sebastian.
“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." (CCC 1323)
Because the Eucharist is the supreme act of worship of God, the Mass is celebrated daily. And, it is in the Eucharist that we find our strength to live the Christian faith and go forth to continue the mission of Christ in today’s world.
“The Eucharist is the source and center of the Christian life.” In the Eucharist, we find our life, our hope, and our strength and we return all of our love and thanksgiving to the Eucharist, “for in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” (CCC 1324)
To receive Holy Communion, one must be a Catholic in good standing with the Church. Children who have not yet received their 1st Holy Communion should enter the parish Religious Education program and adults who would like to receive this or any of the other Sacraments are invited to join our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) program. For more information, contact the Religious Education office.
"Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorpoate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds." (CCC 1316)
Many young people and sometimes, even their parents, think of the Sacrament of Confirmation as a graduation ceremony. Confirmation is not the end of developing our Catholic Faith! In reality, let us look at what the Church teaches us about the Sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church Confirmation it is only the beginning of a life committed to Christ and His Church.
Young people who have not yet been confirmed should enter the parish Religious Education Program; adults who have never received the Sacrament can enter the R.C.I.A. program. More information about the preparation process for children under the age of 16 is available through the Religious Education office; for persons 16 or older, please contact the Pastor.
“Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.” (CCC 1446)
This Sacrament gives Christ’s faithful the further possibility of conversion. All of us know that we are not perfect and depend on God for the grace necessary to change our lives. Through Confession, we announce our sins to the priest who sits “in persona Christi” (in the person of Christ) and exercises the command of Christ to His Apostles, ”Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:23)
Confession is held each Sunday before 10am Mass or by appointment.
“This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord.” (CCC 1511)
“Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders 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)
The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill, to those who live with a chronic condition, and before surgery. The Anointing of the Sick is not "Last Rites."
If you or a loved one have a serious illness, contact the parish office to arrange a time when the priest can come to offer the Sacrament of the Sick. Please do not wait until the last minute. It is best to give the Sacrament when the person receiving it can be consoled and strengthened by joining in the prayers while they are surrounded by their family and friends gathered and praying with them.
Most of Christ's faithful will live out their personal call through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Marriage is a holy and noble vocation that reflects Christ's love for His Bride, the Church (Ephesians 5: 29 - 32).
Congratulations on your engagement and decision to enter into Catholic marriage! St. Sebastian Parish will help you in your preparation to ensure that you make this serious and sacred step in your life a holy and happy one.
Spiritual preparation is a key part of this special time. Frequent participation in the sacraments during this time is important, particularly weekly Mass attendance. It is also strongly recommended that you bring yourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this time of preparation. The engagement period can be particularly stressful at times, and the graces bestowed on you through Reconciliation and weekly Mass will be a great source of strength to help keep you focused and at peace. This spiritual direction will foster great growth and maturity for both partners.
The bride and/or groom should be registered members of our parish. A bride or groom who has moved away but whose family remains registered and supportive of the parish will be given due consideration.
How do I get started?
The day and time of the wedding must be arranged in person by the prospective bride and groom themselves as soon as they feel called to marry. No arrangement can be made by phone or parents. All arrangements should be made 9 months prior to the wedding date and done prior to scheduling the reception.
This first meeting with the Pastor may be scheduled by calling the Parish Office at 401.751-0196.
Please bring with you the following:
Planning the Liturgy
Please feel free to download the following documents for information on the Mass readings.
All couples must also participate in the Marriage Preparation and Enrichment program offered by the Diocese of Providence (https://www.dioceseofprovidence.org/).
“He who never ceases to make his church fruitful through new offspring wishes to make these modern times the equal of former days and to spread the Catholic faith. So he inspired you with a holy desire to embrace poverty, profess regular life and commit yourselves to the proclamation of the word of God, preaching everywhere the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Pope Honorious III: Letter to St. Dominic and his Companions, January 18, 1221
If you feel called to discern the priesthood or religious life contact Fr. Jordan to discuss how God might be calling you to build up His Church.
If you are visiting this page due to the loss of a loved one, please accept our sincere condolences.
The following information is provided to assist in the preparation of the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Sebastian. You are also invited to visit the Diocese of Providence’s Catholic Cemeteries website for more information (https://dioceseofprovidence.org/catholic-cemeteries-1).
All the baptized are entitled to the full Rite of Christian Burial. You and your family will experience the Rite of Christian Burial in three distinct and important parts:
The Wake Service
This will take place during the visiting hours at the funeral home you have chosen. At this time someone from the family, or a friend, may wish to remember the deceased by sharing personal memories, as in a eulogy.
The Mass of Christian Burial
This is the most important part of the celebration of Christian Burial. This is almost always celebrated within a Mass. The bodily remains are honored by being brought to the Church. We celebrate the life of the deceased in the whole context of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Committal
A parish priest or deacon will accompany the remains and the family to the cemetery, where the Rite of Christian Burial will conclude with the prayers of Committal and Final Commendation. Should one wish to speak in memory of the deceased, as in a eulogy or a remembrance, the Rite of Christian Burial allows for such to usually take place as part of the Prayer of Commendation that will be prayed at the cemetery.
Pastoral Considerations for the Mass of Christian Burial
A funeral may be celebrated on any day of the week except Sundays and Holy Days. There are also some restrictions concerning funerals during Holy Week. The priest will discuss these restrictions as they apply. The funeral liturgy is ordinarily celebrated in the parish church.
The funeral liturgy is one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations of the Church. Your family has the option of personalizing the Mass by choosing the Scripture readings and by requesting specific hymns.
Readings
When choosing scriptures, there should be one reading from the Old Testament, and one reading from the New Testament. Although you can choose from the whole Bible, the texts linked below are especially appropriate.
All Readings
New Testament Funeral Readings
Old Testament Funeral Readings
Gospel Readings
Music
Please be aware that only Sacred Music may be used at a Funeral Liturgy. As liturgical music magnifies the spoken word, music is a beautiful offering within the Mass of Christian Burial. Music brings comfort and peace to the loved ones attending the Funeral Mass.
In the rich liturgical tradition of our Church, there is a treasury of prescribed music for the Mass of Christian Burial. This treasury, in both Latin and English, reflects the believers' faith and hope in the Resurrection and the forgiveness of sins. The best person to guide the family in the choice of music is the {astor or the Director of Music. It is not incumbent upon the loved ones of the deceased, or the funeral director, to choose music for the liturgy. If no particular music is requested, we will choose appropriate music based on the liturgical season and readings chosen for the Mass of Christian Burial. Sometimes a particular hymn, perhaps a favorite of the deceased, will be requested. If you have any preferences, please indicate them. Unless the deceased has served in the Armed Services of our country, patriotic hymns are inappropriate.
Programs
Worship Programs are very helpful in the celebration of the Funeral Liturgy. In consultation with the family, the Parish Director of Music prepared the Worship Program.
Additionally, because Mass is a live celebration of faith, pre-recorded or secular music is not used at St. Sebastian.