The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments. Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation are the three Sacraments of Initiation.
The 2 Sacraments of Healing are: Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick.
The Sacraments of Service are: Holy Orders& Matrimony
Baptism:
The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Traditionally, the rite (or ceremony) of baptism was held outside the doors of the main part of the church, to signify this fact. Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. It’s a big occasion for Catholic families. The day of Baptism is one filled with family, friends, and feasting after the sacred event has taken place in church.
Note: Parents should be active parishioners three months prior to seeking a date for their child's baptism. Parents must also attend two baptismal preparation classes. Please call our office for details.
Communion (The Eucharist):
First Holy Communion, is a ceremony of mostly the Latin (Roman) Rite of the Catholic Church. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and in Roman Catholic churches occurs typically at age seven or eight. When boys and girls make their First Holy Communion (usually in second grade), it’s a big occasion for Catholic families. Like their Baptism, the day of First Communion is one filled with family, friends, and feasting after the sacred event has taken place in church. Girls typically wear white gowns and veils and often look like little brides, and boys wear their Sunday best or new suits and ties bought for the occasion. The children are generally too young to appreciate all the theological refinements, but as long as they know and believe that it’s not bread or wine they’re receiving but the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, then they are old enough to take Holy Communion.
Confirmation:
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. Many people think of the laying on of hands, which signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit, as the central act in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The essential element, however, is the anointing of the confirmand (the person being confirmed) with chrism (an aromatic oil that has been consecrated by a bishop, accompanied by the words "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." This seal is a consecration, representing the safeguarding by the Holy Spirit of the graces conferred on the Christian at Baptism. Each bishop is a successor to the apostles, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost—the first Confirmation. The Acts of the Apostles mentions the apostles imparting the Holy Spirit to believers by the laying on of hands (see, for example, Acts 8:15-17 and 19:6). Those being confirmed are in a direct line in the laying on of hands reaching all the way back to the original apostles.
Please contact our Director of Religious Education Susan Finley if you wish to schedule classes for the Sacrament of Baptism or Confirmation.
Sue can be reached at 586-727-5215 extension 141
(Adult Confirmation): In addition to St. Augustine's Confirmation Mass, twice a year, the bishop presides over a special liturgy at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Detroit) to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for those adults who have not yet been confirmed. Baptized Catholics who have received Eucharist and are interested in being prepared for confirmation, are asked to contact our office: 586-727-5215 Ext. 141
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Those three names are commonly used interchangeably for the Sacrament in which sins are forgiven. The Sacrament is called “Confession” because the penitent makes a verbal confession of his or her particular sins. It is called “Penance” from another element of the Sacrament – the good action that the priest asks the penitent to perform as a token of his or her sincerity, and as a way to bring some good into the world in reparation for the sin committed. And finally “Reconciliation” refers to the final effect of the Sacrament: the penitent is reconciled with God and the Church. It is no exaggeration to say that the very reason that Jesus Christ came into the world was for reconciliation: to reconcile us to the Father and to one another. The very first message in the New Testament, on the lips of John the Baptist, was: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2) After the death of John the Baptist, this message was taken up by the Lord Jesus. During His life on earth, the Lord forgave the sins of various people He encountered. And after His Resurrection, he told His Apostles to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His name to all the nations. (Luke 24:47) This sacrament is founded on the clear instruction of the Lord. After His Resurrection, the Lord appeared to His Apostles, breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:22-23) Christ instituted the Sacraments as He did because we are physical creatures living in a visible world. We know by seeing and hearing. All of the Sacraments involve an actual encounter with a person who speaks and acts in the name of Christ (in most of the Sacraments, a priest) so that we can know what is happening. In most of the Sacraments, no one objects to that. For example, no parent ever wants to internally ask God to give their new child the grace of rebirth; they want the priest and the water and the words, because then they know their child has been baptized. Only in regard to Reconciliation are people inclined to become very “spiritual” and want everything to be internal, and only between them and God. This is on account of our pride – which is also the root of every sin. Humility is the way back to God; and the confessional is a great school of humility. This sacrament is a wonderful gift from Jesus to us. Confessing out loud to another is hightly cathartic, and the counciling one receives from a priest can be priceless.
Anointing of the Sick
This Sacrament was instituted by Jesus and is administered for spiritual and even physical strength during an illness including near time of death. This Sacrament conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening by the Holy Spirit against anxiety,discouragement and temptation. It conveys peace and fortitude. As Sacred Scripture tells us "by His wounds we are healed." Note: Please notify the parish office of any need for a home or hospital visit.
Matrimony
In the Catholic Church, also called marriage, is the "covenant" by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring", and which "has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptised." The focus on marriage is a free mutual agreement or contract, between a man and a woman. This covenant is considered by the Catholic Church to be indissoluble. This contract is for life.
In accordance with the guidelines of the Province of Michigan, engaged couples must contact the Parish Office six months prior to the desired date and complete required preparation. The Parish expects couples to be active parishioners at least one year prior to the wedding date. Contact the Parish office to begin marriage preparation.
Note: Engaged couples must contact the parish office six months prior to the desired date and complete required preparation. The parish expects couples to be active parishioners at least one year prior to the wedding date. To begin marriage prep please contsact the parish office.
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted 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: bishop, priest and diaconate.