Sacraments
Baptism
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In Baptism we celebrate being reborn as sons and daughters of God. Through this beautiful sacrament we become members of the Church and share in its mission—to spread the Gospel through our lives in the world.
Catholics will most often be baptized as infants—when a baby is baptized the parents and godparents speak for the child, expressing the desire for baptism. Infant baptism emphasizes Christ’s desire to “let the little ones come to me” and emphasizes the important role of family and community in our life of faith.
First time parents (new and expecting) are required to attend a baptismal preparation session. You can set up this session by contacting Fr. Matthew directly. In this session we discuss living out discipleship through our baptismal call. We also focus on the Rite of Baptism and lay out the process for scheduling a baptism in our parish. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office at (920) 867-2179.
Anointing of the Sick
“Is any among you sick? Let him call the presbyters 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 gives special grace and comfort to those experiencing the difficulties inherent in grave illness or advancement of years. Each time someone falls seriously ill, he or she is encouraged to receive this sacrament, and he or she may receive it again each time the illness worsens. The strength and peace of the Lord that may be received in this sacrament helps the ill to be united to Christ during their trials.
If you or someone you love is in need of the grace of the Sacrament of Anointing, please contact Fr. Kris directly, or in the case of emergency only, please reach him on his phone. Fr. Kris will also do anointings after Masses, as needed.
Reconciliation
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week…[Jesus] breathed on them, and said to them: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20:19, 22-23).
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called “Confession” or “Penance”) is a beautiful encounter with our Lord and the Church in which the mercy of God is poured out for us, and we receive forgiveness of our sin. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives our sin, and we also are reconciled with the entire Church.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled regularly at our parish on Saturdays from 3:45 - 4:15 pm, and on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, following Mass. Please see Welcome section for any additional offerings.
Marriage
Marriage is a sacrament of vocation in which the Holy Spirit binds a man and woman in matrimony through the vows they make to each other. A priest or deacon witnesses the marriage on behalf of the Church, and a lifelong covenant is formed that parallels the relationship Christ has with his bride, the Church. This sacrament strengthens and binds couples in a lifelong relationship to remain faithful to one another, and to lovingly welcome children into their family through conception or adoption.
Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church takes great joy in assisting couples as they prepare for their wedding day and continues to support them throughout the entirety of their marriage and family life together. Engaged couples have the full support of our faith community, meeting individually for marriage preparation with a priest as well as partaking in other formation opportunities. Mentor couples meet with the engaged couple to assist the couple as they grow in communication and mutual understanding through the use of the FOCCUS
Requirements for a man and woman who desire to be married within our church are as follows:
· One of the two engaged individuals has been a member of our parish at some point in their lifetime, or is willing to establish ongoing membership within our faith community.
· Both individuals are free to marry in the Catholic Church. That is, they either have not previously been married in any setting or any previous marriage has gone through the Church's annulment process.
If you are planning on getting engaged, or are engaged now, please know that we are ready to be an active part of your marriage preparation! We can answer any questions you may have about this sacrament and your preparations for married life together. Contact the parish office at (920) 867-2179. You can also visit the website Catholic Wedding Help to assist you in planning a Catholic wedding.
Already married but not married in the Church?
You may call to meet Fr. Matthew to discuss the possibility of entering into the Sacrament of Matrimony in addition to your civil marriage. This would be a new step in your relationship, asking the grace of God to be at work, and binding you and your spouse to vows before God.
Previously married?
If you have been married and divorced, you may want to discuss the possibility of an annulment. An annulment process looks at whether the prior marriage had conditions missing for it to be a sacramental marriage. The annulment process is concerned mainly with the personal and spiritual aspects of marriage. It does not “erase” the civil contract, and it does not render children illegitimate. It merely states that after thorough investigation, the Church has decided that a marriage, as the Church understands marriage, was not valid. Fr. Matthew is trained to assist people in this process. Please call the parish office to set up a time to discuss this. If an annulment is granted, the person is then free to enter into a sacramental marriage.