St Laurences Parish Forbes – Sacraments

There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrosmation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven Sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith (Cf.CCC 1210)

Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist

The sacraments of Christian initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist – lay the foundations of every Christian life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. (Cf. CCC 1212)

Baptism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. through Baptism we are feed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission (Cf. CCC 1213).

We normally celebrate Baptism on Saturdays at 11am and require attendance to a baptism preparation.

Baptism Preparation

As far as possible both parents and godparents are to attend the meeting. We ask parents to participate in a workshop in preparation for your child’s baptism. Workshops are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm in the parish centre (across the road from the church).

Please contact the Parish Office on 6852 2213 to make arrangements for the baptism of your child.

Adult Baptism, Confirmation, Becoming Catholic

Please contact the priest to organize adult baptism and to start a process of RCIA.

Confirmation

The reception of the sacrament of confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. 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 the are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and dee. (Cf. CCC 1285). 

Confirmations lessons are done at St Laurences Parish School, and as of 2018, are held in year 6. For children attending other schools, please call the office on 6852 2213 for information.

Eucharist

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments and all other church ministries and apostolate works, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch. (Cf CCC 1324)

In the church, there are daily masses and a weekly mass at the nursing home.

Eucharistic Adoration every Friday 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm with benediction.

Home visitations, for the people unable to attend mass: we have teams of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist to minister the sick and housebound. If you would like to receive the Eucharist but are unable to come to the church, please contact the office on 6852 2213.

Sacraments of Healing

The sacraments of healing are Confession and anointing of the sick. “Christ the physician of our soul and body, instituted these sacraments because the new life that he gives us in the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin. Therefore, Christ willed that his Church should continue his work of healing and salvation by means of these two sacraments” (Compendium CCC  §295)

Confession

“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance 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 labours for the conversion”. (CCC 1422).

In our parish, the confessions are held on Saturday 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm, before the Vigil Mass, however, priests are happy to assist any person who approaches at any time.

For a guide to confession, see the following links:

http://thelightison.org/guide-to-confession/

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/confession.php

Anointing of the Sick

Having received from the Lord the charge to heal the sick, the Church strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick and accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. Above all, the Church possesses a sacrament specifically intended for the benefit of the sick. the sacrament was instituted by Christ and is attested by Saint James: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call in the presbyters of the church and let them pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” Jm 5:14-15. (Compendium CCC 315)

In our parish, the sacrament of anointing is celebrated bi-monthly in our nursing homes and by-monthly in our parish. Please check the calendar for the next anointing mass.

In cases of urgency, the priest will visit any homes, hospital or nursing home, please phone the presbytery on 6852 2213.

Sacraments of Communion and mission

Holy Orders and Matrimony, confer a special grace for a particular mission in the Church to serve and build up the People of God. These sacraments contribute in a special way to ecclesial communion and to the salvation of others. (compendium CCC 321)

Marriage

The marital union of a man and woman, which is founded and endowed with its own proper laws by the Creator is by its very nature ordered to the communion and good of the couple and to the generation and education of children. According to the original divine plan this conjugal union is indissoluble, as Jesus Christ affirmed: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). (Compendium CCC 338)

If you would like to be married in the Catholic church, please contact the office. The priest will arrange the pre-marriage talks with you as well as all the necessary paperwork. Please contact the office on 6852 2213.

Priesthood (Holy Orders) and Consecrated Life

Priesthood (Holy Orders): Orders designates an ecclesial body into which one enters by means of a special consecration (ordination). Through a special gift of the Holy Spirit, this sacrament enables the ordained to exercise a sacred power in the name and with the authority of Christ for the service of the People of God. (Compendium CCC 323).

Consecrated life: While this is not a sacrament in itself, the catechism says: “the state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness”. (CCC 914)

From the very behinning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.” (CCC 918)

If you feel the Lord is calling you to the consecrated life, please speak with your priest. He will help you discern what the Lord is speaking to your heart.

Other ministries

Funerals: please do not hesitate to call the office, we will work together on how to proceed with the Requiem Mass or liturgy of farewell. We will add to our private prayers the person who has passed and your family. The spiritual help is needed in this time of testing and pain.

Blessings: Many people ask to have things blessed. For small things, such as crosses, rosaries, please see the priest at any time. For larger items such as houses, businesses, farms, etc. the priest will be more than happy to go and bless them. Just ask!