Sacramental Life

The Rite of Christian Initiation

Adults

Adults who are seeking initiation into the Catholic Church are prepared through a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

• Any adult not yet baptized and who wishes to become Catholic,
• any adult baptized in another Christian church who wishes to become Catholic,
• and any adult baptized in the Catholic Church, but not raised in the faith and who seeks complete Initiation (Confirmation, First Eucharist)

Baptism of Children and Youth (Ages 7-18)

Preparation for Baptism for children and youth ages seven through eighteen is done with their families and parish sponsor families. They also participate in Christian Formation with their peers.

The process is designed for each individual, with group and family experiences. Initiation for these children and youth follows the principles of the adult initiation process rather than those for infant baptism. Contact the Director of Christian Formation for more information.

Baptism of Children

Baptism Policy

The Catholic parents of children to be baptized must be registered and practicing members of St. Matthias Parish. They should worship with the community on a regular basis. They should also exercise responsible stewardship of their time, talent and treasure in witness to Jesus Christ and service to our community.

The parent(s) are required to attend two sessions of preparation if this is a couple’s first child or if they have not attended sessions in the past three years. These sessions will be concerned with the rite itself and the role of the family in nurturing the Catholic faith and Catholic teachings on Baptism. Parents are encouraged to attend these sessions before the birth of their child.

The registration for baptism will be accepted and finalized when the above requirements have been met.

Baptisms are normally celebrated at any Mass (Saturday or Sunday) on the second weekend of the month and at 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. This schedule may change due to calendar conflicts. Please call the Parish Office for the exact dates. 

Confirmation

The sacrament of Confirmation usually is celebrated during the junior year of high school during the Easter season. Ninth and tenth graders are expected to participate in the parish Christian Formation program as a prerequisite for the immediate preparation during the eleventh grade.

Eleventh graders participate in monthly sessions to prepare for Confirmation. Sessions meet one Sunday night a month from 6:30-8:30, October through April. They do three service projects, work in a journal that they share with their sponsors, have a meeting with a member of the pastoral staff, and participate in an overnight retreat.

Youth who are older than eleventh grade or who have special needs are invited to participate in the process.

Adult Confirmation

This program for adults generally runs from September through April with sessions held twice a month. Any Catholic adult who has never been confirmed and would like to begin preparation for the sacrament to complete his/her initiation should call the parish office for more information. 

First Eucharist

First Eucharist is usually celebrated in the second grade. This preparation includes ongoing formation in the Christian Formation program or in St. Matthias School, who work in partnership with the home.

Because parents are the primary faith formers of their children, the immediate preparation is done in the family. Parents participate in three adult sessions designed to enrich their own faith and to help them work with their child at home. They receive a book to complete with their child. There is a Rite of Commitment during Mass to begin the process in January and a Saturday evening Family Workshop in spring. First Eucharist is celebrated at parish Masses on two weekends in late April/early May.

Children who are older than second grade or who have special needs are welcome to join the preparation. Appropriate materials will be used.

First Eucharist Registration Form

Christian Formation Calendar

First Reconciliation

First Reconciliation (Penance) is celebrated when your child is ready, sometime between the second and fifth grade. A paper on this sacrament and signs of readiness is available to help parent(s) make this decision. Children are given ongoing instruction about forgiveness, sin, and God’s love in all grades at St. Matthias School and in every year of the Christian Formation program.

Specific, immediate preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation is family-centered. Parents participate in three adult sessions designed to enrich their own faith and to help them work with their child at home. They receive a book to complete with their child. There are two family events: an evening session and Rite of Commitment to begin the process in late September and a Saturday learning event in early December. First Reconciliation is celebrated in January.

Children who have special needs are welcome to join the process.

First Reconciliation Registration Form

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation for Children

Frequently Asked Questions About First Reconciliation

Christian Formation Calendar

For Adults

Individual Reconciliation (confession) is available. Please consult the parish bulletin for times and days. Individual reconciliation is also available by appointment with a priest.

In collaboration with neighboring parishes, Communal Celebrations of the Sacrament of Penance are celebrated at seasonally prearranged times. Watch the parish bulletin for times, dates and places. 

Marriage

At least one person must be a registered and practicing member of St. Matthias Parish. Special consideration will be given to those whose parents are members of St. Matthias.

Sacrament of the Sick

The sacrament is meant for the living. If there is a person in your family who is ill, chronically sick, growing weaker or disabled, he/she should receive the Sacrament of the Sick. In hospitals, a chaplain may be requested. If a family calls a priest, it is a great support for the sick person to have his/her family and friends present for the sacrament. Also, if the family wishes to receive the Eucharist with the sick person, the priest should be informed.

If families feel there is no need for the sacrament to be celebrated at home, in a nursing home or in the hospital, they are encouraged to bring the sick person to the Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month after the 4:00 p.m. Mass.

To consult a priest about the need for the Sacrament of the Sick, please call the Parish Office. The priest will arrange for a suitable time.

This sacrament may not be administered to a deceased person. However, if the survivors wish to have a priest present for their own needs, please call the Parish Office.

Finally, parishioners are encouraged to inform the Parish Office whenever a family member is hospitalized so that the priests and other pastoral ministers can visit.

Pastoral Care of the Dying

While the Sacrament of Anointing and Pastoral Care of the Sick place emphasis on the Lord’s compassion and forgiveness during the struggle against illness, Viaticum and the ministry to the dying places emphasis on trust in the Lord’s promise of eternal life.

The reception of Eucharist by the dying person and his/her family and the prayers for the commendation of the dying make up the Sacrament of Viaticum. This ritual is provided by the Church for spiritual comfort of the Christian who is close to death. The ordinary minister of Viaticum is the priest, deacon or other lay pastoral minister delegated by the parish for the care of the dying.

Christian Burial

Our Catholic way of life teaches us that death is not an end of life but a change. In the burial of a Christian, we celebrate the faith of a deceased person and Christ’s victory over death and suffering. Christian burial is a time for family and friends to console each other with the words of Christ and the liturgy of the Church.

When Someone Dies

Please call the Parish Office to make funeral arrangements. One of the priests will assist in making plans for the funeral and burial. Choosing suitable readings and hymns can assist a family to remember and share faith with its departed members. Several funeral options are available; i.e., morning, afternoon or evening funerals with visitation in Church or at the funeral home. The pre-planning of a funeral is highly encouraged.

Rather than flowers being sent at the time of a funeral, perhaps a permanent memorial might be desired. St. Matthias has a system of "memorials" to honor our loved ones who have died. Special gifts will be accepted and publicly acknowledged in the parish bulletin. For a current listing of items for which memorials are being accepted, please call the Parish Office.