1. A Roman Catholic parent (or a guardian who has the legal custody of the child) who is a member of our Parish may seek Baptism for their child in this parish community.

2. To be a member of our Parish you must live within the boundaries of the parish or be a registered and practicing member of the parish for a period of at least six months prior to the date of the Baptism.

3. The Church emphasizes the role of parents as the first and best teachers of their child in the ways of the faith and Christian values. During the Baptism, the parents of the child promise to do their best to raise their child in the practice of the faith. Obviously, the parents should manifest their faith by participating in the weekly Sunday Eucharist with the faith community into which their child is to be incorporated. We look for an honest and wholehearted commitment on the part of the parents.

4. It is never our intention to deny Baptism to anyone. However, there may be circumstances that would lead us to suggest the postponement of the Baptism until the parents are ready to carry out the promises they must make at the Baptism ceremony.

5. Your child will only be baptized into the Catholic Church if there is a reasonable expectation that you the parents will raise the children in the Church. Knowingly living in an invalid marriage (not married in the church) and knowingly defying the Catholic Church for the purpose of convenience shows a lack of faith and creates a real concern that the child will not be raised Catholic.

6.Canon 868 (1) States that for an infant to be baptized licitly:
a)The parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;
b)There must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.

If you are choosing not to live as a Catholic, why will you want your child baptized as a Catholic?

How can you do that, if you've rejected the faith?

Baptism is not simply an act of initiation or a blessing. It's not just a tradition. It's a very holy and sacred thing meant for believers. Canon law requires a "well-founded hope" that the children will be raised Catholic.

7. Baptism initiates the baptized person into the Cathoic community. Hence it is most appropriate to celebrate Baptism at a time when the community is together, which is when we come together to celebrate Eucharist.

8. If you regularly go to church and intend to raise the child Catholic, there is no canonical or legal impediment to baptizing your child but, if you are not canonically married in the church; for the sake of your own soul, and so you may receive the awesome gift of the true Body and Blood of Christ worthily, we encourage you to get your marriage regularized.

For divorced couples wanting their child baptized, a declaration of nullity (an annulment) for their first marriage (or previous marriage(s), if they had prior marriages) will be required and then having your present marriage convalidated (blessed). The Catholic Church does not recognize civil divorce as real divorce until the annulment procedure has established that there was no valid marriage from the beginning; and one is free to marry before God in the Church. See the pastor to initiate the process.

9. Before a child will be baptized, the parents must complete the process of preparing for the Baptism, a date and time will be fixed for the Sacrament.

10. Since the Baptism is celebrated within the context of the weekend Mass, it is essential that each family arrive well before the Mass starts so that they can be instructed about what to do during the ceremony.

11. The child must have at least one godparent, although two are usual - one from each sex. The godparent must be a "regularly practicing Catholic". They must also have received all three Sacraments of Initiation namely, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. They are required to profess their faith and to expressly assume the responsibility of a godparent for the child

12.Members of other Christian churches, though good Christians, may serve only as a Christian Witness at the Baptism and not as a godparent. Only the names of the godparents are recorded on the Baptism certificate.

Adults who intend to receive Baptism are admitted to the catechumenate and are brought through the various stages of the Rite of Christian Intiation for Adults (RCIA). They receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil. They must register and attend RCIA classes for instructions in the faith. Each adult has a personal sponsor to assist them during their time of catechumenate and act as a witness to their reception of the Sacraments of Initiation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation was instituted by Jesus on Pentecost Sunday when He sent the Holy Spirit, as He promised upon the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. (Acts 2: 1-42). As explained above, 'Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. The sacrament of confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. “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” (CCC 1326).

Those who have received instruction and are suitably prepared receive Confirmation and are thus considered adult members of the Church. They are expected to be active in Church ministries and Parish programs. The sponsor at Confirmation act as a witness to the reception of this Sacrament and it is advised that sponsors be the same person that was present at their Baptism. The dates of the preparation sessions and the actual celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation would be on your parish calendars or you may phone the office for more information.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

This Sacrament was instituted as the Holy Eucharist at the Passover meal the day before He died. (Luke 22:14-20) and the early Christian Community dedicated themselves to the breaking of bread in fellowship (Acts 2:42). The Holy Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. At Mass, when the priest pronounces the words of consecration, "This is my body…this is my blood" the substance of bread is changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus and the substance of wine is changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Catholics are required to fast one hour before receiving Communion (except those aged over 65) and if anyone is not in the State of Grace, they are to go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion. Only Catholics are allowed to receive communion at the Holy Mass. Non-Catholics may come forward with arms folded across their chests and receive a blessing. We show our respect and belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist by genuflecting as we enter the Church. In our parish, we expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before all weekday Masses. 

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation

In our Regina Archdiocese, we administer this Sacrament within the Re-ordering of the Sacraments of Initiation, meaning, for all the kids preparing for First Reconciliation, this sacrament will be administered before Confirmation and First Eucharist. There will be some preparation sessions at the Church for parents and your children to attend together. 

Catechism Classes:

A great deal of emphasis is put on the responsibility for the preparation for these Sacraments and as such the burden is shared by parents, the Catholic schools and the parish. The parish has a sacramental facilitator who will coordinate this program. This calls for co-operation, involvement and a concerted effort on the part of all of us. The parish will provide you with some material for you to work with your child at home in preparation for these Sacraments. We ask you to make a commitment to attend all the sessions at the Church and to do the homework with your child.

In order to assist the parish financially we would be asking a donation to cover the cost of the materials we will be using in preparation for these Sacraments. If the suggested amount would be a problem for you in any way you can to let us know.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

This Sacrament is conferred upon those who are sick or are weak due to old age or who are in danger of death. Jesus instituted this Sacrament by giving example through the many healings he performed. During the physical healing, Jesus also healed the spirit of the one who was ailing. (Mk 2:5-12, Mk 7: 32-36, Mk 36:9-23). The priest anoints forehead and the hands of the person with the Oil of the Sick and then administers Holy Communion. Communal celebration of this sacrament is held once or twice a year at an announced date. Please contact the office if a home celebration is desired, especially in anticipation of entering a hospital.

The special graces of the Sacrament of the Sick are: