Sacraments 
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday - 5:30 PM
Sunday - 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Holy Day masses as announced
Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday - Friday : 8:30 AM or as announced
See the Weekly Bulletin for mass intentions and ministry schedule.
| BAPTISM | CONFIRMATION | EUCHARIST | RECONCILIATION |
| HOLY ORDERS | ANNOINTING OF THE SICK | Certificates of Eligibility |
Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation. It removes all sin: original and any other sins. It makes us children of God, members of Christ, the Church, and heirs to the kingdom of heaven.
Baptism is celebrated at any mass of the third weekend of each month. Baptism is also celebrated on the third Sunday of each month after the 11:00AM Mass. The parents must attend a Baptismal preparation program. The godparents are also invited to attend the program. This program is created to assist parents and godparents in their preparation for the Baptism of their child before the child is born. The program offers the parents and godparents the opportunity to be properly instructed in the meaning of the sacrament and the obligations which are attached to it.
Call the parish office to find out the dates of the Baptismal preparation program, to schedule the Baptism, or if you have any questions.
A candidate for Baptism must have at least one godparent, or sponsor. Godparent or sponsors for the Sacrament of Baptism must obtain a certificate of eligibility from their home parish verifying that they meet the following requirements:
1. They are16 years of age or older,
2. They are fully initiated Catholics i.e. they have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist,
3. If married, their present marriage must be valid, i.e., recognized as being valid by the Church;and
4. They are actively practicing Catholic, i.e. they attend mass regularly, participate in the life of the parish, and support their parish family.
NOTE:
- The godparent cannot be the mother or the father of the one to be baptized.
- There can be two godparents, a man and a woman.
- A baptized non-Catholic cannot be a godparent, but can be admitted as a Christian witness to the Baptism.
Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. It increases and deepens baptismal grace, unites the recipients more firmly to Christ, intensifies their adoption as children of God, increases the seven GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in the recipients and gives them the strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith.
The practice in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is to confirm young men and women in the eleventh grade. The diocesan bishop administers the Sacrament of Confirmation and ordinarily this takes place in the Easter Season.
The Altoona-Johnstown diocesan policy calls for a process which requires attendance in a parish Religious Education Program in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades. Scripture study, worship and prayer services, instruction, retreats, and Christian service are all essential and irreplaceable parts of the process.
Candidates for Confirmation together with their sponsors and families commit to a three-year process of preparation before celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Sponsors for the Sacrament of Confirmation must obtain a certificate of eligibility from their home parish verifying that they meet the following requirements:
1. They are16 years of age or older,
2. They are fully initiated Catholics i.e. they have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist,
3. If married, their present marriage must be valid, i.e., recognized as being valid by the Church; and
4. They are actively practicing Catholic, i.e. they attend mass regularly, participate in the life of the parish, and support their parish family.
NOTE: Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Adults who wish to be confirmed should contact the church office.
The Holy Eucharist was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper. It makes present again the sacrifice of the cross in an unbloody manner. It intensifies our union with Christ who is truly, really, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. Catholics are urged to celebrate and receive the Eucharist frequently.
Weekend Mass Schedule:
Saturday - 5:30 PM
Sunday - 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Holy day of obligation masses as announced
Weekday Mass Schedule:
Monday – Friday – 8:30 AM
or as announced
Saturday - 5:30 PM
Sunday - 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Holy day of obligation masses as announced
Weekday Mass Schedule:
Monday – Friday – 8:30 AM
or as announced
The Holy Eucharist is one of the three sacraments of initiation.
In the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown the class reception of the Holy Eucharist or First Communion is celebrated in the second grade. A student must attend the first grade Religious Education program as well as the second grade program or Catholic School classes and special sessions for the reception of these sacraments with the second grade class. Requirements for parents include attendance of the First Communion retreat and practice to enrich and strengthen the family's understanding and participation in the celebration of this sacrament.
Older children are prepared for the Holy Eucharist outside the regular classes and may receive the sacrament individually after consultation with the child, the parent/guardian, the Director of religious Education and the Pastor.
Communion Calls are made by the clergy and lay ministers of the parish to those parishioners who are home-bound or residing in hospitals or nursing homes. Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements. Because of the regulations concerning patient privacy, the parishioner, a family member or friend needs to inform the Parish Office of the hospitalization.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation was instituted by Christ on Easter Sunday when he breathed on the Apostles and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 22-23)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also called the sacrament of Conversion, of Penance, or of Confession.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
- heals and saves the baptized person from sin,
- restores the gift of God’s grace in us,
- reconciles us with the Church,
- strengthens and intensifies the life of God in us,
- helps us to develop a sense of sin,
- assists us in the proper formation of conscience.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is
celebrated on Saturdays
from 4:00 PM till 4:30 PM or anytime upon request.
from 4:00 PM till 4:30 PM or anytime upon request.
There are two Communal Reconciliation Services that are celebrated; one in Advent and one in Lent.
Marriage was established by God in the creation of a man and a woman. Christ raised the institution of marriage to a sacrament when he attended the wedding feast of Cana and through his preaching when he taught on the union of a man and woman in marriage.
The Sacrament of Marriage establishes an indissoluble bond between a man and a woman. In this bond, husbands and wives give themselves totally and selflessly to one another for life: they are to love one another as Christ loves the Church.
Marriage is a sacrament at the service of communion in the Church. It is received so that the recipients may dedicate themselves toward the salvation of others. It does contribute to the salvation of the recipients, but only because the recipients work for the salvation of others.
Marriage Preparation Policy has been established by the diocese with the intent of helping to build and shape stronger Marriages.
To prepare adequately for the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, the couple must meet with the pastor at least nine months before the anticipated wedding date. Participation in the Pre-Cana program or Engaged Encounter offered by the Diocesan Family Life office is required of all couples, as well as completing FOCCUS Inventory which is needed for the marriage preparation process.
Please note that special cases may require special consideration, more preparation time, and possible delays. This is discussed and worked out on an individual basis with the parties involved. Brochures summarizing the scheduled preparation programs are available in the church office. Please call the church office for more information.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper. The grace of the sacrament imprints an indelible character on the soul of the recipient and configures him to Christ.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is a sacrament at the service of communion in the Church. It is received so that the recipient may dedicate himself towards the salvation of others.
It contributes to the salvation of the recipient, but only because the recipient works for the salvation of others.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders may be received only once in each of its degrees: deacon, priest, and bishop.
In the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown ordinations to priesthood and deaconate usually take place in the Easter Season.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a continuation of the Lord’s compassion for the sick. Christ so identified with the sufferings of the sick that he made their sufferings his own.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
- heals and saves the baptized person from sin,
- unites the suffering of the sick person to the sufferings of Christ,
- strengthens the sick person with courage and peace to endure whatever sufferings are caused by
disease or old age,
- forgives all sins for which the sick person has true sorrow but was unable to confess,
- sometimes restores health if it is appropriate for the salvation of the sick person,
- prepares the sick person for the transition to eternal life.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated in a communal manner once a year and is available after all weekend masses, and at other times by appointment. Parishioners anticipating hospitalization are encouraged to receive this sacrament before they go to the hospital. Otherwise, parishioners should contact the Parish Office.
Certificates of eligibility are issued only to the registered parishioners who meet the following requirements:
1. They are 16 years of age or older,
2. They are fully initiated Catholics i.e. they have received the Sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist,
3. If married, their present marriage must be valid, i.e., recognized as being valid by the Church,
4. They are actively practicing Catholic, i.e., they attend mass regularly, participate in the life of the parish, and support their parish family.