Baptism

Baptism is the primary Sacrament of Initiation.  Baptism initiates and incorporates us into the Body of Christ, the Church.  Through its waters, we are remade into a new creation and become children of God and temples of the Holy Spirit.  Original sin is forgiven and grace is given to us from God enabling us to believe, to hope, and to love.

It is the tradition within the Roman Catholic Church to baptize infants.  Parents present their children for baptism, and with that, profess a willingness to raise the children with gospel faith.  Baptismal preparation is essential because having a child baptized comes with tremendous responsibilities. Children must be nurtured in the faith and learn fundamental Catholic teachings and values in the home. The entire parish community also takes on the responsibility of helping to develop and safeguard the gift of God's life given in baptism.

Adults who desire to be baptized enter into the RCIA process.  Usually at the Easter Vigil celebration they are baptized and experience the other Sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and Confirmation).

Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is very powerful because it frees us from sin and grants us grace.  Reconciliation is the sacrament used for the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism.  The story of the Prodigal Son reflects our attitudes about forgiveness and how important it is to our church family to admit to our wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness.  The power of forgiving sin belongs only to God, but He uses priests as His tool and through Reconciliation, Christ wipes "the slate clean" and your soul is pure once more.  According to Church Law, Catholics should go to Reconciliation at least twice a year.  The sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated in a parish gathering during both Advent and Lent, and weekly on Tuesdays from 7:00 - 7:45PM and on Saturdays from 3:15 to 4:15PM.  Reconciliation can also be requested is you are unable to participate at the scheduled times.

Communion

Communion is the reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  We as Catholics, believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are present during the Mass in the form of bread and wine. Communion is a sacrament that is shared through the church body - we become one with Christ and share the meal in faith.  Catholics should take Communion with a clean heart.  Reconciliation is the first step on your way to receiving the Eucharist.  Only with a soul free from sin, should a person take Communion.  Communion is a way of celebrating the sacrifice of Christ and becoming a part of the gift of life that He gave to us.  We celebrate Communion as a church family and tell the story of our faith.  At Mass, we remember the history of Jesus's sacrifice and we are nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ.

First Communion: Our third-grade religious education students celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist each year on Mother's Day.  The children begin their preparations in the second grade when they celebrate Reconciliation and these preparations continue into the third grade.  Many times we have older students that have not yet received First Eucharist and in those cases we make every effort to help the child prepare themselves for First Eucharist through class time, home study and tutoring.  These students learn that they are welcome at the "family table", the special miracle we celebrate at each Mass.  They discover the sacrifice Jesus made for them and embrace God's love for us each time they attend Mass.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is another sacrament of initiation in the Catholic Church.  When one receives the Sacrament of Confirmation, one is anointed with holy oil and is enriched with the strength of the Holy Spirit .  Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism and creates in each person the ability to act as a true witness of Christ.  Confirmation enables each person to become more deeply connected to God, unites us with Christ, allows us to seek out and share the gifts bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit and perfects our bonds to the Church.  We become witnesses to God's love and mercy and defenders of the faith.  Just like Baptism, (which Confirmation completes), Confirmation is only given once and it imparts an indelible spiritual mark upon the soul - a sign that Christ has marked us as His own and gives us the strength and grace to bear witness to our faith.

The Confirmation process for students of the religious education program at St. James is a two-year process.  Their preparations begin in seventh grade as they begin to learn more about the sacrament of Confirmation and the history of the Church and sacred traditions.  As they enter into eight grade, they show their willingness to become witnesses to the Catholic faith by participating in service and outreach projects and studying about the saints and martyrs of our faith.  Students work hard to prepare themselves for this completion of the initiation process and to receive the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The Sacrament of Confirmation for eighth grade students is generally celebrated in the spring and all members of our parish are invited to attend and bear witness to this wonderful sacrament.

Anointing Of The Sick

This is the proper name for what is sometimes mistakenly called “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction.” It is meant for anyone who has a serious illness, is facing surgery, or even is dealing with the effects of old age. It should not be limited to the dying. As the Letter of James says clearly, “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord...” It is a sacrament of healing for spirit, mind and often body. It is administered at a monthly Mass, usually on the second Monday, and anytime on request.

Children's Religious Education and Sacramental Prepration

Religious Education is a process that starts from birth and evolves throughout our lifetime.  Parents are the primary educators of the children in our parish.  As catechists in Children's Religious Education, it is our duty to assist the parent with the instruction of religious education.  We strive to bring families together and closer to one another through faith.  We seek to pass on the valuable traditions of our faith to the youth of our parish.  Through the religious education program, children can work alongside with their parents to love the person of Jesus Christ and foster a closer relationship with the parish community by involving themselves in parish activities and events.  Classes for children's religious education are open to students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.  We meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:45pm for K - 5 and Sunday evenings from 6:30 - 7:45pm for 6 - 8. For sacramental preparation information, see "Sacraments" on top menu.

Adult Education

Being a Catholic should be understood as embarking on a lifelong journey.  Adult Catholics should never stop learning about their Catholic faith and striving to deepen their relationship with Christ. Therefore, each Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM, St. James provides sessions for adult members of the community.  The content of these sessions varies in subject matter from topics such as "The Answers to Questions Catholics are Frequently Asked"; "Bible Study"; "Personal Witness of Catholics with Powerful Life Experiences"; "Planning your Funeral"; "Better Understanding the Sacraments"; "Prayer and Spirituality"; and many more.

Everyone is welcome!

Small Faith-Sharing Groups

A faith-sharing community is not a new vision. It is the vision of the early Christian communities. In an atmosphere of trust, members share the meaning of faith as they read the Sunday scriptures and reflect upon how the scripture message can be lived out in everyday life. God's Word is mighty; there is a need to live God's Word and not just hear the Word proclaimed on Sunday. Six to eight people meet in homes for an hour and a half once a week using an appropriate commentary with prayers and reflective questions. The groups are not study groups as such, but everyday folks trying to live God's Word. There are six basic elements visible in each group: prayer, support, reflection, learning, participation, and mission.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

RCIA is a process for adults and children to better understand the Catholic faith and to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.  It is designed for those who desire to become Catholic or who were baptized Catholic but never experienced the other Sacraments of Initiation (Communion and Confirmation).  Those engaged in the RCIA process are publicly welcomed into the parish community during the year and usually receive their Initiation Sacraments on the evening before Easter. Anyone is able to enter the process at any time during the year. Sessions are held on Thursdays from 7 to 9:00 PM in Classroom 7.