The Seven Sacraments

1. Why does it cost so much to get married in the Church? It doesn’t cost anything to get married in the Church.  The usual offering to the church for a wedding is $100. If that is a problem for any couple it can be waived.  If you want a $1500 wedding dress, you have a $1500 wedding, but that has nothing to do with church. Limousines, expensive flowers and receptions can make for an expensive wedding but that has nothing to do with the church and is in no way a requirement.  The requirements for a Catholic wedding are: Groom, Bride, two witnesses and a priest or deacon.  That is ALL you have to have.
2. I have had a previous marriage and might need an annulment. I have heard that the process is extremely expensive and that an annulment would mean our children are illegitimate. The Tribunal that processes annulment cases is located in the Diocesan Chancery.  They request a fee for a formal case of a total of $350.  This fee also can be reduced or waived if necessary. The fee is intended to offset some of the cost of processing an annulment.  A Church annulment has nothing to do with legitimacy of children.  All children born of the marriage are legitimate.  Because every case is as different as the people involved, contact me for information rather than taking the word of co-workers or family members.
3. What are the requirements for godparents (padrinos) for Baptism?  Godparents must be at least 16 years of age, must be practicing Catholics (attend Mass regularly, receive the Sacraments, and have received all the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism Confirmation and Holy Communion). If married, they must be married by the Church. It is the role of a godparents to be an example of faith to the child being baptized and an example of faith to the parents.
4. I (we) are civilly married and would like to be married by the Church. What do we do? Talk to me or to Fr. Jerry.  Call our office and ask for the priest to whom you wish to speak. If he is not in, leave a message with your phone number and we will call you back as soon as we can. Some of these things may take a bit of time.  There are almost 4,000 of you and two of us, and we are old, but we are here to serve you to best of our ability.

Baptism - by appointment only, scheduled on the last Sunday of each month. Contact the Parish Office for more information and registration.  Baptismal instructions are held on the first Sunday of each month at 9:30am. The Baptism are held on the last Sunday of each month after the 11am Sunday Mass.  For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church's way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God                                     
Baptism Policy          Godparents Info

REGARDING BAPTISMS: In the last few weeks I have heard from brother priests dealing with children in critical condition from illness or accidents who had not been baptized.  In the moment of crisis parents and grandparents were frantically seeking baptism for the child.  There was a time, when I was young, that babies were baptized within a few weeks of birth.  Now it seems that too many parents are waiting quite a while to have children baptized.  I think it is important to return to the practice of baptizing early.  I URGE MOST STRONGLY THAT BABIES BE BAPTIZED WITHIN WEEKS AFTER BIRTH.  For too many people it is not really a priority.  Some are waiting for a time convenient for godparents to come to town.  Some are waiting for a good time to have a family gathering. While it is great to have the whole family celebrate a child’s Baptism, it not more important than taking care of a spiritual obligation in a timely manner. We require a preparation instruction for parents and godparents before Baptism.  Our class is the first Sunday of every month immediately after the 8:30 am Mass.  If godparents are from some other place they may take the class in their own parish and bring a letter from their church indicating that they have taken the instruction.  As far as pre-planning goes, the parents may take the instruction while the mother is pregnant, thus avoiding the baby-sitter problem.
 
Some misconceptions: “Parents must be married (or married in the Church) in order to have their baby baptized.”  This is NOT TRUE.  While it is obviously ideal, children don’t get to choose their parents. The Church has always taught, and Pope Francis has recently re-emphasized, that Baptism may not be denied to the children of single parents. Regarding godparents: Godparents are supposed to be role models in the Catholic Faith.  They must be practicing Catholics.  If married, they must be married according to the precepts of the Church. Parents are asked to promise to do their best to raise their child in the Church – taking them to Mass regularly, seeing that they are instructed, and living a Christian life at home.  Godparents are to help and encourage the parents and to be Christian role models.  If you have any questions on the above, feel free to contact me.