St. Charles Borromeo Church
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Sacraments
For all inquiries regarding Sacraments or becoming Catholic, please call us at (585) 663-8000
Baptism
Baptism serves as the first sacrament one receives when entering the Catholic Faith. It is a sacrament of initiation (which you can only receive one time), meaning once you received it, you officially enter into the body of Christ, the Catholic Church. The recipient receives justifying and sanctifying grace when baptized, and the Holy Spirit begins to dwell within them.
Interested in Baptism for yourself or your child?
Holy Eucharist
(First Communion)
"The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”
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The Rite of [First] Holy Communion celebrates the second step toward full initiation into the Church. First Holy Communion is most often celebrated around the age of seven or eight, when the children are of the age of reason and are capable of participating in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church."
Interested in Holy Communion?
Confirmation
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation." The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “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." – CCC, 1285
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In the Rite of Confirmation, the Bishop (or a Priest who represents the Bishop) extends his hands over you and asks the Holy Spirit to come to you with seven special graces, or gifts: wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder & awe.
Interested in being Confirmed?
*Photo taken by John Haeger & Catholic Courier
Reconciliation
(First Penance/Confession)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church. The sacrament “washes us clean,” and renews us in Christ.
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Reconciliation (also known as confession or Penance) was instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God.
Interested in Reconciliation?
Holy Matrimony
(Marriage)
Like the other six sacraments of the Church, marriage is a sign or symbol which reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated. In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and also flows through them to their family and community. By their permanent, faithful and exclusive giving to each other the husband and wife reveal a key element of God’s unconditional love.
Interested in becoming married or having your marriage con-validated within the Church?
Anointing of the Sick
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Christ, understanding human illness, gave his Church the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick so all the baptized can access and experience his healing Spirit. This sacrament of mercy and healing is administered to the dying as well as to those who are gravely ill or about to undergo a serious operation. The Sacrament of Anointing offers prayers for recovery, but primarily gives spiritual healing and the Holy Spirit’s peace and courage for the difficulties of illness or the frailty of old age.
Interested in Anointing for Yourself or Someone you love?
Holy Orders
In Jesus’ earthly life, Jesus gave a share in his priesthood to the 12 apostles. In turn, the priesthood has been handed on through the authority of the Church for two millennia. The priesthood is not a position of power, but of service (Matthew 20:25-28, John 13:2-20).
Priests carry on the ministry of Jesus through the sacraments and the preaching of the Gospel, and they are called to strengthen the people of God so they might too be the light of the world.
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From Jesus’ conception until his resurrection he was filled with the Holy Spirit, thus established by God the Father as our high priest and remains our high priest. Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and gift from God.
Discerning a call to the Priesthood/Diaconate?
*Photo taken by Jeff Witherow & Catholic Courier