Sacraments

Baptism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213

Adult Baptism

Adults who wish to be received into the faith should meet one of the Parish Fathers preferably in May/June to get enrolled into the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The classes begin in June and continue till March of the following year.

Infant Baptism

The parents of the infant should come and meet one of the Fathers to discuss the requirements for baptism, e.g., the form, the baptismal robe, the candle, Godparents, participation in the liturgy, etc. Baptisms in our parish are held on Sundays at 11 am. Parents who intend to have their infant baptised must attend a baptism preparation class.

Baptism Preparation Class

The baptism preparation class prepares parents and godparents for their roles in the lives of a child being brought for baptism in the Catholic Church.

Choosing Godparents for your Child

Godparents, also known as baptismal sponsors, assist the parents in a child's Catholic upbringing. In the liturgy of Baptism, the Godparents promise to help the parents in their duty as Christian parents. Godparents should not be chosen solely because of familial or social relationships. Parents should carefully choose Godparents who diligently practice their Catholic faith and are willing and able to assist in the Catholic formation of their child.

The criteria laid down by the church for godparents are:

  • He / She should have received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
  • The godparent should be at least 16 years of age.
  • The parents cannot become the godparents of their child.

This means that the godparent should be someone who:

  • Is a practicing Catholic with a deep faith.
  • Knows Catholic doctrines and understands the Sacrament of Baptism.
  • Can be trusted to maintain a long term relationship with the child.
  • Enjoys patience & can relate to a child.
  • Enjoys stability in his/her life.
  • Has a high moral character.
  • Would be an exemplary role model for the child.

The Godparents also have to attend the Pre-baptism course session on the role and requirements of Godparents.

Documents Required

  • Child’s official birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate of the parents of the child (if married in a church other than OLCA church)
  • Godparent Sponsor Attestation Letters signed by their respective Parish Priest
  • Completed Parish Baptism Registration Form
  • Parish Registration or Membership Card

Eucharist

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322

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.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324

First Holy Communion in Our Parish

Children receive their First Holy Communion in Standard IV. They are required to attend Sunday-School regularly in order to prepare for this sacrament. Other details will be discussed with the parents at the meetings held specifically for this purpose.

The First Holy Communion is usually held in January. The date of the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist will be decided at the meeting with the parents.

Documents Required

  • Baptism Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate of parents

Confirmation

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that 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. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285

Confirmation completes the sacraments of initiation. What was begun in baptism is strengthened and deepened, as the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the recipient, just as the apostles experienced at Pentecost.

Through Confirmation, Catholics are fortified and equipped for the spiritual life by the fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. The confirmed soul is further enriched by the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, that is, awe and wonder.

Confirmation in Our Parish

In our Parish, Confirmation is given to those who are in class IX or later. Since the sacrament of Confirmation completes the initiation into the Catholic Church, the candidate is required to have already received the sacraments of Baptism, the Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).

While applying for Confirmation, candidates are required to fill in the application form and return it on or before the stipulated date along with a photocopy of their Baptism Certificate at the parish office.

Any other relevant rules / policies regarding attendance, date of reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation, etc. will be discussed with the candidates and their parents at a meeting held in the first month of the commencement of Confirmation Classes.

Documents Required

  • Photocopy of baptism certificate

Reconciliation

Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1440

The Sacrament of Penance, also known as Reconciliation or Confession, may be one of the most misunderstood things about the Catholic Church. Only God’s grace can heal a soul wounded by sin, which is why Jesus gave us spiritual healing in the form of the Sacrament of Penance (John 20:22-23).

Any baptized Catholic who has reached the age of reason (typically around 7 years old) can and should make a confession.

According to the Church's command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1440

Confession Times in Our Parish

Priests are available for hearing confessions every Tuesday after 7 pm in the church and on the call.

Additional timings for confessions on the days preceding major feasts like Easter and Christmas are announced at Mass and will be displayed on the announcements page.

Parishioners who wish to make their confessions apart from these scheduled timings are requested to make an appointment with any priests of the parish.

Anointing of the Sick

By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499

The Anointing of the Sick uses the Oil of the Sick, which the bishop blesses during Holy Week. Many people think this sacrament is only for those who are dying, but that is not true. It gives special graces to the soul, especially to help a person bear unavoidable suffering, so it is fitting for anyone facing serious illness.

The special grace of this sacrament has these effects:

  • It unites the sick person to the passion of Christ, for their own good and for the good of the whole Church.
  • It gives strength, peace and courage to endure the sufferings of illness or old age in a Christian way.
  • It forgives sins, if the person was unable to receive forgiveness through the sacrament of penance.
  • It restores health, if this is helpful for the salvation of the person's soul.
  • It prepares the person for passing over to eternal life.

Anointing of the sick may be requested at any time of the day or night. Please contact the parish office so that arrangements can be made for the same.

Call our parish office at +91 8177924574.

Funerals

The timings for funeral masses are as follows:

Weekdays: 9.30 a.m. & 4.00 p.m. Sundays: 4.00 p.m.

If there are two funerals on the same day, the mass will be celebrated for both at 4.00 p.m.

If there is a funeral on the same day as a wedding, the funeral mass will be at 3.30 p.m.

Marriage

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601

Those wishing to get married must contact any of the Parish Fathers at least 6 months prior to their marriage in order to begin the necessary paperwork. Both parties need to attend a Marriage Preparation Course.

After you have met the priest, book the mass for your marriage. Your marriage can be scheduled for any day (except special days of the Universal Church): Weekdays 4.30 PM, or Sunday 4.00 PM. Wedding rehearsals are scheduled 3 days prior to the marriage.

In case there are two or more marriages on the same day, they will be celebrated together at the same mass. Please avoid bursting fire crackers in and around the church compound.

Basic Qualifications

  • Either the bride or groom (or both) must be Catholic
  • Both parties must be free to marry in the Catholic Church
  • Couples must have known each other for a least 6 months
  • The legal minimum age for marriage - the groom must be at least 21 years old and the bride must be at least 18 years old
  • Catholic bride and/or groom must live within OLCA parish boundaries

To be married at OLCA, one or both parties must reside within the parish boundaries and/or be registered as a parishioner, attending Mass at OLCA regularly and must be active in the Church community for at least 6 months before beginning marriage preparation.

Couples living outside of OLCA boundaries should register in the proper territorial parish where they now live and celebrate their marriage at that Parish.

Time Needed for Preparation

Solid preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage takes time. Whether you are planning to marry at OLCA or to do your marriage preparation here, we ask you to contact us six to nine months before your desired wedding date.

Documents Required

  • Newly issued baptism certificate (required for the Catholic party only). Must be issued within the past six months.
  • Confirmation certificate
  • Certificate of Marriage Preparation Course
  • If the bride or groom belongs to another parish, then a letter of the priest of that parish after the “publication of wedding banns” is required.

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536

Those who serve the spiritual needs of others and continue the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This includes three orders: deacon, priest, and bishop.

  • Deacons can celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and Matrimony.
  • Priests can celebrate five sacraments: Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick.
  • Bishops have the authority to celebrate all seven sacraments: Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Confirmation.

Is God Calling You?

If you feel that God may be calling you to the Sacrament of Holy Orders, whether to the priesthood or the diaconate, we encourage you to reach out to the priests of our parish. They would be glad to talk with you, answer your questions and help you discern this calling. Please contact the parish office or speak with one of our priests to begin the conversation.