Baptism | Reconciliation | First Communion | Marriage

Confirmation | Vocation | Sacrament of the Sick

There are seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church. Symbolic actions combine with the appropriate text to make real what is symbolised. Sacraments thus make tangibly present the saving mysteries of Christ’s love for his church and are a source of life and grace.

Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation into the Christian community. This is usually followed by Holy Communion when Christ is made present under the form of bread and wine. Often this sacrament is accompanied by Reconciliation, in which God’s forgiveness is received. Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation which is undertaken to strengthen Christians with the power of the Holy Spirit for their adult lives. Marriage brings the power of God’s love to the couple while Ordination is for the few who are chosen to be sacred ministers. Finally the Sacrament of the Sick brings the healing power of Jesus to the old and sick.

Baptism

The Baptism of Jesus - Giotto	Baptism is the first of three sacraments of initiation and it is therefore a person’s entry into the life of Christ. The first Baptisms were for adults, but probably very early in the history of the church infants were brought for Baptism. In the Catholic Church adults are usually baptised at the Easter Vigil, and receive preparation in the Faith Group RCIA. Parents of infants for Baptism receive preparation in this parish in a series of five sessions run on Monday evenings by parish catechists in St Benedict's at 8.00 pm.
A Baptism Service is celebrated on a Sunday afternoon three times a year in March, July and November. A week before, parents and children for Baptism are presented to the community at the 9.30 Mass in the Abbey Church. Preparation sessions for Baptism in March 2010 begin on  Monday, February 1st with the presentation on Sunday, March 7th at the 9.30 am Mass. The sessions take place in the Parish Office (St Benedict's) at 8.00 pm each Monday on February 1st, February 8th, February 15th,  February 22nd, March 1st and March 8th. The Parish Baptism Service is at 3.00 pm on Sunday, March 28th
Baptism of Ignatia Whitehead, Feb 1st 2009
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