The Sacraments

The Seven Sacraments were instituted by Christ, himself, to give Grace to mankind. The term "Sacrament" is best defined as "An outward sign instituted by Christ to give Grace". When we consider the definition, we break it into three parts; 

         

1. An Outward Sign - Because we are humans, Christ needed material symbols that we humans could attach to, understand and/or perceive. These are the "Things (Water and Oil) and Words or Gestures that we use when conferring a Sacrament.

         

2. Instituted by Christ - Jesus Christ "Created" the seven Sacraments from when He began His public life, until His death on the Cross. When He Ascended into Heaven, there was an end to the creating of Sacraments. There will always be seven Sacraments... no more, no less. The Church can not institute new Sacraments. 

         

3. To give Grace - Jesus instituted the Sacraments for the essential purpose of conferring God's Grace upon us humans.

Sacramental Preparation

Infant Baptism

For children under 7 years of age


Schedule:

  • Baptism Preparation for Parents and Sponsors - Every First Sunday at 1:00 pm
  • Baptism Celebrations - Every Second and Third Sunday at 1:00 pm

To register your child for Baptism, call Father Paul at 780.466.7576 to make an appointment to meet with both parents, as both signatures are required.

At your meeting, remember to bring your child's birth certificate, showing proof of parentage. Parents will also be asked for their dates of Baptism.



First Reconciliation & First Holy Eucharist
For baptised children, Grade 3 and up

At Corpus Christi, we typically hold sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist twice per year; once in the Spring, and once in the Fall. Consider having your child receive both of these sacraments together.

Spring 2023 registration is now closed. Fall 2023 Schedule will be available soon.


To register your child:

  1. Complete the following three (3) forms, which are also available at the parish office. 
  2. Bring a copy of your child's baptismal certificate
  3. Bring $20 cash or cheque for each sacramental preparation your child will be attending, for the books and materials. ($40 for both sacraments)


Confirmation
For baptised children who have received their First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist, Grade 6 and up

Sacramental Preparation for Confirmation is held once per year. Our next session will be in the Spring of 2023.

Deadline to register for 2023 - FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023


To register your child:

  1. Complete the following three (3) forms, which are also available at the parish office. 
  2. Bring a copy of your child's baptismal certificate
  3. Bring $50 cash or cheque, for the book and materials.

Forms:

Confirmation Candidates will be required to complete 10 service hours. The following Service Hours Record sheet will be provided to the candidates on the first day of the program.

For more information, please contact the parish office at 780.466.7576.

Rite of Christian Initiation

These rites are intended for:

  • Individuals who have not yet received the sacrament of Baptism, who are of catechetical age (seven years or over), or
  • Individuals validly baptized in another ecclesial community who seek initiation into the Catholic Church.

If you would like to learn more, or register for one of these programs, please contact the parish office at 780.466.7576, or email as indicated below.


The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) - Ages 14+               Contact Deacon Gem              Gem.Mella@caedm.ca


The Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) - Ages 7 to 14      Contact Sister Lilia                   Lilia.Semeniego@caedm.ca

Sacraments of Initiation

  • Baptism

    Baptism is the foundation of Life in the Church. It is through Baptism that we are freed from the original sin which we are born with and are reborn as Children of God. Baptism is the first Sacrament in the Sacraments of Initiation, the other two are Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Baptism is also the first Sacrament received chronologically, since all others are dependent on it, therefore making it the Gateway to all other Sacraments.

  • Confirmation

    Although many receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in their early teenage years, long after they have already received First Holy Eucharist, Confirmation is considered the second of the Sacraments of Initiation. In some writings, Confirmation is considered to be the "perfecting" of the Baptism, in that 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."

  • Holy Eucharist

    The Holy Eucharist is the third and final of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. 

     

    "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."

     

    - The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Sacraments of Healing

  • Anointing of the Sick

    The Sacrament of Anointing the Sick is conferred by Priests, upon all who are experiencing illness, effects of aging, injury and especially those preparing to die. 

  • Reconciliation

    The Sacrament of Reconciliation is Jesus' recognition that we are humans. When we are baptized, our original sin is washed away and we receive the Grace of Christian Initiation. But Jesus knew that many would forget their Baptismal promises and may fall into sin. Since His mercy is infinite, it is natural that He would provide us a means to receive His Grace through the heartfelt and mindful confession of the sins, and a genuine want for the satisfaction of forgiveness through penance.

The Sacraments of Serving the Church

and the Mission of the Faithful

The Sacrament of Matrimony

"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."


-The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Pt 2, Sec. 2, Chpt. 3, Article 7, 1601

The Sacrament of 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.


- The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Pt 2, Sec. 2, Chpt. 3, Article 6, 1536