The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. That's what theologians mean when they say that sacraments are at the same time signs and instruments of God's grace.
If you learn more about the sacraments, you can celebrate them more fully. If you are an adult who would like to become Catholic or who never completed their sacraments and would now like to do so, we welcome you! Please called the Religious Education office at (310) 515-6033.
Certificates - If you have received a sacrament at St. Catherine Laboure in the past and need a certificate, please call or come into the parish office. We can only provide certificates for sacraments that were received at Saint Catherine Laboure Church. For instance, if you were baptized here and Confirmed at another church we can give you a copy of your baptismal certificate but you will have to contact the other parish for your Confirmation certificate. If you are in need of a sacramental certificate but you don't remember where you received the sacrament, we suggest you take a look at the Archdiocesan page about finding sacramental records.
INFANT BAPTISM
The baptism of a new baby is a joyous occasion for the entire family. St.Catherine's parish family celebrates this with you and wants to help our youngest members and their families feel very much at home. A preparation process is offered for parents and godparents of infants and young children to be baptized. Expectant parents are also welcome to attend at any time before the birth of their baby.
This process consists of one pre-baptism class which focuses on the sacrament of baptism and Christian parenting. Pre-registration is required.
English Baptisms preparation classes offered once a month, please contact the Parish Office for class schedule and registration information..
Spanish Baptisms clases de preparación se ofrecen una vez al mes, favor de comunicarse con la Oficina Parroquial para fechas y registro.
Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment to make arrangements for the Baptism of your child.
RECONCILIATION
The Religious Education Sacramental Program is a two-year formation process for baptized children at least seven years old. A student must have the equivalent of at least two consecutive years of formation and discernment to be considered a sacramental candidate. Sacramental preparation generally begins in the 1st grade and culminates in the 2nd grade with the celebration of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Parent participation is an essential component of the sacramental program.
The Reconciliation and Eucharist program includes:
• Parent orientation and formation meetings
• Classroom instruction
• Prayer
• Assembly for Reconciliation
• Celebration of the first reception of First Eucharist is held at Sunday Masses during the Easter Season.
Family Requirements
• Attend parent orientation and parent meetings
For more information please contact the Elementary Religious Education Coordinator.
Continue to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on the every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:15.
The cost of a wedding is $800.
Please contact the Wedding Coordinator, Music Director and one of Parish Priests.
Click here for more information about the services offered by the Wedding Coordinator.
If you are in need of a Eucharistic Minister to bring Communion to you or someone you know who is homebound, please contact Eucharist Ministries-Homebound.
The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:
The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived. If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. 1514-1515 Catechism of the Catholic Church
HOLY ORDERS
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the Sacrament of Holy Orders as "the sacrament of apostolic ministry." "Ordination" comes from the Latin word ordinatio, which means to incorporate someone into an order. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate, the priesthood, or the diaconate.
The Priesthood of Christ:
The priesthood was established by God among the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primary duties were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.
Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the Old Testament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrifice present to us today, so the New Testament priesthood is a sharing in the eternal priesthood of Christ. While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set aside to serve the Church as Christ Himself did.
Because of his role as a successor to the Apostles, who were themselves successors to Christ, the bishop is the proper minister of the sacrament. The grace of sanctifying others that he receives at his own ordination allows him to ordain others.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, like the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Confirmation, can only be received once for each level of ordination. Once a man has been ordained, he is spiritually changed, which is the origin of the saying, "Once a priest, always a priest." He can be dispensed of his obligations as a priest (or even forbidden to act as a priest); but he remains a priest forever.
Each level of ordination confers special graces, from the ability to preach, granted to deacons; to the ability to act in the person of Christ to offer the Mass, granted to priests; to a special grace of strength, granted to bishops, which allows him to teach and lead his flock, even to the point of dying as Christ did.