Baptism

The first of the sacraments is Baptism, the basis of the Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to the other sacraments. 

The baptism of a child, usually within the first few weeks of birth, becomes an occasion of great joy.  Parents and godparents ask that the child be baptized into the Catholic Faith.  Baptism takes away original sin.  The Church, along with the parents and godparents, claim this child for God and promise to help the child grow in the light of faith.  To place the child in the palm of His hand is a most important step for parents and godparents to take. 

Today, the third Sunday of every month is set aside for baptisms, although another time may be scheduled.  Instructions are required and given on the first Sundays for parents and godparents.  Adults celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism along with the other Sacraments of Initiation, Confirmation and Eucharist, as part of the RCIA process culminating at the Easter Vigil.  The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a conversion process for those who have been baptized in another faith, baptized Catholic but not raised in the faith, or who are unbaptized.  It is marked by various stages and rites and is a journey of faith for the candidates and catechumens and also for the entire faith community.

Please make arrangements with the rectory, 330-628-9941 or stjoerandolph@yahoo.com.   Family and friends are always welcome. 

Reconciliation

 Reconciliation, also called Penance, is the second sacrament Catholics normally receive.  It is through Penance that God forgives our sins and reconciles us to Himself and His Church. There are documented instances throughout our history where the Sacrament of Penance has been instrumental in preserving the faith of our forefathers, allowing them to live in harmony with God and their brothers and sisters.

The Sacrament of Penance has undergone many changes since the days when one would slip into a darkened confessional, confess one’s sins, and be given a penance.  The Church, since Vatican II, has given us a deeper understanding of this sacrament, emphasizing an encounter with a forgiving, loving Christ.  We confess our sins not to be punished for them but to be forgiven.  This brings us a deep sense of peace with God and others.

A child receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation shortly before making his or her First Communion.  Reconciliation is available for all others on Saturday afternoons and communal penance services are held seasonally.

Holy Eucharist (First Communion)

We, as Catholics, believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist through Transubstantiation, the change of bread and wine into His Body and Blood.   Contrary to practices in the past, we are encouraged to receive the Eucharist at every Mass in which we participate, unless we are in a state of serious sin.

First Holy Communion has always been a rite that evokes nostalgia among those who witness the children reverently and prayerfully receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.   With the girls in a white dress and veil and the boys in their finest, this rite has remained virtually the same as when our parents and grandparents made their First Holy Communions.

Today, First Eucharist is a very special day in the faith life of a child who has reached the age of reason.  Just as parents present the child for reception into the church at Baptism and bring the child to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, parents present their child for the celebration of his or her First Holy Communion. 

First Communions are held at all Masses on the last two weekends of April.  Parents choose the Mass that best allows them to plan ahead and invite all those who have been influential in the child’s faith development.  With practice and preparation the children take active roles in the Liturgy by proclaiming God’s Word in the readings, sharing prayers of petition and presenting the Offertory gifts.  This celebration of the child’s first encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist is truly a memorable event. 

 For more information, please contact Linda Shaw at msgrlin@aol.com or 330-628-4844, or the Rectory at  stjoerandolph@yahoo.com or 330-628-9941.

Confirmation

Confirmation is a sacrament of witness and the final sacrament of initiation. It is a traditional ceremony administered by a bishop and is held every other year in our parish for those who are eligible in grades 8 and 9.

 Confirmation is the completion of Baptism.  The young persons receiving it are empowered to witness to the Gospel in their words and deeds.   Before the bishop and the community, they declare themselves to be followers of Jesus and at this time are infused with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit to aid in living out their faith commitment within the Church.  As in any completed initiation, they are given the challenge, as full members of the Christian community, to live their life as followers of Jesus Christ.

For more information, please contact Linda Shaw, msgrlin@aol.com, or the Rectory, stjoerandolph@yahoo.com

Matrimony

 In the Catholic tradition, marriage is a sacrament.  That means that it is an outward sign, given to us by Jesus, of inner grace.  A visible sign of something invisible.

And that in turn simply means that many things in life are simply signs that point to something deeper.  Your wedding ring is not love, but it is a sign of love: it is a circle to show that it has no beginning and no end...just like your love.

So with marriage, the union of man and woman as husband and wife is a sign of the way God loves us.

But you have to understand what that really means.  It means that this is the one sacrament that grows as it goes along.  That as husband and wife grow together, love, argue, forgive, reconcile, work through disappointments and trials together and emerge as united lovers, they become a living and effective sign that says to the world: this is the way God is.  God loves us through thick and thin, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, till death...and beyond.  Marriage is a sign...a sacrament...of that.

The pilgrimage union of husband and wife is powerful evidence of the union of God with us.  That forgiving, reconciling, deepening love of husband and wife announces that this is the ways God loves us.  This husband -wife growing together, this marriage union, is truly a living sign of God's action, of grace.  It's a sacrament.

And that's what is celebrated.  And it takes faith.  You are about to undertake a special commitment not only to each other but to society.  "This is the way we love" you are saying, "and it's but a shadow of the way God loves us all."

During the required six-month period prior to their wedding, the engaged couple meets with the priest and normally has a series of meetings with a sponsor couple.  The role of the sponsor couple is to help the engaged couple prepare for their married life as much as possible through discussions and sharing on many topics.

Engaged couples requesting the Sacrament of Marriage should make arrangements with the rectory at least six months in advance of the wedding. 

Anointing Of The Sick

The Anointing of the Sick was formerly called Extreme Unction and was given when a person was close to death.   Since Vatican II, the emphasis of this sacrament has changed.  It is now given to all who are seriously ill or experiencing the weakness of old age.  It is administered by a priest and includes the celebration of Reconciliation and the reception of the Eucharist, wherever possible.

We believe that through this sacrament God heals the individual, whether that healing is physical, spiritual or emotional.  Regardless of the form of healing, there is always a deep sense of God's peace that accompanies  the reception of this sacrament.

In our parish, we celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick communally in the fall of the year.

Holy Orders

The Church confers the Sacrament of Holy Orders upon baptized men who have been judged suitable and ready for public ministry in the Church.  Ordination gives to a man an indelible mark and his relationship with Christ and the Church is permanently changed.  He is a priest forever!

Usually in his cathedral church, the bishop administers the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Shortly thereafter, the new priest comes home to say his “First Mass” in his parish church.  We have been blessed to have several young men from our parish ordained.  All involved must have felt a sense of humility and a twinge of pride at the same time.

Three of these sons of the parish have celebrated jubilees.  On July 4, 2004, Father Paul W. Wohlwend and Father Frederick R. Lang celebrated their 50^th Jubilee with a Mass and reception here.  Joining them in this celebration was Father Carl A. Wise who was celebrating his 49^th year of service to the Lord.  It was a time of thanksgiving for all and especially so for the family of Father Wise since only a few months later Father Wise died.  In July 2006, Father James Schrader celebrated his 50^th Jubilee here at our parish.

Our parish is blessed to have many who have chosen to heed the call of Lord to ordained ministry and religious life. 

Permanent Deacons

The Apostles instituted the Order of Deacons. It was restored as a permanent and public ministry in the Roman Church as a result of a decision made by the bishops at the Second Vatican Council. The restoration of the permanent diaconate was authorized in the United States in 1968.

The aims of the diaconate are to enrich and strengthen the works of service being performed by the Church, to enlist a new group of devout and competent married and single men in the active ministry of the Church, and to aid in extending needed charitable and liturgical service to the faithful. Wives of deacons assist in many of these areas.

The number of deacons in the United States has continued to grow steadily with more than 10,000 permanent deacons ministering in over 140 dioceses in the United States.

At the ordination of a deacon, one of the most beautiful rituals is the presentation of the Book of Gospels.  At its presentation the bishop speaks the following words to the candidate:  “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you are, believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”