- Baptism of Children
- Baptism of Adults and
Reception into Church
- Holy Communion
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Sacrament of
the Sick
- Holy Orders
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People
were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the
disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, "Let the
children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these”….Luke 18:15-16
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a
lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as
infants or adults, the Church celebrates this new life in Christ through this
sacrament.
Attendance at a Baptism Preparation Class is required for
parents who want a baby or small child baptized. Baptism Preparation Classes are offered the first Mondays of the
following months: February, April,
June, August, October and December.
They begin at 7:00 pm and are held in the Media Center of St. Theresa
School. Please call the Parish
Secretary in the Parish Office (279-4654) to register. The classes are facilitated by St. Theresa
Deacons.
Children who are not baptized and are 5 years or older are
required to attend a half-day retreat to be prepared for reception of that
sacrament. Contact Kathy Wipf, Director
of Faith Formation, at 279-4654, ext 204, kwipf@sainttheresaiowa.org for
more information.
Scheduling of baptism is done with one of the deacons once the
parents (and children if necessary) have attended class.
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Jesus said to them, "Go into
the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and
is baptized will be saved….Mark 16:16
Through Baptism the adult
catechumens become Christians, being formed into People of God, adopted
children of the Father, with their sins forgiven. Through Confirmation
they become more perfectly the image of the Lord, since they are signed with
the gifts of the Spirit, actually filled with the Spirit that allows them to
give witness to their faith. Then they share in Christ's sacrifice by receiving
the Eucharist at the table of the Lord, expressing the unity of the People of
God. Through these three Sacraments, the recipients achieve Christian
maturity, enabling them to fulfill their mission in the Church and the world.
Contact Barb Woods, RCIA Director, at 210-6649, ext 213, bwoods@sainttheresaiowa.org for
more information. Click here
to go to RCIA Webpage
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Jesus said
to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of
Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For
my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and
drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will
have life because of me…John 6:53-57
Catholics believe the
Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real
presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and
Blood, we are nourished spiritually and given the grace and strength to live a
life of love and service to God and neighbor.
Preparation for Holy Communion is provided during second
grade. Instruction is given in the
classroom setting through St. Theresa School for students enrolled there and
through Wednesday Faith Formation for students enrolled in Faith
Formation. Parents are required to
attend an hour-long meeting, which is held in January. Parents and children attend Learning
Stations prior to the celebration of First Communion, which takes place in the
Spring. Contact Kathy Wipf, Director of
Faith Formation, at 279-4654, ext 204, kwipf@sainttheresaiowa.org for
more information.
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Jesus said
to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send
you." And when he had said this,
he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you hold bound are held bound.”…John 20:21-23
The Catholic Sacrament of
Reconciliation (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, or Penance and
Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In
it we find God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive
others.
Preparation for First Reconciliation takes place in the fall of
2nd grade year. Instruction
is provided in the classroom setting similar to preparation for First
Communion. Parents are required to
attend an hour-long meeting which is held in October. Parents and children attend Learning Stations prior to the
celebration of First Reconciliation which takes place in late Fall. Contact Kathy Wipf, Director of Faith
Formation, at 279-4654, ext 204, kwipf@sainttheresaiowa.org
for more information.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated each week on
Saturday from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. The
sacrament is also available by appointment by calling Fr. Larry at 277-1708,
ext 201, lhoffmann@sainttheresaiowa.org Communal Reconciliation is celebrated twice
a year during Advent and Lent.
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Now when
the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they
sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had
only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit…Acts 8:14-17
Confirmation is a Catholic sacrament
of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. Like Baptism
and Eucharist, it is a Sacrament of Initiation for Catholics and a Sacrament of
faith in God's fidelity to us.
Young people in 7th and 8th grades are
invited to prepare for the celebration of Confirmation. There are three components to
Confirmation: study, service and
prayer. Study includes an in-depth
exposure to the signs, symbols and rite of the sacrament of Confirmation. Service of 20 hours is required of each
candidate through individual, group and family projects. Regarding prayer, Confirmation candidates
are expected to regularly participate in weekend liturgy and on holy days of
obligation. In addition, each 8th
grade candidate is required to attend a retreat to further their spiritual
development. In the months leading up
to the celebration of Confirmation, candidates spend faith-sharing time with
their sponsors. Contact Kathy Wipf,
Director of Faith Formation, at 279-4654, ext 204, kwipf@sainttheresaiowa.org for
more information.
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Jesus said
in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made
them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So
they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together,
no human being must separate."…Matthew 19:4-6
For Catholics, the Sacrament
of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally
to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union
of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God's values.
Contact the pastor at the parish office (279-4654) at least six
months prior to the desired wedding date as important preparations and guidance
are provided by the pastor and mentor couples.
St. Theresa’s pastor is also available to provide annulment
assessment and information.
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Sacrament of the
Sick |
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"Is anyone among you sick? He should summon
the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him]
with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick
person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will
be forgiven." James 5:14-15
The Catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known
as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only
for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness.
A communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick is offered
in March and October of each year.
However, it may be celebrated at any time when it is needed. If a member of our parish family becomes
sick, or is in need of Anointing, please call Fr. Larry at 277-1708, ext 201, lhoffmann@sainttheresaiowa.org.
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The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are
few. Pray the Lord of the harvest that
he may send workers to His harvest…Matthew 9:37-38
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest or deacon,
along with other religious vocations, vows to lead other Catholics by bringing
them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel
through word and action, and by providing other means to grow in holiness. By
living a life of total commitment to serve God’s people, their lives reflect
the loving, living presence of Christ on earth.
Our Church is in need of more women and men to answer the call of service. Whether through ordained or lay ministry, we pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, deaconate, and religious life. If you are discerning the religious life, we encourage you to call Fr. Larry at 279-4654, lhoffmann@sainttheresaiowa.org or contact the Diocesan Office of Vocations.