Authorization is required for release of information from Sacramental Records.
Please contact the church office.
Baptism is celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month at 11am. To schedule baptism and a baptismal seminar please call the church office. Baptismal information concerning godparents is available in the baptismal information button on the left of this page. Further baptismal information can be obtained by calling the office.
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christain life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration though water and in the word." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213)
The baptized are forgiven original sin and all personal sins. Baptism also makes us members of the Body of Christ. Baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood." Amongst all the great gifts of Baptism, the Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord for the day of redemption.
Children receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion in 2nd grade. Preparation for these sacraments is held in our school and in our CCD classes on Sunday mornings.
If you child is not attending a Catholic school, please register your child for the CCD Program.
For information please call the Church Office at (504) 367-7951.
The Eucharist is the true Body of Christ and his true Blood. It is something that cannot be apprehended by the senses, says St. Thomas, but only by faith, which relies on divine authority. Truly, this is Christ's greatest gift to us. He is our Bread of Life. As bodily nourishment the Eucharist restores lost strength; spiritually, the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life, and this living charity wipes away venial sins. By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments and root ourselves in Him. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1394)
The sacrament of Confirmation is received in 11th grade. 12th graders who have not been Confirmed may join our Confirmation Program and make their Confirmation with the 11th grade class.
For information please call the Church Office at (504) 367-7951.
The effects of confirmation are profound. Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!" It unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. It renders our bond with the Church more perfect. It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1302)
There is a special program for Catholics passed high school age who would like to be baptized.
RCIA adapted for Children is available for children 3rd grade or older who have not received the sacrament of First Reconciliation and/or First Communion.
For information please call the Church Office at (504) 367-7951.
CLICK HERE to Register
We Invite those who are not Baptized and want to become Catholic, and those who are Baptized Catholic but not Confirmed.
For information please call the Church Office at (504) 367-7951.
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is more than just sessions to complete. It is a journey as a small community of faith and, ultimately, is a response to the call of God that is stirring in you to draw closer to God. Within the process of RCIA the church meets you where you are, whether you have been baptized or not, whether you have been married before or you have never been married. RCIA also welcomes those who just want to learn more about their faith.
Contact the Pastor at least six (6) months before making arrangements. Congratulations on taking this first step. Please schedule a first step to the altar meeting with the pastor. In that meeting a marriage preparation program will be selected, and a FOCCUS inventory assessment will be arranged. Additionally, fees and scheduling a date for the ceremony will be discussed. The preparation for marriage is ultimately an opportunity to deepen your love and encounter Christ and the Church in a profound way. Holy Matrimony opens us to another level of the richness of God's grace.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do Catholics ever validly enter into non-sacramental marriages?
Yes. Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians, while they may still be valid in the eyes of the Church, are non-sacramental. With permission, a priest or deacon may witness such marriages.
What is the difference between a valid and an invalid Catholic marriage?
Just as individual states have certain requirements for civil marriage, the Catholic Church also has requirements before Catholics can be considered validly married in the eyes of the Church. A valid Catholic marriage results from four elements: (1) the spouses are free to marry; (2) they freely exchange their consent; (3) in consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and to be open to children; and (4) their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.
Why does a Catholic wedding have to take place in a church?
For Catholics, marriage is not just a social or family event, but a church event. For this reason, the Church prefers that marriages between Catholics, or between Catholics and other Christians, be celebrated in the parish church of one of the spouses.
If two Catholics or a Catholic and non-Catholic are married invalidly in the eyes of the church, what should they do about it?
They should approach their pastor to try to resolve the situation.
When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, must the non-Catholic spouse promise to raise the children in the Catholic Faith?
The non-Catholic spouse does not have to promise to raise the children Catholic. The Catholic spouse must promise to do all that he or she can to have the children baptized and raised in the Catholic faith.
Why does the church require engaged couples to participate in a marriage preparation program?
Marriage preparation offers couples the opportunity to develop a better understanding of Christian marrige, to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live married life, and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. It is especially effective in helping couples to deal with the challenges of the early years of marriage. It is marriage preparation, not just wedding preparation.
What can a couple do if their marriage is in trouble?
Parish priests, deacons and other pastoral ministers are available to talk to couples and to refer them to counselors and programs that can assist them. Retrouvaille is an effective program that helps to heal and renew marriages in serious trouble.
What is an annulment?
An annulment is a declaration by a tribunal (Catholic church court) that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of a least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. A declaration of nullity does not deny that a relationship ever existed between the couple, or that the spouses truly loved one another.
If a marriage is annulled, are the children from it considered illegitimate?
No. A declaration of nullity has no effect on the legitimacy of children, since the child's mother and father were presumed to be married at the time that the child was born.
Family should contact the Pastor before making funeral arrangements. During this time, hearts can be weighed down by grief. This can make funeral planning difficult. Two issues can arise: that of cremation and eulogies.
Cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport and final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering the remains on the sea, from the air, or in the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition the church requires. (Order of Funerals, paragragh 417)
Words of Remembrance is not required, but many families include words of remembrance. Words of Remembrance focus on the faith life of the deceased. This is the core of the spirit of the words of remembrance. This may focus on their love, their nurturing, their fidelity to the sacraments, and their service to the church and their family. Brief Words of Remembrance are offered only by one person on behalf of the family.
Confession is held every Saturday from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Tuesdays after morning Mass, and Sundays before all Masses whenever possible. Please consider a prayerful examination of conscience before confession. The sacrament of penance itself is beautiful. It restores us to God's grace and joins us with him in an intimate friendship. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serentiy of conscience with strong spiritual consolation." Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1468)