Mass

Why Should I Go to Mass Every Day? “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!” (Pope Paul VI) For each Mass we attend with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint  to comfort  us at death.  (Revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great) St. Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest, said, “The world could exist more easily without the sun than without the Mass.” The Cure d’Ars, St. Jean Vianney, said, “If we knew the value of the Mass, we would die of joy.” Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s goodness and asked Our Lord, “How can I thank you?”  Our Lord replied, “Attend one Mass.”

Prayer before Mass
Eternal Father, we humbly offer Thee our poor presence and that of the whole of humanity from the beginning to the end of the world at all the Masses that ever have or ever will be offered. We offer Thee all the pains, sufferings, prayers, sacrifices, and joys of our lives, in union with those of our dear Lord Jesus here on earth.  May the Most precious Blood of Christ, all His blood and wounds and agony save us, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.

Prayer after Receiving Holy Communion
O Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Although my eyes and tongue tell me that I have received only bread, yet my faith tells me that I have received Thy Body and Blood.  I believe, Lord; help Thou my unbelief, I adore Thee as my God and my Savior. Amen.

Prayer after Mass
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me.  Blood of Christ, inebriate me.  Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. 0 good Jesus, hear me. Within  Thy wounds hide me.  Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malignant enemy defend me. In the hour of death call me, and bid me come to Thee, that with Thy saints I may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.

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First Readings
Responsorial Psalms
Second Readings
Gospel Readings

Sacraments

We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality, a reality open to all the human senses but grasped in its God-given depths with the eyes of faith. When parents hug their children, for example, the visible reality we see is the hug. The invisible reality the hug conveys is love. We cannot “see” the love the hug expresses, though sometimes we can see its nurturing effect in the child.

The visible reality we see in the Sacraments is their outward expression, the form they take, and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality we cannot “see” is God’s grace, his gracious initiative in redeeming us through the death and Resurrection of his Son. His initiative is called grace because it is the free and loving gift by which he offers people a share in his life, and shows us his favor and will for our salvation. Our response to the grace of God’s initiative is itself a grace or gift from God by which we can imitate Christ in our daily lives.

The saving words and deeds of Jesus Christ are the foundation of what he would communicate in the Sacraments through the ministers of the Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. — http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/

Baptism

1) Children are baptized based upon the faith of their parents which places the responsibility upon the parents for bringing the child up in the Catholic faith.  The mothers and fathers of children to be baptized are the primary religious educators of their children. Children learn to trust and love God, to love others, to do good and avoid evil from their parents.  Parents should pray with their children in their home so that prayer becomes a natural part of home life and a daily routine.

2) Parents of children to be baptized are expected to be committed to the formal religious education of their children.  Through our Religious Education Program, children learn about the beliefs of the Church and are prepared for the reception of the Sacraments.

3) Parents who find their faith lacking or who do not regularly participate in the Eucharistic Celebration of their parish should seriously consider whether Baptism should be delayed until they are ready to accept the responsibility of raising their child in the Church.  In these cases, the parish priest and/or deacon may be able to guide them through instruction and prayer to a deeper faith commitment and understanding of what the faith involves.

THE PAPERWORK

4) Parents who wish to have their children baptized must be registered members of Saint Dominic Catholic Church.  They are expected to be practicing members of the faith by weekly attendance at the Saturday evening or Sunday liturgy and attending on Holy Days of Obligation.  Parents are encouraged to participate in the Parish activities and be dedicated to fulfilling a Catholic life style.

• A) If the parents are not registered members of Saint Dominic Catholic Church, but the parents have a family member who is a member of Saint Dominic, the baptism may be possible at Saint Dominic.  In this case, written permission from the pastor of the parent’s home parish and his indication that they are active members of the parish is required before the baptism would be possible.

OR

• B) In cases of extreme circumstance one of Saint Dominic Parish priests may grant permission that someone be baptized with no affiliation to Saint Dominic Catholic Church.  In this case, written permission from the pastor of the parent’s home parish and his indication that they are active members of the parish may also be required.

5) If this is the couple’s first child, they must attend a Baptism class.

To make arrangements for the class the couple will need to call Linda Huffman at 850-785-4574

N B: They can attend class elsewhere but must have a letter from that parish with the parish seal.

6) One of the Godparents must be Catholic – if the Catholic Godparent is a registered member of Saint Paul nothing else is needed.  If the Catholic Godparent is a member of a Catholic Church other then Saint Paul a letter from their home Parish stating they are worthy to be sponsors is required.

7) If possible, baptism takes place on Sunday, the day on which the Church celebrates the paschal mystery of Jesus. It should be conferred in a communal celebration in the presence of the faithful, or at least of relatives, friends, and neighbors, who all take an active part in the rite.

8) A baptismal registration form must be completed prior to the baptism. This can be accomplished by visiting the office or over the phone call with Linda Huffman at 850-785-4574.

THE GODPARENTS

9) Parents should give serious consideration to prospective godparents.  Although family pressures often exist, godparents should be chosen primarily for their faith commitment.  Their responsibility is joining with the parents and supporting the baptized person in their lifelong Christian commitment.  Since the godparents are representatives of the larger Christian Community into which the child is to be baptized, they must be fully initiated into the Catholic Church.

10) Godparents outside of the parish must obtain a written notification from the parish in which they are registered indicating that they are in good standing with the Church.

Eucharist

1322 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.

1323 “At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’  For more information and teachings of the Eucharist…

First Eucharist/Communion:

For further information, contact Sister Jean O’Connor at srjean@saintdominicpc.com or call 850-785-4574

Traditionally this Sacrament is received at the end of the 2nd Grade.  In ordinary circumstances, children are admitted to sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion after a period of at least a year of remote catechetical preparation through the parish religious education program, Catholic school, or by a proper monitored and directed home schooling program

Children are to have a clear understanding of the traditional Catholic Prayers, The Mass, and the signs and symbols of the Eucharist.

By their example, parents are to share with their children the importance of the Mass and the Eucharist in their lives.

Parents are to assist in the preparation by reviewing your son or daughter’s readiness and understanding of the sacrament.  Through the process of preparation, a baptized child is to receive First Holy Communion based upon the following criteria of readiness:

1. A willingness to receive Communion.
2. Ability to participate in the liturgy, according to age and circumstances.
3. Awareness of the love of God in Jesus.
4. Awareness of membership in the Catholic community.
5. Ability to distinguish between ordinary bread and the Eucharist, the Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A copy of the Baptismal Certificate of the child receiving First Eucharist is needed for the parish records

Confirmation

Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God’s Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission. Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.

Jesus’ entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church. After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.

Those who believed in the Apostles’ preaching were baptized and received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. The Apostles baptized believers in water and the Spirit. Then they imparted the special gift of the Spirit through the laying on of hands. “‘The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church'” (CCC, no. 1288, citing Pope Paul VI, Divinae Consortium Naturae, no. 659).

By the second century, Confirmation was also conferred by anointing with holy oil, which came to be called sacred Chrism. “This anointing highlights the name ‘Christian,’ which means ‘anointed’ and derives from that of Christ himself whom God ‘anointed with the Holy Spirit'” (CCC, no. 1289, citing Acts 10:38)  — http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/confirmation/index.cfm

Reconciliation (Confession)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers a face to face encounter with the love and forgiveness of God.  Who would pass such an opportunity by? Reconciliation which is often called “Confession,” is the sign of God’s continuing love and forgiveness.  Sometime this Sacrament is also called the sacrament of Penance.  Penance literally means conversion not punishment.

Conversion literally means to turn toward.   When Christians commit themselves to Christ it does not mean they will never turn away from Him by sin.  Catholics recognize their own weakness and their continuing need for conversion.  Jesus calls for all Christians to continuously turn toward him,that is, he calls us to continuous conversion.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a powerful way to turn to God, to convert and thereby be reconciled to our loving Father who created us.

Reconciliation enables us to be reconciled to God, community, and self when we have fallen away by sin, for when we sin we alienate ourselves from God, our community, and ultimately from our very selves.  We alienate ourselves from ourselves because through sin we are not becoming all that we are created to become.  We are created in love and for love.

Furthermore, when sinners are truly sorry for their sins, confess them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and resolve to amend their lives, they are assured of God’s forgiveness through the ministry of the Church which is present in the priest.

An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Sacrament of Reconciliation  is given in the Catechism of the Catholic Church…

Biblical Foundations for Reconciliation

Jesus’ mission
Mk 2: 16-17 “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Lk 7: 47-50 Mary Magdalen
Lk 19: 7-10 Zacchcus

Christ’s continued ministry in the Church
Jn 16: 1-8 Coming to the Paraclete
Mt 16: 13-19 Keys of the Kingdom
Jn 20: 19-23 Commissioning the Church
Acts 9: 1-5 Saul’s conversion

Confession at Saint Dominic: Sat 3:00 PM to 4:45 PM ; By appointment 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM – (850-785-4574)

Anointing of the Sick

In the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Anointing of the Sick is given in Catechism of the Catholic Church 1499-1532

To schedule to recieve the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please contact Linda Huffman in the Parish Office.

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament which continues Christ’s mission through the grace and power given to men to carry out the sacred duties of deacons, priests or bishops.

Bishops (episcopoi) are those who have care of multiple congregations and have the task of appointing, ordaining, and disciplining priests and deacons.  They are often called ‘evangelists’ in the New Testament.  Examples of first century bishops include Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 5:19-22, 2 Tim. 4:5, Titus 1:5).

Priests (presbuteroi) are also known as “presbyters” or “elders.”  In fact, the English term “priest” is simply a contraction of the Greek word “presbuteros.”  They have the responsibility of teaching, governing, and performing the sacraments in a given congregation (1 Tim. 5:17, Jas. 5:14-15).

Deacons (diakonoi) are the assistants of the bishops and have the task of teaching and administering certain church functions, such as the distribution of food (Acts 6:1-6).

An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Sacrament of Holy Orders  is given in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536-1600

If you think you may be called to the sacrament of Holy Orders, or if you are simply interested in Holy orders, please call one of the priests of the parish.  He will be happy to talk to you about it, and, no, he will not laugh at you!

Matrimony

When you come to the Church to be married, you are asking the Catholic Church to accept you and allow you to share in its vocation and the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Church welcomes you and rejoices that you want to mature in faith by living the Sacrament of Matrimony.

All couples are required to begin Marriage preparation by contacting Linda Huffman in the Parish Office at least 6 months prior to the anticipated wedding day.

In accordance with the Roman Catholic Bishops of the State of Florida, discussion of a tentative wedding date may take place during the initial contact, but the date may not be finalized until the assessment process is completed. The parish cannot schedule a date until the assessment process is completed.

Pope John Paul II wrote:
“More than ever necessary in our times is preparation of young people for marriage and family life.  In some countries it is still the families themselves that, according to ancient customs, ensure the passing on to young people of the values concerning married and family life, and they do this through a gradual process of education or initiation.  But the changes that have taken place within almost all modern societies demand that not only the family but also society and the church should be involved in the effort of properly preparing young people for their future responsibilities.”
Familiaris Consortio 66

An extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Sacrament of Marriage is given in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601-1666

Also visit this excellent site from the United States Bishops: http://foryourmarriage.org/