September 17, 2023 – Reflection
Have you noticed the newly updated website for our family of parishes? If not, go check it out at www.4parishes1faith.org. I wanted to draw your attention to some new updates. The sacraments, in which we encounter Christ and His abundant graces, are central to our life as Christians, and so in the top menu you will see a “Sacraments” tab with pages on the Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance). These pages include information on what each sacrament is, as well as how to request them and any necessary preparation for you or your loved ones. On a related note, there is also a newly updated Vocations page under the “Get Involved” tab! This page includes information about the priesthood, the permanent diaconate, men’s and women’s consecrated life, and marriage.
I think I can speak for all of us priests and parish staff in saying that we would love to help bring the love and grace of Jesus to the community even more than we already do, and getting the word out there about the sacraments and vocations is one way we are trying to do that! If you have a particular question about any sacrament or vocation, we would love to answer it! Send us an email or give us a call.
The most common confusion about the sacraments that we encounter is that people ask for them much later than necessary. We can start preparing for baptism before the baby is born! We can anoint at the beginning of a serious illness, not just when someone is near death! We begin preparing for marriage at least six months in advance, but more than that is better! I think you get the point – we are just excited to help you all to meet Jesus in the gifts that he has left us in his Church through the Sacraments!
May God bless you. – Fr. Isaiah Schick