We provide lots of help throughout your life, from baptisms through to confirmation; weddings through to funerals. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic faith. Below is some information on each of them, and also on becoming a Catholic as an adult.
Simply choose the sacrament from the list below to find out more information about it.
- Baptism and Christening
- First Holy Communion
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Wedding and Marriage Preparation
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- Initiation as an Adult (R.C.I.A.)
Baptism and Christening
If you wish to have your child Baptised then please see Fr. Behruz Raf'at for a Baptism Application Form. It is not possible to get a form through the office.
What does “to baptise” mean?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “to baptise” as giving a name or nickname to. Baptism is defined as “the Christian rite of sprinkling a person with water or immersing them in it, symbolizing purification and admission to the Christian Church.” And that’s what it does, it symbolises purification and the fact that the child is admitted into the Church.
What does “to christen” mean?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “to christen” as naming (a baby) at baptism as a sign of admission into the Christian Church.
So what’s the difference between the two?
To christen is literally to name a person. The baptism is the act of admitting the child into the Christian Church.
Why should we baptise our baby?
- A baptism is a chance for all the family to get together, to celebrate and to thank God for the new life which He has given.
- It is a time to remember that your baby is a part of God’s family as well as part of a human family.
- Jesus told his disciples to baptize people who wanted to become Christians, and to join the Church.
- It is NOT an insurance policy to ensure that your child goes to heaven, but it encourages them to be open to God and to know of his love for them.
What do I need to know prior to the service?
It is recommended that you talk to your Priest about specifics relating to the service, although a general guide to baptism is available here.
How do I get a Baptismal Application Form?
You can only get a form by speaking to the Parish Priest. Forms are not available through the office.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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First Holy Communion
We have classes every year for children in Year 3 of school who wish to make their First Holy Communion. The start date is announced at Sunday Mass about one month before the classes begin.
What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion, which is also known as the Eucharist, is the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper which was the first Mass Jesus changed the bread and wine into his Body and Blood and commanded his disciples to 'do this in memory of me.'
What is the sacrament of First Holy Communion?
The sacrament is just the celebration held by the church and the candidate’s family of their first reception of the Eucharist.
What do I need to know prior to the service?
As with all sacraments, it is recommended that you talk to your Priest about specifics relating to the service.
What are the benefits of Holy Communion?
- It is a chance to become one with God.
- It gives us the promise of eternal life.
- As food develops the body, and keeps it healthy, so too the spiritual food, which is the Holy Body and Blood of Christ strengthens the soul so that it may continually grow in peace.
- The Sunday Eucharist
The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Reconciliation
This is available every Saturday 5.15pm – 5.30pm at St. Justus, Paddock Wood or you can arrange to see a priest at another time of your own convenience.
What is Reconciliation?
Reconciliation is also known as Confession and Penance. It is the act of admitting guilt and confessing sins. Jesus gave a level of authority to Priests to forgive sins and we confess our sins to these Priests.
Why should I confess?
Confession has many benefits. It allows us to express our sins and remorse and receive a relevant punishment for them by way of prayer.
How old should I be?
There is no age limit! Children are taught about confession in the preparation for First Communion, but it is more stressed during preparation for Confirmation.
How often should I go to confession?
Any grave sin that is in the Ten Commandments should be confessed at least once a year. It is useful to regularly confess lesser sins. Therefore it is recommended that we go to confession once a month. It is available every Saturday 5.15pm-5.30pm at St. Justus Church, Paddock Wood, or you can arrange to see the Priest at another time of your own convenience.
What preparation needs to be done?
There isn’t any preparation as such, although in order for each confession to be valid, the penitent must be truly sorry for the sins they have committed. They must also firmly intend to never commit them again, and to perform the penance set by the Priest.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Confirmation
This is celebrated in our Parish every two years and is available to anybody who is in Year 10 or above at Secondary School(15 years old).
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a chance to make the decision of reaffirming Catholicism as your faith. This is to say that you are old enough to make the choice to follow Catholicism. It is similar to the choices your parents made for you at baptism, but this time the choices are yours. It is the last stage of your admission into the church.
What are the benefits of Confirmation?
There are many benefits of Confirmation. It is a chance for you to prove to the Church the strength of your faith. It is a chance to understand your beliefs in the Church and in Catholicism as a religion.
How old should I be?
In some churches, particularly in the North of England, Confirmation precedes First Communion, although in the majority of churches, candidates are usually around 14 or 15 years of age. Your Priest will be able to give you further details.
What preparation needs to be done?
There will be a course of classes held by members of the Parish to help you through the questions which arise during this process. They are normally run on a weekly basis although it is up to the Parish to decide on a time and place to hold these meetings. Speak to your Parish Priest for further details about the next course.
Why does the Bishop perform the ceremony?
The Parish Priest, although he has a lot of authority in the daily running of the Parish, doesn’t have the necessary authority and power to accept the candidates fully into the church. On certain occasions, if the Bishop is unable to attend the ceremony, then he will grant the Parish Priest special authority to perform the ceremony.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Wedding and Marriage Guidance
If a couple wish to be married then they must inform the Parish Priest at least six months before the actual wedding date. The Priest will help with the preparation they must go through. Even if you wish to marry outside the Parish, you should talk to your Priest.
What is Marriage?
Marriage is the lifelong commitment between two people. In the eyes of the Catholic Church, this union can only occur between a man and a woman. The Catholic Church does not recognise, even as a civil marriage, a contracted relationship between two members of the same sex. A wedding is the service during which the couple become united, or married.
What are the benefits of Marriage?
There are many benefits of marriage. Communication, intimacy and companionship are three of the big attractions to a permanent relationship. Marriage is the legitimate way for us to bring children into this world.
What is Marriage Preparation?
Marriage Preparation offers couples the chance to develop a better understanding of a Christian marriage and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. It is especially effective in helping couples to deal with the challenges they face in the early years of marriage. Courses are often run over a weekend, or sometimes several weekends, to prepare couples for this sacrament.
What does a Marriage Preparation course cost?
There may be a small cost involved to cover material expenses. If an overnight stay is required then there may be further expenses. Information can be gained from your Parish Priest about details of upcoming courses.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Holy Orders
We have celebrated two ordinations to the “Permanent Diaconate” in our parish, Deacon Bill Eason (1988) and Deacon Reginald Grimmette (1990) who sadly passed away in 2007. We are asked continually to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and encourage future vocations to come from within our own parish community.
What are the Orders?
There are three orders: Deacon, Priest and Bishop. Ordination is seen as a sacrament, and these people are seen as an image of Christ.
What can a Priest do that a Deacon can’t?
A Deacon, whether transitional or permanent can preach, perform baptisms, and witness marriages. They may assist at the Eucharist or Mass, but are not the ministers of the Eucharist. Priests can also preach, perform baptisms and witness marriages. They can also hear confessions and give absolutions, anoint the sick and celebrate the Eucharist at the Mass.
What’s the difference between a transitional and permanent Deacon?
Every Deacon and Priest will be a transitional Deacon at some point. Those destined for the Priesthood will only remain as a transitional Deacon for a number of months, before being ordained. Whereas a permanent Deacon is never destined to be a Priest, and will remain a Deacon.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Anointing of the Sick
No longer called “The Last Rites” - the priest will anoint anybody who experiences a decline in their health and is in need of the Lord’s healing strength.
What is Anointing of the Sick?
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of healing, during which a Priest anoints the patient with oil specifically blessed for that purpose.
Isn’t that the same as the Last Rites?
No, the Anointing of the Sick is not the same as the Last Rites. The Last Rites also refers to Penance and Eucharist. When the Eucharist is administered to the dying, it is known as “viaticum”, which in Latin means “provision for the journey”.
What are the effects of the sacrament?
In the same way that the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. A gift of the Holy Spirit is given through the sacrament that renews confidence and faith in God and strengthens against temptations to discouragement and anguish at the thought of death and the struggle of death. Thus, it leads to spiritual healing with the forgiveness of sins, and sometimes to bodily healing as well.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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Initation as an Adult (R.C.I.A.)
There is also a process through which you can prepare for sacraments. This is called R.C.I.A. You can find more information here about this process.
What is R.C.I.A.?
R.C.I.A. or the Rite of Christian Initiation as Adults, is the process through which adults who are interested in joining the Catholic faith are initiated into the faith. It involves a number of stages during a preparation period of many months.
What preparation do I need to do?
There is a course which will run for several months, until the date of initiation, usually at Easter. You should speak to your Parish Priest for further information on whom to speak to about joining the course.
What is a sponsor?
A sponsor is a person that you choose whom you admire, and can trust. They will take on a role similar to that of a godparent, chosen for a baby at Baptism.
How do I pick my sponsor?
Your sponsor should be someone you can relate to. They must be over 16 years of age, and a practicing Catholic. Ideally they would live locally as they may be required to attend some of the weekly meetings throughout the preparation process.
If you require any further information about this sacrament, we will be glad to help. Please feel free to email us on stjustusandstanselm@gmail.com.
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