Sacraments of Initiation

All sacraments are an encounter with Christ, who is Himself the original sacrament. Young people and adults alike undergo periods of preparation before encountering Christ in the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist) and confession (one of the two sacraments of healing, the second being the anointing of the sick) for the first time.

Baptism

Baptism is the sacrament of spiritual rebirth. Through the symbolic action of washing with water and the use of appropriate ritual words, the baptised person is cleansed of all sins and made part of the Mystical Body of Christ, receiving the graces of the supernatural life.

Confession

Consistent with His words and actions until the moment of His death, forgiving those who crucified Him, the risen Christ instituted the sacrament of mercy as his first gift to the Church on Easter Sunday night.

Eucharist

If there is one mystery of faith around which the life of a Catholic and their Church revolves, it is the Eucharist. The Christian faithful over the centuries have been lavish in the titles they have given to this mystery, believing it is impossible to exhaust the depth of meaning. The name “Eucharist,” or thanksgiving, is to be explained either by the fact that at its institution Christ “gave thanks”, or by the fact that this is the supreme act of Christian gratitude to God.

Confirmation

In order to appreciate the importance of confirmation in the Catholic liturgy, we should see it as a stage in the sacramental progress of the Christian. As with natural life where we are born, develop into maturity and require nourishment and love so in the sacraments the faithful are reborn to a share in the divine nature by baptism, are strengthened by the sacrament of confirmation, and finally are sustained by the food of eternal life through the Holy Eucharist