| As Catholics we believe that each of the sacraments were given to us by Jesus and through each sacrament we are drawn closer to God. The sacraments are a tangible sign of God’s unconditional love for us, when He enters into our life and draws us closer to Himself through His grace.
There are seven sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders | |
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Baptism is the first of the sacraments of initiation. It is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. In baptism, we are freed from original sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ and are incorporated into his body, the Church.
Since the earliest of Christian times, baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God which does not presuppose any human merit. Children are baptized into the faith and the Church and now enjoy the grace of being true sons and daughters of God. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom. No one is more innocent than a newborn child. Yet the baptismal ceremony speaks of sin and evil. Sin is a part of being human. Even the youngest among us is influenced by the sin of others. To deny the reality of sin in the life of a child is to neglect the child's first spiritual need. Sin is very much a part of our fallen human nature. The more fully we understand sin the closer we will come to understanding ourselves and our relationship to God. For more information or to register please contact Christine Foote or the Parish Office | |
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Although Sin is a harmful and tragic reality, the sacrament of Reconciliation is a joyful reunion as we receive from God forgiveness for the sins we have committed. In doing so we strengthen our relationship with both God and the Church community.
Everyone commits sins, however, not everyone will acknowledge their sins due to misdirection in our society portraying sinful behaviors or lifestyles as positive or desirable. Sins, result in harm to the sinner who is always the primary victim. There are two types of sins that you must examine your conscience for. Mortal Sin – is a deliberate and free choice of something known to be seriously wrong that destroys our friendship with God and separates us from Him. For a sin to be classified as a mortal sin it must be something serious, done with sufficient knowledge of its effect and must be done with sufficient freedom of will. Venial sin - is a minor offense against God’s law that hurts our relationship with God but does not destroy it. Venial sin can be either something you do or don’t do. A person who is in the state of mortal sin needs to attend the sacrament of confession prior to receiving Holy Communion. The sacrament of reconciliation is celebrated at St. Augustine’s at the following times: Fridays - from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm Saturdays - from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm | |
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Marriage is a total pledge of a man and woman to a life long commitment together. Because of the many crises that are faced by young married couples, and the unfortunate increase in the number of broken marriages today, our pastors are convinced that it is of great importance that all people contemplating marriage be given every assistance in the proper and adequate preparation for this step in their lives.
It is evident today that too many marriages fail because of poor preparation. Marriage is truly a great sacrament and we urge all couples to place more importance on the spiritual aspect of marriage rather than on the material preparation. The parish priest is truly interested in your happiness and in a marriage celebration that is both solemn and joyful. Notice of at least 6 months to a year is to be given to the priest before the date of marriage. Prior to meeting with the pastor the couple will meet with a couple who are marriage planners for the parish. They will explain the procedure. The couple must then make an appointment with the pastor to book a date for their wedding. Also discussed at this meeting is a series of questions that allow the couple, and the priest, to determine whether the couple may require a deeper sense of communication. After this initial meeting, the church offers a marriage preparation course and it is required that the couple avail themselves of this opportunity to grow together in love. This course should be taken well in advance of the marriage date to avoid distractions with other preparations, parties, etc. Music "In selecting the music for your wedding, please remember that the ceremony is religious in nature, and thus the music must be sacred in character. Songs from the movies, T.V. shows, or stage productions find no place in the wedding liturgy. Favorite songs meaningful to the bride and groom would be better suited for the wedding reception". The above paragraph is the policy of the Archdiocese in regard to wedding music. It is the policy that is observed in this parish. Therefore, before music is selected for a wedding, the couple should submit the selection and lyrics to the presider. Decoration of the Church The purchase of flowers for the sanctuary is the responsibility of the couple. Traditionally these flowers represent your gift to God and to the community who has supported you in faith and continues to support the faith of St. Augustine's, thus they should remain in the church. Of course flowers are an option, they are not mandatory. The choice is yours. Photographs Pictures taken by guests are permitted, however the photos must be taken from their pew, thus avoiding any distraction to the service. No photos are allowed during the scripture readings or during the homily. Any equipment that requires the use of flood lighting such as movie cameras are prohibited in our church. Professional photographers are permitted; however must check beforehand with the priest as to where and when pictures may be taken. Photographers and guests are not permitted in the sanctuary area (the front of the church on any of the risers or steps). Dress The church is a sacred place; therefore we insist that all members of the wedding party and congregation be clothed in modest and non-revealing attire. In recent years, with many of our weddings involving non practicing Catholics or non-Catholics, this has become a serious concern. If necessary the bride and bridesmaids should wear either jackets or shawls. These can be made from either the same fabric as the dress or another fabric, and be easily removed following the church service. Please respect the sacredness of our church and our traditions. Confetti No confetti, rice, birdseed etc. is allowed either inside or outside the church. Not following this expectation will result in a fee for clean-up being levied on the couple. A suggestion…bubbles are an acceptable alternative. Visiting Clergy Visiting priests and deacons are welcome to celebrate a couple's marriage. However, they must be a priest/deacon in good standing with the Church and the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. Visiting clergy must agree to follow the wedding protocols established by St. Augustine’s Parish community prior to receiving delegation from the pastor. The Liturgy For two practicing Catholics, the marriage ceremony usually takes place with the Mass. (A practicing Catholic is someone who is baptized in the Catholic Church and who attends Sunday Mass each weekend unless prevented from doing so by illness or other circumstances beyond her/his control.) Holy Communion takes place during the Mass and is reserved for practicing Catholics. The Nuptial Liturgy Outside a Mass is the other option used for marriage ceremonies, and is the option to be used for non-practicing Catholics and the marriage of a Catholic and a non-Catholic. It is also rich in prayers, scripture readings, a homily and the Rite of Marriage. For more information please contact the Parish Office. | |
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The Catholic Church established a process to welcome newcomers - unbaptised and those baptised from other Christian traditions. This is an adult process of formation that supports the person on their faith journey to know God and the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This process is gradual. After the interested person contacts St. Augustine's Church, he or she is invited to meet with the director of the RCIA to explore the possibilities of becoming a Catholic. They are encouraged to ask questions about the Church, to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and how the Gospel is lived out in the Church. A person may continue in this inquiry period for as long as he/she wishes. No commitments are made at this time. If and when the person decides to pursue the idea of becoming Catholic, he/she enters the second stage of the process. The person meets with the clergy to discern his/her readiness to proceed to the next stage. These steps lead to the Easter Vigil, at which time the unbaptised is received into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. For those already validly baptized in another faith tradition, they are welcomed into full communion with the Roman Catholic church through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion, usually at the Easter Vigil, but not necessarily so. The neophytes, as they are now called, continue the journey of spiritual growth and action in the Catholic Church, and the community throughout their lives, taking seriously the mandate of Jesus Christ to "love God and neighbour", and to "go and teach all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded", remembering that God is with us always, “even until the end of the age". | |
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Another sacrament of the Church is the anointing of the sick. We are told in the Letter of James, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” James 5:14 and 15
Should you or a loved one be seriously ill or facing surgery, the sacrament of the sick is available by notifying a priest at, either St. Augustine’s, St. Hedwig’s or St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic churches in Brandon.
Give us a call today. | |