SACRAMENTS
SACRAMENTAL GUIDELINES
BAPTISM
The Sacrament of Baptism is administered on Sundays, usually at noon, or at any of the weekend Masses. Special arrangements can be made for other times. We offer a Baptism Preparation Session for first time parents with a family from the parish. (Contact the Parish Office 537-9434)
You must be a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish to have your child baptized. Out of town baptisms can only be performed with permission of the Pastor of the parish in which you belong.
Since your child is being initiated into the Catholic Faith, it is expected that the parents (or the Catholic parent) are practicing their faith so that they can be an example and a teacher for your child. If there is some doubt concerning this matter, Fr. Benjamin will discuss this with you.
To qualify as a Godparent, one must have already received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation), living according to the laws of the Catholic Faith, and practicing their faith on a regular basis. One Non-Catholic is permitted to serve as a Christian witness instead of a godparent, provided they are not a former Catholic.
There is no fee. If you wish to make a donation to the church, address the check to the church. If you wish to make a monetary gift to the priest or deacon, make the check out to him. Call the rectory one month in advance.
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered for the first time about March of Grade 2 , and the Sacrament of Eucharist is offered on the first weekend of May in Grade 3 . This allows both teachers and parents sufficient time to prepare the children for these sacraments. A minimum of two years participation in the Religious Education Program is required for the reception of the Eucharist.
Parents of children receiving these sacraments are expected to attend special parent meetings to help you prepare your child & to answer any questions you may have. Parents are expected to give an example of regular reception of these sacraments. For the child to be eligible to receive the sacrament, families and children must attend weekend mass regularly. After the preparation is completed, readiness of the child to receive these sacraments is determined by the parents, teachers, coordinator, and pastor. Special consideration and preparation are given to older children who have not received these sacraments.
CONFIRMATION
The formal process for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in Grade 9 . They & their families must be participating in our Religious Education Program and extra sessions are scheduled for Grade 9 & Grade 10. The candidate is required to have a sponsor before they begin Grade 9. The sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. A candidate 's parents cannot be their sponsors. We urge the candidate to pick a good role model who lives close by so that he or she can participate in the Confirmation process and lend spiritual support to the candidate.
A candidate must choose a Confirmation name. This name may be the name of a canonized saint; the name of their sponsor, or the candidate may pick his own name given at baptism.
A service commitment is expected to the community and/or to the church, to show their willingness to serve as a member of the Body of Christ
An interview with the pastor in Grade 9 or 10 will help the candidate explore their readiness for Confirmation.
A yearly retreat and attendance at the annual Diocesan Chrism Mass are part of the process.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is usually offered in the spring of each year for our Grade 10 class.
For the student to be eligible to receive the sacrament, families and students must attend weekend Mass regularly.
MARRIAGE
The Sacrament of Marriage is administered on Friday evenings, or Saturday morning or afternoon no later than 2:30 PM. Diocesan regulations forbid marriage ceremonies in other locations besides the church or on Sundays or on Holydays of Obligation.
Either the bride or the groom must be a member of St. Joseph Parish. Couples who wish to married in the Church must:
Call the rectory at least 9 months before the intended marriage day.
Arrange an interview with the pastor. The marriage day will not be set before this interview. No marriage dates will be given over the phone, unless the interview has taken place. If one or both of the parties has been married before, the Church forbids the scheduling of a marriage until the Church has clarified the status of the previous marriage(s). Please consult the pastor if there any questions.
A recent baptismal certificate is required from the Catholic party or parties. A baptismal certificate is also required of the non-Catholic party (if they have been baptized).
After the interview, couple will be expected to attend our Sponsor Couple Program or an Engaged Encounter, which is a weekend retreat for engaged couples lasting from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon at the St. Columban Retreat Center in Derby, NY. Our Marriage Preparation Sessions are led by Dan & Debbie Damon (655-7558).
After the preparation and 1 to 2 months before the marriage day, there will be a 2nd interview with the pastor. The actual ceremony will be discussed at this time. If one party is not Catholic, a decision will be made weather to perform the ceremony during the Mass. There can be no Mass if one party is not baptized. It is permissible under certain conditions for a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic to have this marriage performed in a non-Catholic church with a minister other than a priest. All of the above conditions must still be followed.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered upon request to anyone who is in need of healing. This usually includes anyone who has undergone or will undergo an operation, anyone with a chronic condition (e.g. diabetes, etc.), anyone who will be in the hospital for an extended period of time, and those among the elderly who feel that their age has affected their health.
One can be anointed every few months. St. Joseph Parish schedules anointing at a 5 PM Saturday Mass every year, usually in September.
In the past, this sacrament was called the "Last Rites", due to the fact that it was given only to the dying. However, this does not reflect the correct theology and purpose of the sacrament, and is no longer called "Last Rites." If a person is dying, there are special prayers that are said in addition to or instead of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
All Western New York hospitals have chaplains for emergencies. All Catholic hospitals have permanent chaplains for visitation and the sacraments. It is their purpose to administer the Sacrament of Anointing and the other sacraments.
BAPTISM
The Sacrament of Baptism is administered on Sundays, usually at noon, or at any of the weekend Masses. Special arrangements can be made for other times. We offer a Baptism Preparation Session for first time parents with a family from the parish. (Contact the Parish Office 537-9434)
You must be a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish to have your child baptized. Out of town baptisms can only be performed with permission of the Pastor of the parish in which you belong.
Since your child is being initiated into the Catholic Faith, it is expected that the parents (or the Catholic parent) are practicing their faith so that they can be an example and a teacher for your child. If there is some doubt concerning this matter, Fr. Benjamin will discuss this with you.
To qualify as a Godparent, one must have already received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation), living according to the laws of the Catholic Faith, and practicing their faith on a regular basis. One Non-Catholic is permitted to serve as a Christian witness instead of a godparent, provided they are not a former Catholic.
There is no fee. If you wish to make a donation to the church, address the check to the church. If you wish to make a monetary gift to the priest or deacon, make the check out to him. Call the rectory one month in advance.
FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered for the first time about March of Grade 2 , and the Sacrament of Eucharist is offered on the first weekend of May in Grade 3 . This allows both teachers and parents sufficient time to prepare the children for these sacraments. A minimum of two years participation in the Religious Education Program is required for the reception of the Eucharist.
Parents of children receiving these sacraments are expected to attend special parent meetings to help you prepare your child & to answer any questions you may have. Parents are expected to give an example of regular reception of these sacraments. For the child to be eligible to receive the sacrament, families and children must attend weekend mass regularly. After the preparation is completed, readiness of the child to receive these sacraments is determined by the parents, teachers, coordinator, and pastor. Special consideration and preparation are given to older children who have not received these sacraments.
CONFIRMATION
The formal process for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in Grade 9 . They & their families must be participating in our Religious Education Program and extra sessions are scheduled for Grade 9 & Grade 10. The candidate is required to have a sponsor before they begin Grade 9. The sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. A candidate 's parents cannot be their sponsors. We urge the candidate to pick a good role model who lives close by so that he or she can participate in the Confirmation process and lend spiritual support to the candidate.
A candidate must choose a Confirmation name. This name may be the name of a canonized saint; the name of their sponsor, or the candidate may pick his own name given at baptism.
A service commitment is expected to the community and/or to the church, to show their willingness to serve as a member of the Body of Christ
An interview with the pastor in Grade 9 or 10 will help the candidate explore their readiness for Confirmation.
A yearly retreat and attendance at the annual Diocesan Chrism Mass are part of the process.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is usually offered in the spring of each year for our Grade 10 class.
For the student to be eligible to receive the sacrament, families and students must attend weekend Mass regularly.
MARRIAGE
The Sacrament of Marriage is administered on Friday evenings, or Saturday morning or afternoon no later than 2:30 PM. Diocesan regulations forbid marriage ceremonies in other locations besides the church or on Sundays or on Holydays of Obligation.
Either the bride or the groom must be a member of St. Joseph Parish. Couples who wish to married in the Church must:
Call the rectory at least 9 months before the intended marriage day.
Arrange an interview with the pastor. The marriage day will not be set before this interview. No marriage dates will be given over the phone, unless the interview has taken place. If one or both of the parties has been married before, the Church forbids the scheduling of a marriage until the Church has clarified the status of the previous marriage(s). Please consult the pastor if there any questions.
A recent baptismal certificate is required from the Catholic party or parties. A baptismal certificate is also required of the non-Catholic party (if they have been baptized).
After the interview, couple will be expected to attend our Sponsor Couple Program or an Engaged Encounter, which is a weekend retreat for engaged couples lasting from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon at the St. Columban Retreat Center in Derby, NY. Our Marriage Preparation Sessions are led by Dan & Debbie Damon (655-7558).
After the preparation and 1 to 2 months before the marriage day, there will be a 2nd interview with the pastor. The actual ceremony will be discussed at this time. If one party is not Catholic, a decision will be made weather to perform the ceremony during the Mass. There can be no Mass if one party is not baptized. It is permissible under certain conditions for a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic to have this marriage performed in a non-Catholic church with a minister other than a priest. All of the above conditions must still be followed.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered upon request to anyone who is in need of healing. This usually includes anyone who has undergone or will undergo an operation, anyone with a chronic condition (e.g. diabetes, etc.), anyone who will be in the hospital for an extended period of time, and those among the elderly who feel that their age has affected their health.
One can be anointed every few months. St. Joseph Parish schedules anointing at a 5 PM Saturday Mass every year, usually in September.
In the past, this sacrament was called the "Last Rites", due to the fact that it was given only to the dying. However, this does not reflect the correct theology and purpose of the sacrament, and is no longer called "Last Rites." If a person is dying, there are special prayers that are said in addition to or instead of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
All Western New York hospitals have chaplains for emergencies. All Catholic hospitals have permanent chaplains for visitation and the sacraments. It is their purpose to administer the Sacrament of Anointing and the other sacraments.