Sacraments
The saving words and deeds of Jesus Christ are the foundation of what he would communicate in the Sacraments through the ministers of the Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. They are the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation), the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments of Service (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.
INFANT BAPTISMS AT OUR LADY OF ANGELS
If you are a first time parent, “Congratulations”!
To prepare for your child’s baptism, you are asked to attend
a Baptism Preparation Class. This class is offered on the
second Tuesday of the month (September—May)
from 7-8:30pm in the St. Francis Room
(upstairs in the gym building on Cortez Ave).
Please contact the rectory at (650) 347-7768 to register.
If you have previously attended a Baptism Preparation
Class, please contact the rectory at (650) 347-7768 to
schedule your Baptism with a priest.
BAPTISM FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
Baptism for school-aged students requires of one year of catechesis. Please click here for more information.
First Eucharist
Along with the Sacrament of Baptism, First Eucharist is one of our three Sacraments of Initiation. It is through these sacraments that we become full members of the Church. Holy Eucharist refers to Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity that are truly present in the consecrated host and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ on the altar. For Catholics, there is nothing greater than to receive the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass.
At Our Lady of Angels, we offer a two-year program to prepare families for receiving the Sacrament of First Eucharist. The child must attend Year One preparation (First Grade) for a full year in order to enter the Year Two (2nd Grade) preparation. First Reconciliation preparation and First Eucharist preparation each last for several months and involve classroom instruction, parent meetings, and prayer celebrations.
The involvement and cooperation of the parents in this program is essential as they are the primary of witnesses of faith to their children. directly involved with the preparation of their children. During Year Two, children who are prepared and are fully ready, will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the winter and the Sacrament of First Eucharist in the spring.
It is our goal to assist your children to meet Jesus in the Gospels and recognize Him in everyone they meet. Parents are actively involved in children’s Sacramental preparation and participation in weekly celebration of Sunday Mass with our parish community.
Our confirmation program is a two-year program. This year’s program will be preparing candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation by “understanding the initiation process as a faith journey of the whole physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual self.” Our program offers service activities, faith sharing, and spiritual opportunities for families and sponsors to become one in Christ.
Our Confirmation Candidates are required to perform a total of 20 hours of service. The 20 hours will be split into two services; Parish Service (10) hours (i.e. Altar Service, Lector, Collector, Choir, Fun Faire, Retreat Leader, etc.) and Community Service (10) hours (i.e. tutoring, beach clean up, SPCA service, camp leaders, coaching, refereeing, etc. as long no pay or compensation is given to the candidate).
For more information, please email us at [email protected]
Reconciliation at Our Lady of Angels Church
Saturdays from 3-4:00 pm in the Church
You may also contact the Rectory Office at (650) 347-7768 to schedule an appointment with one of our priests.
Anointing of the Sick
“The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of the Sick.”
“The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.”
“If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.”
If you or a family member would like to receive this Sacrament,
please contact the Rectory at (650) 347-7768.
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between a husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God.
Couples should contact the rectory at (650) 347-7768 at least six months in advance to schedule a wedding.
Please click here for more information on marriages at Our Lady of Angels Church.
Holy Orders
While the Sacrament of Baptism consecrates people to take part in Christ’s holy priesthood, the people of the Church participate in this priesthood in different ways. Some are called by God to participate in the “common priesthood” (the laity), and others are called by God to live out what is called the “ministerial priesthood.” While each expression of priesthood is ordered to one another, they also differ essentially, such that the “ministerial priesthood” serves the “common priesthood” in the unfolding of the grace they receive at baptism. It is in this ministerial priesthood that men are called to serve the Church through the Sacrament of Holy Order, a Sacrament which integrates a man into the order of bishops, priests, and deacons, conferring a gift of the Holy Spirit upon them that permits the exercise of a “sacred power” which can come only from Christ himself for the sake of his Church. The laying on of hands by a bishop, along with a prayer of consecration, constitutes the visible sign of this ordination.
In the participation in the ministerial priesthood, for example, a priest receives sacred authority to act in “persona Christi” (in the person of Christ), and has the responsibility of preaching, teaching, shepherding, counseling, and administering the Sacraments for the flock of people entrusted to him. It is in the spirit of Christ that a man who has received Holy Orders ought to act in complete service to the people, not lording anything over them, but laying down his life for them as Christ did.
If you are considering a Religious life in the Capuchin Franciscan Order, please visit the Capuchin website at www.capuchinswest.org.