Why Sacraments? The term sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum, which means oath. According to the ancient history of Israel and other ancient societies, in order to enter into any covenant, an oath must be sworn. God relates to man by means of covenants, just as men of old related to one another primarily through covenants. So, if any of us - man or woman, adult or child - is to come into right relationship with God, we need to enter into a covenant (the New Covenant) by means of swearing an oath, a sacrament. In the New Covenant (the one Jesus established between man and God through his once for all redemptive work), people come into relationship with God by means of an oath. This first oath is what we name baptism. This relationship with God through Jesus is then renewed through other oaths such as by receiving the Holy Eucharist. Through his words and deeds, Jesus personally established seven sacraments by which we enter into and renew our covenantal relationship with God the Father. Below are descriptions of each sacrament and how one may receive each sacrament. Listen to Carson Weber, M.A. explain sacraments. (20 min. 25 sec.) If you wish to learn more, read this online article.

The Seven Sacraments

Baptism
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and the Word.

	HOW TO BE BAPTIZED
	Parents who wish to have their child baptized must receive preparation. If you are expecting a child or have a child to be baptized, please contact the chuch office at 979-836-4441 and register for infant baptism preparation. Adults seeking to be baptized should contact Shaun Terry, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, by email or phone at 979-836-5485.

Confirmation (also called Chrismation)
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

	HOW TO BE confirmed
	Parents seeking to have their child confirmed should contact our Religious Education Office at 979-830-8331. Adults seeking to be confirmed should contact Shaun Terry, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, by email or phone at 979-836-5485.

Eucharist (also called Communion)
The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

	HOW TO receive first communion
	Parents who have children who have reached the age of seven and have not had their First Communion should contact our Religious Education Office at 979-830-8331. We require two years of religious formation before a child can receive First Communion. Adults seeking to receive Communion for the first time should contact Shaun Terry, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, by email or phone at 979-836-5485.

Reconciliation (also called Penance or Confession)
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.

	HOW TO receive first reconciliation
	Parents who have children who have reached the age of seven and have not had their First Confession should contact our Religious Education Office at 979-830-8331. We require two years of religious formation before a child receives this sacrament. Any Catholic may receive this sacrament at any time. Confessions are heard immediately before every daily Mass and at 4:30 PM on Saturday afternoons before the 6 PM Vigil Mass. If you are not Catholic, contact Shaun Terry, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, by email or by calling 979-836-5485 to receive the necessary catechetical instruction in order to receive this sacrament.

Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons).

	do you feel called to the priesthood?
	All men who are interested in pursuing a possible vocation in priestly ministry should contact Father Mike Sis, the vocations director of the Diocese of Austin, by emailing him at fr-mike-sis@austindiocese.org

Matrimony
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

	How to be married
	All couples seeking the sacrament of Holy Matrimony should contact the church office by calling 979-836-4441. Arrangements must be made with the pastor or deacon at least six months in advance.

Anointing of the Sick
By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.

	HOW TO be anointed
	If you or someone you know has a serious illness and need to receive the sacramental anointing of the sick, call the parish office at 979-836-4441.