Gifts of Time,
Talent & Treasure
Godparent Acknowledgement Form
Guidelines for Receiving Holy
Communion
Examination of Conscience
Oblates Sisters
of
Guidelines for Marriage Preparation
Sacraments of Initiation
Baptism
The Sacrament of 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 sons of God; we become members of Christ, and we are
incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.
Baptism ~ Infants
(Children under 7 years of age)
Baptisms for infants are celebrated on the First, Second and Third
Sunday of each month, following the
We require that the parents be registered at St. Mary at least 90
days prior to the baptism. For information on how to register visit
JOIN
ST. MARY.
Parents must attend a Baptism Class. The classes are held the 1st
Thursday of each month at
Bautismo ~ en Español
(para niños
menores de siete años)
St. Mary celebra Bautismos en Español, el cuarto Domingo del mes
despues de la Misa de las
Requerimos que los padres se inscriban en la parroquia por lo menos 90 dias antes del Bautismo.
Para
informaćion de
St. Mary requiere que los padres y padrinos atiendan una clase
especial de Bautismo. La clase se ofrece el primer sabado
Baptism ~ Children Age 8-16
Children and youth ages 8-16 who wish to be baptized attend the RCIC
Program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children).
This is a two year program offered by the Religious Education
Program of the parish.
Preparation for the sacraments of initiation (in this case, children
receive all three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)
begins with classes in the fall and are completed with the reception
of sacraments at the Easter
To register for this program or for more information, please call the Religious Education Office at
540-373-6491.
Children who are already validly baptized who wish to be received
into the Church may join the regular cycle of religious education to
receive First Holy Communion or, if they are older than other
students studying for sacraments, they may be enrolled in a special
sacraments class offered by the Religious Education Program.
By receiving Communion their profession of Faith in the
Church is validly received.
If students who seek reception into the Church through the
sacraments are uncatechized, it is recommended that they be enrolled
in the RCIC program to provide a broader base for their knowledge of
the faith.
Baptism ~ Adults
Adults interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and
moving toward Baptism or Reception into the Catholic Church (already
validly baptized) are welcome to join our RCIA Program (The Rite of
Christian Initiation for Adults). This series of meetings/classes
begin in September and meet weekly Monday’s
The program culminates with the reception of the Sacraments of
Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass: Baptism (if necessary),
Confirmation and Eucharist.
For information about the Program, please contact the parish office
540-373-6491.
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation can be described as the sacrament of
spiritual maturity. It enriches the soul of the person with deep
graces of the Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament that calls
recipients to witness courageously the gift of faith by word and,
especially, by the example of their lives. The Vatican II’s
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church states that Catholics “are
more perfectly bound to the Church by the Sacrament of Confirmation
and the Holy Spirit endows
Confirmation ~ Grades 7-8 + High School
Preparation for Confirmation is a two-year program administered by our Religious Education Office. The program begins in 7th grade and continues through 8th grade. Classes are held weekly and students are placed in Confirmation Teams that complete spiritual and corporal works of mercy as acts of service to the Church and local community. We also have specific classes for high school students preparing for Confirmation. For more information visit Confirmation Teams.
The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated annually when the Bishop
visits the parish. The actual dates are not determined by St. Mary
but given to us by the Bishop’s office, usually in the spring.
To register for Confirmation classes, contact the Religious
Education Office at 540-373-6491.
Confirmation ~ Adults
For adults who have never received the sacrament of Confirmation we
offer a special short series of classes beginning in the fall and
culminating with the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation
when our Bishop Loverde visits the parish in the spring.
To register for Adult Confirmation classes, please call the parish
office at 540-373-6491.
Eucharist ~ First Communion
"The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by
Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving
for the work of creation. In the Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of
creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death
and the Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ the Church can
offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has
made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity."
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
The sacrament of First Communion, according to Tradition, is
received when a child has reached the age of reason.
The preparation required to receive the Eucharist is offered,
therefore, during Religious Education in the First and Second
Grades.
First Communion is received at a special celebration which is
usually scheduled on one of the first Saturdays of May.
For more information about the program, please contact the
office of Religious Education at 540-373-6491.
Sacraments of Healing
Anointing of the Sick
For those who are severely ill or attempting a medical procedure, an
appointment in the office or a visit from a parish priest may be
arranged to celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick, also known as
Anointing.
Please call the parish office at 540-373-6491 to make arrangements.
Emergency calls received after hours are directed to the
answering service who immediately will contact the priest on duty.
Reconciliation/Confession
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as the
Sacrament of Penance) has three elements: conversion, confession and
celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a
result we are called to forgive others.
Schedule
Wednesday
Saturday
or by appointment
To make an appointment please call the parish office at
540-373-6491
Vocation
Holy Orders
St. Mary has been the home of many who have gone forward to serve
God and his people through the Priesthood and Religious Life. God
can call at the most unexpected times in life! It is only necessary
that we live with hearts open to him so that he may be heard above
all the other voices of the world.
If you think perhaps God is calling you to be a priest or
religious, he probably is!
You are always welcome to speak to one of the priests or
sisters in the parish. We are happy to answer any questions or help
you any way we can.
Matrimony
The Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that
one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public
statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife and is a
reflection of the perfect love God has for each of us.
We congratulate you both and warmly welcome you to be married here
at St. Mary Church!
There are a number of preliminary steps you should take if you are
considering marriage at St. Mary.
First,
parish registration
is required if you live within the St. Mary boundary, or written
permission from the pastor of the parish where you are registered.
A six-month preparation period is required by the dioceses
for all marriages during which time you will meet occasionally with
a priest and attend the Diocesan Conference for the Engaged.
Please call the Parish Office at 540-373-6491 to schedule an
appointment with a priest.
Reservations for wedding dates are made by the priest based
on the availability of the church at the time of your meeting.
Click on the link to the left “Guidelines for Marriage
Preparation” for helpful information.
Weddings are celebrated at St. Mary on most Saturdays during the
year at
Congratulations!