St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church of Taylor Creek at 7130 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45247 US - Sacraments at St. Bernard Parish
| Sacraments at St. Bernard Parish |
Baptism
Adults are normally baptized as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) which is the process by which they are evangelized and catechized for full reception into the Catholic Church. Infants and children are likewise called to Baptism because they share in our fallen human nature and are tainted by original sin.
The Catholic Church obliges parents to have their infants baptized within the first weeks after birth. The Church also mandates that the parents be properly catechized for the infant’s baptism and that those chosen to be godparents should be at least 16 years old, should have received all three Sacraments of Initiation, and should be actively practicing the faith. Parents who wish to have a child baptized at St. Bernard Church are to attend a Baptism Workshop in order to schedule the child’s Baptism. Infant Baptisms are scheduled for the second Sunday of the month (except during Lent) at 1:30 or on the fourth Sunday at one of the regularly scheduled weekend Masses.
Confirmation
Confirmation completes what Baptism begins. By the laying on of hands and the anointing with the oil of chrism, the person being confirmed is enriched with a special grace of the Holy Spirit, enabling the confirmed Christian to give witness to Christ and to defend and spread the faith by word and deed. In simple terms, Confirmation officially authorizes one to give witness to what he or she became in Baptism, that is, a follower of Jesus Christ. Adults are normally confirmed as part of the RCIA process. Although the Roman Church allows one to be confirmed “about the age of discretion” (seven years old), the common practice in The United States is to wait until children are between 11 and 16 years old. In St. Bernard Parish children are prepared for the sacrament when they are in the eighth grade.
Normally a Catholic who chooses to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony must have received the Sacraments of Initiation first, which of course includes Confirmation. Those who have not received Confirmation in grade school should call the parish office for information about preparation for receiving the sacrament.
Holy Eucharist
After making his First Communion a Catholic is obligated to receive Communion at least once a year, normally during the Easter season (between Palm Sunday and Pentecost). The communicant is to abstain from food or drink (except water) for at least an hour before receiving Holy Communion.
Children in St. Bernard Parish are prepared for First Communion when they are seven years old, with reception in the Spring, shortly after Easter. The preparation takes place in the second grade of the day-school or PSR program or in the children’s version of the RCIA.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
We used to call it “Confession,” but the Second Vatican Council preferred to call it the Sacrament of Penance or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “Confession” seemed to be focused on “sins” while “Penance” focuses on conversion and “Reconciliation” focuses on restoring harmony with God. Minimally, Catholics are obliged to receive this sacrament within a year of committing serious (mortal) sin. More appropriately Catholics receive this sacrament as a way of acknowledging that they sin and that they want to recommit to what their Baptism implies. The sacrament is available at St. Bernard’s on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. , and other times by appointment. Communal Penance Services with opportunity for private confession and absolution are scheduled during Advent and Lent.
Marriage
The Catholic Church values Marriage in general and the Sacrament of Matrimony in particular so much that it has enacted many laws to protect this divinely-established union of husband and wife. Since the New Testament takes marriage and divorce so seriously (e.g., Matthew 19:3-12), the preparations for receiving the sacrament are many and complex. Both parties in a proposed marriage must be free to marry (i.e., not preciously married, or if previously married must have a declaration of nullity issued by the Church tribunal), must be able to assume the obligations of marriage, must intend permanence and fidelity and openness to having children, and must intend in their marriage what the Church considers marriage to be.
At St. Bernard Parish, in accord with the norms set up by the Archbishop of Cincinnati, a couple intending to marry will normally call on a priest or deacon to begin marriage preparations at least six months before the intended wedding date, attend Pre-Cana, take and review a marriage readiness profile, and fulfill any other requirements that may apply in a particular case.
Weddings may take place during a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass, or on a weekday evening, or usually on Saturday at 10:30 AM or 1:30 or 7:00 PM.
Anointing of the Sick
WE used to call it “Extreme Unction,” but the Second Vatican Council preferred to call it “The Anointing of the Sick.” It is not reserved for the dying; it is for the sick. It can be administered to any Catholic who is seriously illness or who is aged. The Sacrament can be repeated, and should be requested before death is imminent and while the person is conscious. Catholics who are scheduled for a serious operation should request the Sacrament before going to the hospital. In the event of an emergency, family members should contact the Chaplain’s Office at the hospital. The Sacrament can not be conferred on the dead. An annual communal anointing service is held at St. Bernard’s.