St. John Bosco Church, Mattawan at 23830 Front Ave., Mattawan, MI 49071 US - Sacraments:  At a Glance

Parents and Godparents: read this before the baptism

For Parents: Baptism is an important event in the life of a child.  The child does not know what is happening at the time of baptism.  In fact, by baptizing their child the parents are making a commitment before God and the Church that they would do with all the resources available to share their Catholic faith with their child.  It involves an exemplary Christian life by parents.  For this, the parents should love each other and pray as a family with their children regularly.  They should talk about God and His love for us with their children.  They should take their children to Mass, and as they grow up teach the scripture stories and show to their children by their exemplary life what it means to be a Christian.

For Godparents: The new (1983) Code of Canon Law is quite specific about the qualifications of godparents.  A parent cannot be the godparent of his/her child, because the parent has a unique and special relationship with the child. 

Godparents need to be sixteen years of age or older; have made their first communion; and were confirmed.  They need to be practicing Catholics.  By "practicing Catholic," the Church means that godparents should be registered parishioners in their local church and attend Mass every week and on Holy Days of Obligation. 

If married, the marriage needs to be recognized by the Catholic Church as being valid.  Therefore, divorced and remarried, without the benefit of annulment, are not permitted to be sponsors.  A person who married outside the Catholic Church without permission is also in an invalid marriage and cannot be recognized as a godparent. 

Catholics who do not regularly go to Mass and rarely, if at all, go to confession should decline to become godparents.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is recommended both for parents and godparents just before baptism.

This is not a question of whose turn it is to be godparent.  X or Y might be the brother or sister of a parent, but the relationship as uncle or aunt of the baptized is not sufficient to be a godparent.  A person who does not go to Church, leads an immoral lifestyle, and embraces opinions and values that contradict Christian doctrine (racism, abortion, promiscuity, drunkenness, etc.) should not be asked to assume the sacred duties of godparent.

Reconciliation/Confession

The Sacrament is available at St. John Bosco each Saturday at 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. (5:00 to 5:30 pm DST) or by appointment.  During summer from Memorial Day up to Labor Day, because of the Saturday Mass at 4.00 p.m. in Marcellus, Confessions would be heard after the 5:30 p.m. Mass or upon request at St. John Bosco.


Marriage

Any couple anticipating marriage needs to call the parish office six months prior to their proposed wedding.  They should be registered members of the parish.  If they are coming from outside of the parish, they need to get a letter from their respective parishes they are attending giving permission to do the wedding at St. John Bosco Parish.  Be sure to contact us first before making any other arrangements (hall rental, etc.) in order to be sure the date you would like is available.  If you are already married and divorced, make sure that you already had an annulment of your marriage from an ecclesiastical tribunal.

Anointing of the sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request for the elderly, or to those who are facing surgery, serious or terminal illness.  Please call the parish office if you are aware of anyone who is sick or hospitalized.  Fr. Mathew would be happy to visit them.

Confirmation

Confirmation for the youth occurs in 8th grade at St. John Bosco (in high school at St. Margaret Mary) and involves a two year preparation. Confirmation completes a Roman Catholic's full initiation into the Church.  Confirmation classes start in September.

If you are an adult and were baptized but have not been confirmed, please contact the parish office and arrangements will be made for you to receive this sacrament.