|
|
|
Join Us
Staying connected to St. Paul's has never been so much fun or easy!
Follow us on:
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sacraments are "powers that come
forth" from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They
are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in His Body, the Church. They are
the "masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The anointing of the sick is intended for those whose life is in
danger as a result of illness or old age. This sacrament includes what
we once referred to as the "last rites". However,
this sacrament is not a sacrament only for those who are at the point of
death. Instead, it should be administered as soon as someone is
in danger of death from sickness or old age. Among those who would
normally be anointed are: those undergoing surgery whenever a serious
illness is the reason for the procedure; elderly people who have become
noticeably weakened, and sick children seven years of age and older.
It is a serious mistake to wait too long,
such as until the advanced stages of a disease, to anoint a sick person.
The fitting time for anointing is when the sick person begins to be in
danger. In this way, one of our priests can be present when the time
of need arrives. In the event of an emergency, ask for a Catholic priest at
the hospital. the parish nearest the hospital usually has a priest
call to respond to an emergency.
The anointing of the sick may be repeated whenever the sick
person falls into a serious sickness after convalescence or whenever a more
serious health crisis develops during the same sickness.
Contact:
Eleanor King at
264-3303
|
|
| |
The birth of a child is a special cause for joy on
the part of the parents, family and friends.
the baptism of a child is a special cause for joy
and celebration on the part of the Church, the whole
community of faith! Baptism is a birth into
the Christian community and is in every way as
solemn and important as birth itself. It is an
event that needs to be prepared for. The very
fact that you have asked to have your baby baptized
shows that you recognize the importance of God in
your life. Baptism is a time of special joy
and blessing, and it can serve as a reminder to you
about your own faith and what it means to you.
In requesting and celebrating the baptism of your
child, the Church will simply want to be assured, as
with any other parent, of your own commitment to
your child's Catholic upbringing. Our Catholic
faith essentially involves belief in the sacraments
as the actions of Jesus present through the Church,
especially His real presence in the Eucharist.
To have a child baptized at St. Paul's, parents are
expected to be active participants in their
worshipping community of faith by regular attendance
at Sunday mass. If you have been away from the
Church for a while, our parish priests, deacons,
staff, and entire faith community extend a sincere
invitation for you to return and assure you a warm
welcome!
Arrangements for the Sacrament
of Baptism should begin
before the child's
birth.
It is important that the day of your baby's baptism
doesn't become an ordeal but a family occasion to be
enjoyed and celebrated by everyone present. we
will assist with your preparation by scheduling
baptism classes for you if you have not already done
so in the past three years.
Our Baptisms are celebrated on Saturday mornings at
9:15 a.m. If you have any questions or
concerns regarding your child's baptism or to return
the completed Request Form, please see Lizette Espel
in the Parish Office.
For your convenience, please click here to download a
Contact:
Lizette Espel at 264-3311 - Infants & Children ages 0 -
6
Sue Sferra at 264-3337 - Teens, grade 6 through 12 and
Children, Pre-K3 through Grade 8
Deacon Carlos Celaya or Deacon Ray Dever at 961-3023 - Adults via the Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Confirmation along with Baptism and the Eucharist
constitute the "Sacraments
of Christian initiation". 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."
Contact:
Sue Sferra at 264-3337 for adults or teens
"At the Last Supper, on the night before He was
betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic
sacrifice of His Body and Blood."
The Eucharist is the
"Source and Summit of our Christian faith".
"In the Blessed Eucharist is contained the whole
spiritual good of the church; namely, Christ
Himself, our Pasch."
For preparation for the first reception of this
sacrament, please contact the individuals noted
below.
Contact: Sue Sferra at 264-3337 for elementary children or teens
Deacon
Carlos Celaya or Deacon Ray Dever at 961-3023 for adults see RCIA
Priesthood:
Those who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders are
consecrated in Christ's name
"to feed the church by the word
and grace of God". Is God calling
you to the priesthood? Talk to a priest ...
call the Diocesan Vocations Office or go to
http://www.spvocation.org/ at the Diocese of St.
Petersburg.
Diaconate:
Holy Orders is not reserved to the priesthood alone.
A Deacon is a man who is called to a ministry of
service. Like Priests and Bishops, he receives the
Sacrament of Holy Orders. At the same time he is
"one among us," a man who has been called forth to
live the Christian life visibly. He is an ordained
person living in the lifestyle of the laity.
|
|
| |
Contact:
Father Carl Melchior, Vocations
Director at 727-345-3452 - Priesthood
http://www.spvocation.org/
Diaconate office at 727-341-6826 -
Deacons
http://home.catholicweb.com/Deaconsofstpete/index.cfm?reinit=y
The Diocese of St. Petersburg calls for a six month
preparation period to enable the couple, with the
Church's help, to prepare spiritually for their
wedding and more important, for their married life
together. At least one member of the bridal couple
must be a registered parishioner of St. Paul parish.
Required paperwork needs to be complete before a
wedding date can be confirmed. .
The decision to marry is one of the most significant
decisions in a person's life. Within the Catholic
church this decision is not only a personal high
point, but a parish celebration as well. Human love
accepts an invitation to become a sign of God's love
for us. The couple promise to be signs of God's love
for each other and together to be signs to the
Catholic community that God loves us faithfully,
forever. Marriage, then, is a commitment by the
couple to the Catholic community, and of the
Catholic community to the couple to support, nurture
and enhance their efforts to live out their promise.
The following guidelines for
marriage at St. Paul Parish flow from this belief in the
Sacrament of Marriage
-
Because marriage at St. Paul's is
a religious event, and for baptized persons a
sacrament, we celebrate marriage with those who
share this faith vision, those who believe in the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, those who want to profess
their faith in and through this Sacrament.
-
We ask that a Catholic who wishes
to prepare for the sacrament of Marriage at St. Paul
Parish to have been an active, registered member of
our parish before marriage preparation begins, and
plan on worshipping with us regularly before and
after the ceremony.
-
Children of St. Paul Parish
parishioners may be married at St. Paul Catholic
Church provided that they are active, registered
members of this or another parish community.
They are expected to follow these guidelines for
their marriages as well.
-
Interfaith marriages are
certainly allowed. They may be celebrated here
or with authorization in the Church of the
non-Catholic party. A minister of another
faith may also be invited to participate in a
wedding celebrated at St. Paul's.
-
We ask six (6) months in order to
help a couple prepare to receive the Sacrament of
Marriage here.
-
Marriage preparation arrangements
should be made with the parish before the wedding
date is set, or reception is planned. through
a request for a wedding date and time may be made
when marriage preparation begins, the actual
confirmation of this date and time, and the
scheduling for the wedding rehearsal take place with
the priest after the preparation is completed.
The preparation usually includes two meetings with
the parish coordinator of marriage preparation, some
reading, preparation sessions (such as Engaged
Encounter Weekend, Evenings for the Engaged, etc.),
and a short retreat.
-
All couples 21 or younger, and
those who have been together for less than one year,
will be asked to experience some additional
premarital counseling. Other couples will be
encouraged to use this resources as well.
For Information on
Annulments, please call Eleanor King at the number
below
Contact: Eleanor
King at 264-3303
"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."
For those who are to receive the Eucharist the first
time, they are required to go to confession before
receiving the Eucharist. Please contact the
individuals noted below for more information.
Contact:
Sue Sferra at 264-3337 - Elementary children and teens
receiving for the first time
Deacon
Carlos Celaya or Deacon Ray Dever t 961-3023- RCIA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
