WHAT WE BELIEVE

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. Also, we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission.

In Holy Communion (also referred to as “Holy Eucharist” or “the Sacrifice of the Mass”), the Catholic Church celebrates the true presence of Jesus Christ — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — under the appearance of bread and wine. Instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, the Eucharist is the Church’s greatest treasure and the center of Christian life. It nourishes us with grace, unites us more deeply to Christ and His Church, and strengthens us for our mission in the world.

In Confirmation, the baptized are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthened to live as faithful disciples of Christ. This sacrament deepens the grace of Baptism, roots us more firmly in our identity as children of God, and equips us with the spiritual gifts needed to boldly witness to our faith in the world.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also referred to as “Confession” or “Penance”) is one of two sacraments of healing and is reserved to the ministry of the priesthood, as they are the ordinary mode of binding and loosing sins. Through this sacrament, we confess our sins, express true sorrow, and receive absolution so that we may be restored in grace and reconciled with God and the Church.

Holy Matrimony is a sacred covenant by which a man and a woman freely give themselves to each other in lifelong, faithful love. In this union, they become a visible sign of Christ’s love for His Church. Through their vows, their daily life together, and their openness to family, the couple lives out the vocation of marriage as a call to holiness.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles and their successors continues to be exercised in the church until the end of time. Thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry: The mission of the Apostles, which the Lord Jesus continues to entrust to the pastors of his people, is a true service, significantly referred to in the Sacred Scriptures as “diakonia.” This service is exercised on different levels by those who from antiquity have been called bishops, priests, and deacons.

Anointing of the Sick (commonly referred to as “Last Rites”) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, offered to bring spiritual strength, peace, and healing to those who are seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or nearing the end of life. It unites the person with Christ’s own suffering and offers grace to endure with courage and trust in God’s will.