Baptism makes one a member of the body of Christ and incorporates one into the Church, sharing in its mission. The principal effects of Baptism are purification from sins and a new birth in the Holy Spirit. Church Law (#867) states that infant baptisms should take place within the first few weeks after birth.

The Catholic Church baptizes all ages. For infants, the Church requires formation and catechesis for the parents in preparation for the baptism of their children. Only one class is required. First time parents/guardians (or those who have not attended a class or met with the pastor within the last three years) are required to meet with the pastor prior to scheduling the baptism of their child.  Expectant parents are encouraged to plan ahead and meet with the pastor prior to the birth of their child. The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated following weekend Masses.

Godparents/Sponsors are also asked to attend a pre-baptism preparation class, either here at St. Matthew or at their home parish.

In order for a child to be Baptized at St. Matthew, his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) must be registered member(s) of the parish (a minimum of 4 months prior to the baptism), and at least one of the Godparents (the Church teaches that each child to be baptized must have a Godmother and a Godfather) must be a Catholic who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Adolescents and adults are prepared for Baptism through a process called the OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children) or OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).

To start the registration process for Baptism, please contact the Parish Office.

The rite of reconciliation, often called "confession" is the sacrament in which Christ forgives our sins and reconciles us to our fellow Christians. Its sign or ceremony is the sinner's showing his sorrow by acknowledging his sins and the priest's words of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ's name. The Rite of Reconciliation can be celebrated any time; please refer to the weekly bulletin for a scheduled time or call the church office for an appointment.

Christ's presence among us in the eucharist (Holy Communion) has always been a key teaching of the Catholic faith. It has been the constant teaching of the Church from the beginning; the clear belief found in early Christian documents is overwhelming. Through bread and wine Christ becomes present in the eucharistic celebration; somehow Christ himself is now truly present under this form of food as St. Paul says succinctly. (1 Corinthians 11, 27-30) Usually First Eucharist is celebrated in the Second grade.

Confirmation is the completion of baptism, the giving of the full power of a Christian. "Confirmation" means a strengthening -- this sacrament strengthens and increases what we receive at baptism, particularly the power of bearing witness to Christ. To emphasize this, the ceremony of confirmation includes a renewal of our baptismal promises. We now become full-fledged members of the Church, lay apostles in the fullest sense. The age for celebrating confirmation in our parish is the 8th grade. The Archbishop normally confirms these young people in a special ceremony. Adults who are not confirmed can be confirmed when the Archbishop comes or at the Easter Vigil. Please call the Church office if you need to be confirmed.

Marriage is the sacrament by which Christ joins a Christian man and woman in a grace-giving, lifelong union. Thus, any two baptized people capable of marriage, when they are freely and legally married thereby receive the sacrament of marriage. Christ joins them together. The couple give the sacrament of marriage to each other in what is probably the most important exercise of their priesthood. As the ordained priest is Christ's instrument in bringing about the Eucharist or in giving Christ's forgiveness in confession, so the husband gives this sacrament to his wife, and she to him.

Any Catholic adult (18 years and older) is able to get married in the Catholic Church. If a person is divorced and wants to marry or remarry in the Catholic Church they can "petition" to be free to marry through the annulment process. The annulment of a prior marriage may be sought by contacting the pastor or one of the lay advocates within the parish.

Eight months preparation is required before the marriage of a Catholic. These preparations include participation in a Marriage Prep Program and counseling with the FOCCUS instrument (a pre-marital inventory). 

Couples must contact the pastor at least eight months before the anticipated wedding date, prior to making any other arrangements or reserving a reception hall, etc., and to enroll in the Marriage Preparation Program. To begin the process, please contact the Parish Office.

If you would like to know more about the process or are interested in a couples retreat, visit the Archdiocese's Office of Marriage and Family Life website here

Men become priests today as always -- by the sacrament of holy orders -- the laying on of the bishop's hands and prayer. Through this sacrament, Christ changes the man interiorly, giving him the powers of the priesthood. There are different orders or degrees in the priesthood: a deacon, a priest, and a bishop. Some men choose to remain a "permanent" deacon. If this is the case, they are able to be married. Priests and bishops are not married, although there are some priests who are ministers from another faith tradition who join the Catholic Church and want to serve as a priest. If you have any questions or interested in the priesthood, please call the Church Office.

In the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, Christ uses the anointing and prayers of the priest to give comfort and strength to the soul and to the body of one seriously ill. We meet Christ here to receive his healing comfort, strength, and pardon. Anyone who is seriously ill, mentally or physically, may take part in it -- or a condition which is so serious as to demand surgery with a general anesthetic or even one who is weak from old age. Do not hesitate to call for the Pastor to minister this sacrament at every serious change in your condition.