Sacraments
The sacraments are efficacious signs of
grace, instituted by Christ and
entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to
us.
The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify
and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.
They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required
dispositions.
What is a Sacrament?
Sacrament n. - an outward sign instituted by Jesus Christ to give us inward grace.
Sign n. - any thing seen, heard, tasted, smelt, or felt which represents something other than itself.
Institute v. - to establish, arrange and set in action.
Jesus Christ n. - God; the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.
Grace n. - Divine Love and protection given to sanctify people (God's Love and protection given to help people get to heaven).
What are the seven sacraments?
Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Penance (or Confession), Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick. All of them consist of some material act - water, oil, bread, wine - and some external act: pouring, anointing, laying on of hands, uttering words, and all of them by these means symbolize the application of Christ's redemptive grace to men's souls and actually confer this grace.
BAPTISM
For more information contact, Allison Zamarripa through the
Parish Office at 281 333-3891, Ext. 38
Registered parents who are seeking Baptism for their children
are asking that their son/daughter be initiated into the
Catholic Community and the local Church community of St. Paul.
The Church baptizes infants/children on the faith of the
parents. Ideally, the parents should have a deep faith that they
actively live out in the experience of the Catholic Church
community. Baptism is a beginning! The Baptism of your
child is an opportunity to renew your own Baptism commitment. It
is an occasion to celebrate the amazing gift of life that our
God shares with us.
Baptisms are normally held on the first Sunday of the Month at
1:00 p.m. There are no baptisms during the Lenten season. Before
your child can be baptized, we ask that parents attend a Baptism
class that is normally held on the third Sunday of the month,
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
For more information, please call Francis, Sara Fontana and
Family, 281 922-1788
Preparing for First Communion is an
initiation process for baptized children. Parents know
their children the best and they are aware of the home
environment created to develop a faith relationship with
God. Commonly, children prepare for Eucharist for the
first time around the age of seven. It is important that
they have a sufficient knowledge and careful preparation
to understand the mystery of Christ according to their
capacity. For seven year olds, the process begins at
home and is supported by formal Religious Formation
programs.
1285 Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. [88] 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. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." [89] - Catechism of Catholic Church
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. By Confirmation, the baptized are
more perfectly bound to the Lord Jesus and His Church, and they
are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit to be
witnesses of Christ and the truth of His Gospel. Candidates for
Confirmation seek the spiritual help of a sponsor.
- Adults who wish to celebrate Confirmation please contact Heidi and Cody Clark at the Parish Office at 281 333-3891, Ext. 37
- Teens please contact Laura Hicks at the Parish Office at 281 333-3891, Ext. 27
RECONCILIATION / PENANCE
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There is the opportunity for private celebrations of the sacrament every Saturday at 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on the first Thursday of the Month 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Communal celebrations are scheduled during Advent and Lent. Additionally, the Sacrament of Penance may also be made by appointment. For preparation for children to participate in the sacrament for the first time, please contact Allison Zamarripa at the Parish Office at 281 333-3891, Ext. 38 |
As
Catholics, we believe marriage is intended by God to be an
intimate communion of life and love. Marriage represents to the
community the unbreakable bond of love that exists between
Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each
other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the
grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the
spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity and sanctifies
them on their way to eternal life. Because marriage is a
sacrament in the Catholic Church, we have definite beliefs about
marriage that differ from those in our popular society. As you
begin your preparation, it is important that you reflect on
these beliefs as a couple and with the church community. The
first step in marriage preparation is a meeting with our pastor,
Fr. Albert Maullon, 281 333-3891
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #1499 states: "By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she [the Church] exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ." quoting from Lumen Gentium, Vatican II.
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Please notify the parish office when there is a serious illness in your family. Anointing is intended for critical moments at the onset of illness, the progression of a serious disease, or a notable weakening in the physical condition of an elderly person. This sacrament is not limited to the elderly. If there are children in our community who are in need of anointing, then we would certainly invite them to be anointed as well. Please call Father Albert at the Parish Office at 281 333-3891 |
Life
as a priest, religious Sister, or religious Brother is a dynamic
combination of creativity, challenge and fulfillment. We invite
all single people to consider a religious vocation as a viable
option for the future. If you feel called to the priesthood or
to the religious life, please feel free to contact Father
Albert, 281 333-3891, Ext. 25 or the Archdiocese
for further discernment or visit www.vocations.com
for more information on the Sacrament of Holy Orders.