Sacrament of Baptism
The greatest joy of any parish family is to welcome new members into the fold. Through the waters of Baptism, we become plunged into a unique relationship with Christ and the rest of the Christian community. Those interested in the Sacrament of Baptism are to contact parish office for registration prior to baptism preparation class. Parents and God-parents, when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, preparation (for infant baptism) is held on the 1st Sunday of each month after the 11 a.m. Mass. Baptisms will take place on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Letter to the Romans (3:23) reminds us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Hence, we are constantly in need to be reconciled to God. When the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, our parish offers “all” an opportunity to go to Confession every Saturday at 3 p.m.to 3:45 p.m. and Sundays 7:30 to 8:15a.m., 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. If these times are not convenient for you, please contact the parish office and make an appointment with the priest. During the season of Lent, Confession will be held in the church every Wednesday 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. “The Light is On” for you.
Sacrament of the Eucharist
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Paschal.” [1324] The document continues by stating that “The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit. [1325] Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all. [1326]
Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is the third step in initiation to our church. All those who desire to receive this wonderful Sacrament of the church should please call the parish office for registration.
Anointing of the Sick
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord.” We owe it to each to pray for ourselves and have the priest visit our sick and shut-in loved one. Our prayers and fellowship with the sick and home-bound bring them consolation and strength; even in the darkest moments of their lives. Please do not hesitate to call the parish office to notify your priest of family/friends who are gravely ill or about to undergo surgery. May God’s Grace remain sufficient for us all.
Funeral
The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “Mercy as it is here contemplated is said to be a virtue influencing one’s will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another’s misfortune. It is the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas that although mercy is as it were the spontaneous product of charity, yet it is to be reckoned a special virtue adequately distinguishable from this latter. In fact the Scholastics in cataloguing it consider it to be preferable to the quality of justice mainly because, like justice, it controls relations between distinct persons. It is as they say ad alterum. Its motive is the misery which one discerns in another, particularly in so far as this condition is deemed to be, in some sense at least, involuntary. Obviously the necessity which is to be succored can be either of body or soul. Hence it is customary to enumerate both corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The traditional enumeration of the corporal works of mercy is as follows:
We the parishioners of St. Luke take seriously these corporal works of mercy. Our Bereavement Committee is here to assist us in planning the Mass of Christian burial for your deceased loved one. Please call the parish office to notify us of the “passing unto glory” of your relatives. If the family would like to use the church hall for repast, a donation (to help us offset the water, food and cleaning bills) is expected. If you run into any difficulties regarding this issue, please speak with the pastor. We are here to help each other.
