“Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law… The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1210
The Seven Sacraments are the primary means by which Jesus gives us the grace to live as his disciples. We hope you will join us to celebrate the sacraments at St. Thomas!
Baptism
“Holy 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 sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission…” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
We welcome everyone who has not already been baptized, adults and children, to receive Baptism and become members of the Body of Christ. Baptisms performed in other Christian communities, so long as they followed a Trinitarian formula, are considered valid by the Catholic Church.
Click here for information on Baptism for infants and children
Click here for information on Baptism for adults (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Confirmation
“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. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285
Young Catholics, generally of middle school age, and baptized adults who have never received the sacrament, are both invited to be sealed with the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.
Click here for information on youth Confirmation
Click here for information on adult Confirmation (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
The Eucharist
“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1323
Young Catholics, generally in second grade, and adults entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, are invited to prepare for their First Holy Communion. All baptized Catholics in a state of grace are encouraged to receive Holy Communion regularly.
Click here for information on First Communion for children
Click here for information on First Communion for adults (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Confession
“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.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422
Anointing of the Sick
“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 exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1499
Anointing of the Sick is available by request after all Sunday Masses for the elderly and those with potentially life-threatening conditions, including scheduled surgery. To receive anointing, approach the priest or sacristan prior to Mass (ideal) or immediately afterwards. To schedule a private or emergency anointing, contact the front desk at 734-761-8606.
Marriage
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1601
Click here for information about weddings at our parish
Annulments: As part of its fundamental teaching on marriage, the Catholic Church does not recognize divorce as ending the bond established in a valid marriage. While the presumption always exists that a marriage is valid, either of the spouses has the right to ask the Church to examine this presumption after three conditions are met: common life has ceased, there is no hope of reconciliation, and a civil divorce has been obtained. Connect with a trained, experienced procurator-advocate to begin this process. All communication is kept confidential. Contact Judy Trucky (jtrucky@sta2.org) about possible annulments.
Ordination
“Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1536
Click here for information on vocations to the priesthood and diaconate in our diocese