Sacraments

​"The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us" through the work of the Holy Spirit.  CCC 1131,774

The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. CCC 1113

Baptism     Eucharist     Confirmation     Reconciliation     Anointing of the Sick     Marriage     Holy Orders

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

Baptism

  Baptism is the first Sacrament that we receive as Catholics to mark the beginning of our faith journey.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that 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.”  Baptism allows one to “put on Christ,” makes us the sons and daughters of God, and members of the Church community. 
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Baptisms at St. Thomas More Catholic Church are scheduled on a regular basis throughout the Liturgical year.  Please note, we do not schedule baptisms during the seasons of Advent and Lent, so please plan accordingly.

There is a preparation period prior to parents having their children baptized.  It is required that parents attend the Baptismal Preparation Course which consists of 2 sessions.  These sessions discuss our Catholic Faith, our call to have our children baptized, the importance of naming, the role of the Godparents, the symbols at baptism, and the logistics of the baptism ceremony. 

A copy of the diocesan Godparent/Sponsor Attestation Form can be attained via the following link:
https://richmonddiocese.org/office/christian-formation/?tab=16
This form should be filled out by your chosen Godparents and returned to the parish office at least 2 weeks prior to the baptismal ceremony.

The schedule for the 2019 / 2020 Baptismal Preparation classes and Baptismal Ceremonies are as follows:

Contact: Trish Pabis
relformation@stmva.org
(434) 237-5911 ext. 211

Baptismal Preparation Classes​                                             
Monday, October 7 & 21 6:30-8:30 pm  
Monday, January 6 & 13 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Monday, March 9 & 16: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
​Monday, May 11 & 18:  6:30 - 8:30 pm              
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Baptism Ceremonies
Sunday, November 10:  11 am Mass
Saturday, February 1: 10:30 am
Saturday, May 9: 10:30 am

Confirmation

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission.  Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.  Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church.  After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.
Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.  . . .  We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service. To join the 2020 confirmation class please contact Isaac Jackson at youthmin@stmva.org or 434-237-5911 ext. 205.

​A copy of the diocesan Godparent/Sponsor Attestation Form can be attained via the following link:
https://richmonddiocese.org/office/christian-formation/?tab=16

Eucharist

First Eucharist
Preparation to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time occurs in the 2nd grade year with 2 Spring retreats.  Those 2nd or 3rd graders who have already received their Sacrament of Baptism, will attend a 3 – 3 1/2 hour parent/child retreat held at the parish.  For the 2019/2020 school year, the retreats will occur:

Saturday, March 28, 2020: 8:45 am – 1:30 pm
Saturday, April 25, 2020:  8:45 am – 12:30 / 1:00 pm

First Eucharist Weekend will be held the weekend of May 16/17, 2020 at the 5:00 pm Mass, 8:15 am Mass and the 11 am Mass.

Reconciliation

First Reconciliation
Preparation to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time occurs in the 2nd grade year with 2 Fall retreats.  Those 2nd or 3rd graders who have already received their Sacrament of Baptism, will attend a 3 – 3 1/2 hour parent/child retreat held at the parish.  For the 2019/2020 school year, the retreats will occur:
 
Saturday, October 5, 2019:  8:45 am – 12:30 / 1:00 pm
Saturday, November 2, 2019: 8:45 am – 12:30 / 1:00  pm
 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated Saturday evenings from 3:30 pm until 4:45 pm, or by appointment with the Parish Priest.

Anointing of the Sick

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. 
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Please contact the parish office to arrange to the Anointing of the Sick, info@stmva.org or (434) 237-5911.

Marriage

Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. 
By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church." 
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Holy Orders

From the moment of Jesus' conception in the womb of Mary until his Resurrection, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In biblical language, he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and thus established by God the Father as our high priest. As Risen Lord, he remains our high priest. . . . While all the baptized share in Christ's priesthood, the ministerial priesthood shares this through the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a special way. 
"Here I am, send me." (Is 6:8)
Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.  Those who seek priesthood respond generously to God's call using the words of the prophet, "Here I am, send me" (Is 6:8).  This call from God can be recognized and understood from the daily signs that disclose his will to those in charge of discerning the vocation of the candidate.

If you have questions on a priestly vocation go to the Richmond Diocese webpage at ​https://richmonddiocese.org/office/vocations/