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.
Baptisms at St. Thomas More Catholic Church are scheduled on a regular basis throughout the Liturgical year. We are unable, at this time, to accommodate private baptisms due to priestly staffing and scheduling unless in most extraordinary circumstances. Please note, we do not schedule baptisms during the seasons of Advent (November 27, 2021 through December 31, 2021) and Lent (March 2, 2022 through April 24, 2022), so please plan accordingly. All parents seeking baptism for their child are to be registered at the parish and attend a preparation course for each child they bring forward to the Sacrament. The Baptismal Preparation Course, consisting of 2 sessions, provides a time of reflection, sharing, and learning about the graces of Baptism. This will include, but are not limited to topics such as: 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. These courses are offered every other month; please see schedule below. To sign up to attend one of the courses, please contact Trish Pabis at relformation@stmva.org. The Diocese of Richmond asks that all Godparents complete the diocesan Godparent/Sponsor Attestation Form can be attained via the following link: Christian Formation (richmonddiocese.org) 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 form can either be emailed to Trish Pabis at relformation@stmva.org, or dropped off at the parish office Monday - Friday during regular business hours: 9:30 am until 3:30 pm. The tentative schedule for the 2022 Baptismal Preparation classes and Baptismal Ceremonies are listed below. Please note that these dates may be altered and revised in light of any changes with precautions and restrictions in place to ensure safety during the Covid-19 pandemic. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause. Please contact Trish Pabis, relformation@stmva.org, who will gladly assist you with the initial steps on this journey towards Baptism for your child. |
Contact: Trish Pabis
relformation@stmva.org (434) 237-5911 ext. 211 |
Baptismal Preparation Courses **Please note, currently, the Baptismal Courses are offered in a hybrid format which means you may attend the session in person at St. Thomas More, or virtually via ZOOM. When you contact Trish Pabis to sign up for the course, she will provide you a ZOOM link if you prefer meeting virtually. The sessions are held on Monday evenings from 6 pm until 8 pm. Attendance at both sessions is required. Monday, May 9 & 16 Monday, July 11 & 18 Monday, September 12 & 19 |
Baptism Ceremonies
**Please note, additional dates will be added, so please check back to this site in the future or contact Trish Pabis at relformation@stmva.org. Sunday, May 1: 12:30 pm (Immediately following the 11 am Mass) |