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.  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 2021 / 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.  
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Monday, September 13 & 20
Monday, November 15 & 22
Monday, January 10 & 17
Monday, March 14 & 21
Monday, May 9 & 16
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Baptism Ceremonies
**Please note, additional dates may be added to accommodate needs.

Sunday, October 10: 11 am Mass
Sunday, January 30: 11 am Mass

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 2021/2022 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
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​Registration forms are below, please return them in the collection box, or  save and email them to Isaac Jackson at youthmin@stmva.org

stm_confirmation_registration_form.pdf
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Eucharist

First Holy Communion
In the Diocese of Richmond, preparation to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time occurs in the 2nd grade year outside of the regular Religious Formation K-5 classes.  At St. Thomas More parish, any youth in 2nd or 3rd grade who have already received their Sacrament of Baptism, are invited to register for Sacramental using this form (to be uploaded on Wednesday, August 11, 2021) 
Please fill it out, save it, and email it to Trish Pabis at relformation@stmva.org 

The preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist is a 3 session parent / youth in-person gathering held at St. Thomas More on the following dates:

                                 Sunday, January 9 at 3 pm - 5:30 pm
                                 Sunday, February 13 at 2 pm - 4:30 pm
                                 Sunday, March 13 at 3 pm - 5:30 pm

The First Eucharist Celebration occurs during a weekend in May at all three Masses:  Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at both the 8:30 am and 11:00 am Masses.  The specific date for the 2022 weekend is tentatively scheduled for May 21/22.

For additional information, please contact Trish Pabis, Coordinator of Religious Formation K-5 and Sacramental Prep, at relformation@stmva.org.  Registration Forms can be returned via email or a paper copy can be placed in the collection basket during weekend Mass.

sacramental_preparation_registration_form_2021-2022.pdf
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Reconciliation

First Reconciliation
In the Diocese of Richmond, preparation to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time occurs in the 2nd grade year outside of the regular Religious Formation K-5 classes.  At St. Thomas More parish, any youth in 2nd or 3rd grade who have already received their Sacrament of Baptism, are invited to register for Sacramental Preparation using the same registration form located in the First Eucharist section.

The preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a 3 session parent / youth in-person gathering held at St. Thomas More on the following dates:

                                 Sunday, October 10 at 3 pm - 5:30 pm
                                 Sunday, November 14 at 3 pm - 5:30 pm
                                 Sunday, December 12 at 2 pm - 4:30 pm

After completion of the Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, the youth will have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Healing for the first time during a Communal Reconciliation Service on a Saturday afternoon; date TBD.  There is also the option to receive the Sacrament during the regularly scheduled times on Saturday evenings from 3:30 pm until 4:45 pm, or by appointment with the Parish Priest.

For additional information, please contact Trish Pabis, Coordinator of Religious Formation K-5 and Sacramental Prep, at relformation@stmva.org.

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/