At the basis of the Catholic faith is the belief in Christ who not only saved us from sin by His passion but also that Christ founded the Church whereby we are united in a “hidden and real way to Christ who suffered and was glorified.” (Lumen Gentium, 7)  In the Church, “Christ now lives and acts in and with His Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age.  He acts through the sacraments in what is called ‘the sacramental economy;’ this is the communication of the fruits of Christ’s Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church’s sacramental liturgy.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1076)  The sacraments can be divided into three groups:
 

Sacraments of Christian Initiation: 

Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist – Lay the foundations of every Christian life.  “The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishment of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian Initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212)
 

Sacraments of Healing:

Penance and Anointing of the Sick – “Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ. Now we carry this life ‘in earthen vessels,’ and it remains ‘hidden with Christ in God.’ We are still in our ‘earthly tent,’ subject to suffering, illness, and death. This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost by sin. The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1420-1421)
 

Sacraments at the Service of Communion:

Matrimony and Holy Orders – These sacraments are directed “towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ’s name ‘to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.’ For those who receive Matrimony, ‘Christian spouses are fortified and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and dignity of their state by a special sacrament.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1534-1535) 

What are the Sacraments?

“Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification” (St. Augustine)
There are seven sacraments. They were instituted by Christ and given to the Church to administer. They are necessary for salvation. The sacraments are the vehicles of grace which they convey. They are validly administered by the carrying out of the sign with the proper intention. The purpose of the seven sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the body of Christ, and to give worship to God. Although they are signs, they actually impart the very thing they signify (I.E – Pouring water with the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” actually washes away sin and impart the Holy Spirit).  The sacraments impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God rightly, and to practice charity. [http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/]

Sacramental Readiness

Sacramental Readiness for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
All youth preparing for the Sacraments of Holy Communion and/or Confirmation shall partake in a two-year preparation offered through the St Mary and St Joseph Family Faith Formation. Sacramental Readiness is based on two factors, 1) a full two years of active participation in preparing for each sacrament requested and 2) a meeting with the candidate, parents/guardian, Faith Formation Department, and pastor/administrator to determine the candidate’s readiness.

Under this policy, the age or grade of the candidate is NOT the determining factor in how or why the candidate receives the sacrament. We understand that traditionally, a two-year preparation for Holy Communion would begin in 1st grade and would culminate in the reception of the sacrament in 2nd grade.  Also, that preparation for Confirmation would begin in 8th grade and would culminate in the reception of the sacrament in 9th grade. Even though this has been the benchmark for receiving sacraments in the past we will now be moving to Sacramental Readiness rather than an automatic based on age or grade level.