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Baptism the Sacrament

Baptism is the sacrament of entry into the Church. The sacrament is administered by the priest or deacon who pours water over the head of the person to be baptised while invoking the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Baptism takes away original sin, all personal sins and all punishment due to sin. It makes the baptised person a participant in the divine life of the Trinity through sanctifying grace, the grace of justification which incorporates one into Christ and into his Church. It gives one a share in the priesthood of Christ and provides the basis for communion with all Christians. It bestows the theological virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A baptised person belongs forever to Christ. He or she is marked with the indelible seal of Christ (character).

The Church baptises infants because they are born with original sin. They need to be freed from the power of the Evil One and brought into that realm of freedom which belongs to the children of God.

Procedures for Baptism at St Patrick's Cathedral

Baptisms are available every Sunday throughout the year unless a Diocesan Function is taking place. Baptisms commence at 12.45pm but families and guests must be present at the Cathedral by 12.30pm. Highlighting the ecclesial dimension of the Sacrament at St Patrick's it is customary to baptise up to four children at each ceremony, highlighting the communal nature of the Sacrament.

• • If you have any queries or would like to know more about Baptisms, please contact our Sacramental Team member on (02) 8839 8400 or enquiry@stpatscathedral.com.au.

• • Parent Preparation Programmes are normally held in the Cathedral Hall, and usually on the third Saturday of the month at 4.00pm. But please contact the Parish for actual times.

• • To book a Baptism date and a place in the Parent Preparation Programme, please contact the Parish Office on (02) 8839 8400 during office hours Monday to Friday or email enquiry@stpatscathedral.com.au. You may need to give several months notice as available places fill quickly.

• • Should you wish to have a luncheon afterwards, "The Cloisters" Function Room (our Parish Hall) is available for hire. Please Cathedral office on (02) 8839 8400 or enquiryl@stpatscathedral.com.au.

How to Begin?

1. Making Contact: Usually a phone call or visit to the Parish Office:

• • Administration Tasks - completing Baptism form
    Form may be downloaded here

• • Available dates for the celebration of the Sacrament.

• • Available dates for the preparation session.

• • Briefing - choice of God-parents (The Church Canon direction)

• • Attend Baptism preparation session

Catechesis

2. Preparation Session for first time parents: Dates, time and venue [prior to the Baptism day]

Baptism Rite

3. Sacrament of Baptism Celebration: Dates, time and venue

Post-Baptism Support

4. Growing up in the Faith community

Preparation of adults for this Sacrament

In the years preceding the Second Vatican Council, Church leaders looked carefully at the current state of our initiation rites and decided that some changes in emphasis should be made to better adapt these sacraments to the pastoral needs of the contemporary Church. Following the discussion of these matters at the Council, the Church published a document: Rite of Confirmation and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (which has come to be known by its initials, RCIA).

The RCIA restores the order of Baptism-Confirmation-Eucharist and emphasizes the interconnectedness of these three sacraments. These rites are neither separate nor are they static they are part of an ongoing process. The RCIA speaks of our faith journey. And this journey does not end at Baptism or First Communion, or even at Confirmation, but continues throughout our Christian life. The Sacraments of Initiation are a continual invitation to continued conversion.

This faith journey is not merely a matter of learning about the faith, not merely instruction, but also a true conversion process. It involves the whole life of the candidate and the whole life of the Church. Conversion takes place in community. Conversion implies initiation into that community, initiation into the Body of Christ. (Fr Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., S.T.D.Sacraments of Initiation:Sacraments of Invitation )

In baptism, we are reoriented toward God; the life of grace overcomes the power of evil and enables the baptized to believe in God and to engage, under the power of the Holy Spirit, in the struggle against Satan and the power of death.

Baptism happens not only to the individual, but also to Christ's body, the Church. That's why the rite insists that we celebrate Baptism in the Christian assembly, with the community present and actively participating. It is the community who is welcoming the new members, journeying with them, providing models for them, supporting and nourishing them.

Useful Links

Pope Francis: The sacraments will make you strong!

CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION

About the Sacrament

The essence of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the life of the Christian. Together with Baptism and Eucharist, Confirmation shapes us as Catholics. Each of these sacraments focuses on a different aspect of our life as believers: birth, breath and nourishment.

Confirmation "completes" the grace which was initially given when the child was baptized. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!";

• • it unites us more firmly to Christ;

• • it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;

• • it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;

• • it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1303

The Second Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), states that those who are baptized and then confirmed obtain the "special strength of the Holy Spirit" and become "more perfectly bound to the Church," thereby meaning that "they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (#11).

"Remember, then, that you received a spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of holy fear. Keep safe what you received. God the Father sealed you, Christ the Lord strengthened you and sent the Spirit into your hearts as the pledge of what is to come."

- St. Ambrose

Useful Links

Pope Francis: The sacraments will make you strong!
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Loyola Press - Confirmation
Confirmation 101: Why We're Confirmed

WEDDING MUSIC SELECTION FORM

Married Christians, in virtue of the sacrament of matrimony, signify and share in the mystery of that unity and fruitful love which exists between Christ and his Church; (Ephesians 5:32) they help each other to attain to holiness in their married life and in the rearing and education of their children; and they have their own special gift among the people of God.

The Cathedral
Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta. It occupies one of the most historic sites in our country where Catholics have worshipped for over two hundred years.

Completed in 2003, the Cathedral is designed to seat 800 people. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was restored to its present state from the shell of the former Church, which was destroyed by fire in 1996. The Chapel is ideal for smaller congregations up to 100 people.

All funding required for the operation, maintenance and preservation of the Cathedral is entirely dependent upon the generosity of the Catholic people of Parramatta, visitors and others who use it for special occasions or celebrations.

Celebrant
It is the responsibility of the Bride and Groom to organise a Celebrant where possible. He will guide you through the process of preparation for marriage and will be responsible for all the formal paperwork required for both the Government and the Church. If you are not a resident of the Parramatta Parish you will need to engage your own celebrant. You may wish to have your local Priest celebrate your wedding. If you choose a Priest/Deacon who is not from the Parramatta Diocese and does not hold a Ministry card, he must download and action relevant documents from the Diocese of Parramatta’s website. Due to Parish activities, the Priests from St Patrick's Cathedral Parish may not be available for weddings on Sundays.

Confirmation of Booking
Before your booking can be confirmed, a preliminary meeting with the parish secretary is required. Following this, you have four (4) weeks to secure your date by depositing the ‘non refundable’ booking deposit of $400 and returning the filled in application given to you at the preliminary meeting.

Pre-Marriage Education Courses
As part of your marriage preparation you are required to attend a Pre-Marriage course. The celebrant may work with you on this. The Life Marriage & Family Office, Diocese of Parramatta, run weekend and on-line courses.  Enquiries/bookings can be made at 8838 3460 or lmf@parracatholic.org

Books to assist you in preparing for your wedding ceremony are available at some of the Pre-Marriage courses or at Catholic bookstores.

Music
Our Director of Music must approve all music and musicians. It is a policy of the Cathedral that only the Cathedral's Director of Music or someone delegated by the Director of Music is permitted to play the organ in the Cathedral. Playing CDs and/or cassette tapes is not permitted in the Cathedral. Once you have begun your marriage ceremony preparation please contact the Cathedral's Director of Music who will be happy to discuss and advise you on musicians, instruments, singers and your choice of music.
Cost for music services will be outlined at the preliminary meeting. Discussions regarding music should be made with the Director of Music no later than 3 months prior to the ceremony.

Acolytes/Senior Servers
It is important to have someone to assist the Celebrant, particularly if he is not one of the Cathedral Priests. Our Acolytes and Seniors Servers have been fully trained and are familiar with the Cathedral. They will ensure the Church is prepared correctly and that requirements regarding the use of the Cathedral are strictly adhered to.

Flowers & Decorations
It is a policy of the Cathedral that the Cathedral Florist only is responsible for decorating the sanctuary with flowers for weddings. Contact should be made direct with the Cathedral Florist, who will advise you of the cost and arrange payment from you. The flowers remain in the Church and may not be removed as the vases containing them form part of the artwork for the Cathedral. During the season of Lent - Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday - floral decorations are required to be very simple.
Pew Decorations - As there are restrictions, it may be beneficial to arrange this through the preferred florist to the Cathedral.

Photographs & Videos
Having regard for the sanctity of the Wedding Ceremony and of the Cathedral, still photographs and video filming may only be taken from specific locations within the Cathedral. Please advise your photographer to speak to the Celebrant on arrival at the Cathedral prior to the ceremony, for instructions on the locations from which they are permitted to use their cameras or video equipment. The use of floodlighting is not permitted within the Cathedral.

Wedding Ceremony Times
Saturdays
After 11:30 am and before 4:00 pm
Sundays
3:00 pm only

Rehearsals
Rehearsals are usually held Monday-Friday (except Wednesdays) from 5pm-6pm.
Contact the parish secretary to arrange a time for your rehearsal. There is no charge for using the Cathedral for rehearsals. Preferred time allocated is one hour.

Punctuality
It is extremely important that your ceremony starts on time as there may be another service following on the same day. Your Celebrant and/or those people associated with organising your ceremony at the Church may also have other commitments following your ceremony.

Car Parking
Car parking is provided for guests in the grounds of the Cathedral. Entry is from Victoria Rd. Bridal cars and Photographers cars only may park in the forecourt area of the Cathedral. Entry to this area is from Marist Place. As other services could be following on the same day, you are asked to ensure that your quests vacate the car park without unnecessary delay.

Throwing Confetti etc
The throwing of confetti, rice, streamers, flowers, petals or any other items is NOT PERMITTED in, around or near the Cathedral precinct.

Behaviour
It is the responsibility of the bridal party and families to ensure that you and your guests behave in a manner that is respectful of the Church and the Sacrament of Marriage. The drinking of alcohol on the steps and forecourt areas of the Cathedral is NOT PERMITTED.

Offering for use of the Cathedral
An Offering to the Church is payable (detailed at preliminary meeting). Final payments should be paid no later than three months prior to the date of the ceremony.

Cancellation
If you find it necessary to cancel your booking, the initial Deposit of $400.00 will be forfeited. However, any additional payments made towards your Offering would be refunded in full.

Payments
Payments can be made via our website page at https://www.bpoint.com.au/payments/STPATRICKSPARISHPARRAMATTA.

Bookings / Cancellations
The parish office must receive your deposit and fully completed Application Form within four weeks of you receiving our information pack.  After this time the ‘tbc’ booking will be removed. The declarations on the back of the Application Form contained in this booklet must be fully completed in order to secure your  booking.

Correspondence
Any correspondence regarding your Wedding Ceremony should be directed in writing or by email to

Parish Secretary
St Patrick's Cathedral Parish Office
1 Marist Place Parramatta 2150
or secretary@stpatscathedral.com.au