Why are you interested in receiving the sacraments? What are sacraments anyway?

1. The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. (CCC 1131) Saint Augustine described the sacraments as an “outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.”

2. In short, the word sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum. A sacramentum was a sacred oath of allegiance taken by a Roman soldier. Just as the soldier’s oath signified the beginning of a new life, the sacraments (especially Baptism and the Eucharist,) give us new life in Christ.

3. Sacraments are not starting or stopping points or boxes to check on our journey of faith. They are tangible gifts from an intangible world that help to nourish, strengthen and renew our lifelong relationship with Christ.

As part of Christ the King Parish’s mission to form missionary disciples, preparation for the sacraments may look very different from when you were a child. When your child is preparing for a sacrament, parents, and even the whole family, are invited and encouraged to be involved. Our faith is a whole family affair, not just relegated to the child receiving the sacraments. Our sacramental preparation is mostly home-based with support from parish staff and a few catechists. There will be in-person meetings once a month when you will come together with those other children and families in our parish community who are also preparing to receive the sacraments.

In keeping with our parish mission, in addition to this sacrament prep, participation in our parish-wide faith formation program, Emmaus, is required. Part of the purpose of preparation for the sacraments is to integrate our candidates into the life of the church. This is to expand a family’s knowledge and practice of the faith and give them more exposure to their parish family. For more information about our Emmaus program, please visit Emmaus.