Sacraments
Reconciliation
Forgiveness is a key aspect of Christian faith. We believe that God is a God of love and mercy, who sent his Son into the world to save us from sin and fear. Jesus said he had come to bring 'freedom to captives' , and in the Gospels we hear how he often freed people from evil, and forgave their sins. After the Resurrection, he gave his disciples the power of the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.
In the Church, the Holy Spirit is still at work bringing us forgiveness and in the Sacrament of Penance (sometimes also called Reconciliation or Confession) we experience it in a real way. We acknowledge honestly the ways we have failed to show our faith in Christ, and the priest, acting in the name of God and the Church, gives us God's forgiveness and the grace to do better in the act of Absolution.
The Sacrament is available on Saturdays after 10am Mass and after the 5.30pm Vigil, or on request. During Advent, we have a Reconciliation Service for our whole parish.
Anointing of the Sick
When a priest administers the Sacrament of the Sick, he prays for the sick person and anoints them with the Holy Oil of the Sick. This Sacrament is for those who are sick - it is usually administered to someone who has a serious illness or is undergoing a serious operation. It does not mean that a person is dying!
If someone is going into hospital for surgery or long-term treatment they should notify their parish priest and receive the Sacrament of the Sick beforehand. If someone has taken ill suddenly, the parish priest might be called to the house or a Hospital Chaplain called to when they reach hospital.
When a person is dying or close to death the priest will often administer this Sacrament, offer Absolution and give the person Communion (if they are able). These are known as the Last Rites of the Church. Where possible, Holy Communion is the last Sacrament a person shares.
Please note that NHS rules prevent Hospital Chaplains accessing information about patients. The patient or their family must ask for the Chaplain to be informed, otherwise he will not know you are there.
Marriage
For Catholics, marriage is more than a contract between two people. It is a covenant, which reflects the total love of God for us, a sign of Christ's love for the Church.
Covenant is an idea which runs right through the Scriptures, signifying God's free choice of His people, and their free response to Him. It is a relationship which never ends, no matter how hard it can be to sustain. It always renews, heals and forgives. This is our ideal for married love.
Also, it is a love which is open to life - to the gift of children and to family. In this way, the grace of the sacrament is not just for the wedding day, but is renewed daily for life.
Holy Orders
Christ came to save us, to preach the Good News of the Kingdom, and to bring us knowledge of God's love. This ministry is continued in the Church in many ways. Those who share Holy Orders continue Jesus' saving work by bringing us the grace of God in the Sacraments, leading us in prayer, preaching the Gospel and serving us by building our faith communities, offering comfort to the sick, the bereaved and the suffering, teaching us about God through lives of total commitment and guiding us in putting our faith into practice. This sacrament has three facets: Deacon, Presbyter and Bishop (we usually say 'priest' for the second, but a Bishop is still a priest, and in Baptism, we all become part of a Priestly People.)
