SACRAMENTS

Infant/Young Children Baptism
JoAnn Tobin, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation (jtobin@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Vatican II has directed that Catholics celebrate liturgy and the sacraments with “full, active and conscious participation.” It is with this directive in mind that Holy Rosary offers preparation sessions for those parents wishing to have their infants/young children under the age of seven baptized in the Catholic faith.

Members of the Baptism Team help facilitate the preparation sessions offered for parents. In addition, members of the team greet and assist parents at the Sunday liturgy in which the child is baptized. Any adult of the parish who feels drawn to working with new parents in this sacramental ministry, either as a facilitator for the sessions or a greeter at Sunday liturgies, or both, is encouraged to contact JoAnn.

Infant baptism generally takes place the first weekend of the month at any of the Sunday liturgies.  

Adult Baptism~~ Rite of Christian Initiation
JoAnn Tobin, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation (jtobin@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Adults and older children interested in becoming full members of the Catholic Church are prepared through the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA).  Preparation may begin at any time during the year – baptism, confirmation and Eucharist are received at the Easter Vigil.  Adults and older children who have been baptized in another Christian faith tradition are also prepared through the Rite of Christian Initiation and may make a Profession of Faith, be confirmed and receive First Eucharist at any time during the year after their period of preparation.

Adult Confirmation
JoAnn Tobin, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation (jtobin@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Every two years Holy Rosary offers a series of sessions to prepare adults, who have not yet been confirmed, for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The sessions focus on the Rite of Confirmation itself while also connecting Confirmation to the other two sacraments of initiation:  Baptism and Eucharist. Holy Rosary staff and parish volunteers facilitate the sessions. The ministerial requirements for this ministry are a desire to work with adults in their sacramental formation and, in particular, with the sacrament of Confirmation, good listening skills and small group facilitation skills. Confirmation candidates also need sponsors, i.e. other adult Catholics who are willing to companion the Confirmation candidate during the process of preparation. In addition, good listening skills, an ability to be present to the candidate and a willingness to share faith are plusses for Confirmation sponsors.

First Reconciliation and First Communion
JoAnn Tobin, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation (jtobin@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Each year Holy Rosary prepares a group of young parishioners for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. The actual preparation sessions are facilitated by parish staff but administrative and hospitality ministry is also required in order to have a welcoming and successful ministry. Hospitality help is needed in planning receptions and parent meetings. Please contact JoAnn for further information. 

High School Confirmation
JoAnn Tobin, Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation (jtobin@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Through the sacrament of Confirmation, Catholics are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. They become true witnesses of Christ, spreading his message by the way in which they live their lives.

Anyone who is 16 years old and baptized may be confirmed. There is a formation process that culminates with the mass of Confirmation, celebrated with either Archbishop Brunett, Bishop Tyson or Bishop Elizondo. Holy Rosary prepares candidates for Confirmation every two years. If you would like to be confirmed, or if you would like to be a part of the Confirmation team that prepares the candidates, please contact the Parish Office.

Marriage
Sherry Smith, Pastoral Assistant for Marriage (sherry@holyrosaryseattle.org )

Holy Rosary prepares approximately 30 couples for marriage per year. One of the most important parts of the marriage preparation process are the classes we ask couples to participate in. Our parish offers two programs:

Evenings for the Engaged is a parish-based, 6-week program highlighting Matrimony as a vocation to love. Up to six engaged couples meet at the home of a facilitator couple, who present each week’s lesson to the engaged couples. The engaged couples experience Catholic marriage through the example and witness of caring Catholic couples in their homes where the sacrament of Marriage is lived.

A Decision to Love is our parish-based mentor-couple program, which pairs an experienced married couple with an engaged couple. The two couples follow a comprehensive handbook that offers the guidance and groundwork necessary to assist the engaged couple in preparing for their lives as a married couple.

Both programs focus on the importance of the commitment of marriage as one of the most important covenants of adult life. Not only do these programs assist the engaged couples in their preparation, they provide a wonderful boost to the married couples who facilitate. If you would like to volunteer for the Engaged team couple or a mentor couple, please contact Sherry.

If you are an engaged couple who would like to be married at Holy Rosary, please contact Sherry at 937-1488, ext. 210. For more information on Weddings at Holy Rosary, please view our Policies and Procedures Manual.

Anointing of the Sick
Paula Righi, Homebound Minister (prighi@holyrosaryseattle.org )

The Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated anywhere: at home, in a hospital, on a battlefield, etc.  An ideal place and time is during the celebration of the Mass of the Anointing of the Sick. Holy Rosary offers a Caring Mass the First Saturday of each month at 8am in the Church.

The reason for this is that the celebration of the sacrament is not a private action involving only the priest and the sick person.  It is a communal action involving the whole body of Christ.  As Saint Paul explains:

Elsewhere Paul compares the body of Christ to the human body.  If one member is sick, the entire body is affected in a spiritual way.  It is fitting, therefore, that others (especially family and friends of the sick person) be present during the celebration of the sacrament. 

In most cases the condition of sick people is such that they are unable to anointed during Mass. To arrange for a home or hospital visit, please contact Paula.

Funerals
Patrick Barredo, Pastoral Associate (pbarredo@holyrosaryseattle.org )

While the funeral home might need to be contacted immediately following a death, the first call when actually making the funeral arrangements should be to the Parish Office. Holy Rosary has trained pastoral ministers available for liturgical funeral planning at the time of the funeral and with post-funeral grief ministry.