Sacramental Preparation

A sacrament is a sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul (from Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary). 

Through encounters with Christ in the sacraments, we allow our lives to become channels of God’s grace that transform the community around us! We can become living representations of God’s love and Good News.

Baptism

During this first sacrament of initiation, you are brought into the Body of Christ and also into official membership in the Catholic Church. Original sin is washed away, you receive the Holy Spirit, and you are reborn as a son or daughter of God, united with Christ in his death and resurrection. 

To schedule your infant’s Baptism, call the Parish Office at (636) 227-5247.

Baptisms in English take place during Mass on a rotating schedule. Baptisms in Spanish take place during the 1:00 pm Spanish Mass. You will also need to register for Baptism preparation. See below.

To register for Baptism preparation (create link) program (In English: first Tuesday of the month in the Parish Library), (In Spanish: second Sunday of the month in the Parish Center Conference Room).

Reconciliation

During the sacrament of reconciliation (Penance, Confession), you will confess your sins to a priest (who stands in the person of Christ, a merciful and loving judge) and you pray a prayer called the Act of Contrition (link to Catholic Prayers section) in which you promise to avoid sin going forward. Remembering His great sacrifice of mercy on the cross, Christ will forgive your sins (through the priest).
 

Holy Eucharist

Also a sacrament of initiation, Holy Eucharist is the greatest of all sacraments, as it is truly the body and blood of Christ. Receiving Holy Communion during Mass is the source and summit of our Christian life and it is the living presence of Christ in the Holy Church. When we truly understand that the Eucharist is Christ himself and not a mere symbol, it all makes sense; the beginning and end of our lives as Christians is Christ and Christ alone. Parishioners and those enrolled in Faith & Family are able to receive their First Holy Communion in second grade.
Your child will need to complete the First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation program. Meetings are two Sundays a month at 10:00 am. For contact information, see the parish directory.

If you are homebound and would like to receive Communion in your home, see the parish directory.

Confirmation

The third of the sacraments of initiation, Confirmation strengthens your soul by deepening virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit that you receive in Baptism, and it gives you the strength to spread and defend your faith in response to Jesus’ command, “Go forth and preach the Gospel to all nations.” Parishioners and those enrolled in the Faith & Family program have the choice to receive the sacrament of Confirmation in middle school or in their early high school years.

To register for the Confirmation preparation program, contact our youth minister or Fr. Pastorius at (636) 227-5247.

Marriage

If you have recently been engaged, congratulations! As fewer couples choose to be married in the Catholic Church, your wedding stands as an important witness to your faith.

If you have a priest in mind to celebrate your wedding, please contact him to begin arrangements. If you would like a priest from St. Joseph's parish, please contact our main office. Weddings at St. Joseph should be scheduled at least six months in advance.

The priest will explain the whole process at your first meeting, including setting a date (Friday evenings or Saturday at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm) as well as the marriage preparation program. Contact our parish office staff to begin the process today!

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which men are joined to Christ in a particular way giving them powers and responsibilities needed to serve the faithful of the Church. Together, bishops, priests, and deacons form the hierarchy of the Church instituted by Christ. Their authority is given to them to be of service to the gospel and to the faithful who hold to the gospel truths.

If you are a young man who is interested in the priesthood, contact your parish priest or the archdiocesan Office of Vocations at (314) 792-6460 or vocations@archstl.org. If you are interested in the permanent diaconate, please contact the archdiocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate at (314) 792-7431. 
 

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given to those who have encountered a serious illness that is threatening to them. The sacrament gives you the supernatural grace to resist the final temptation to despair of our Lord’s mercy, and it also heals your soul of venial sins and sometimes even heals the body. 
Anointing of the Sick is available upon request and it is celebrated communally on the first Saturday of the month after 8:30 am Mass.