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Sacraments of Initiation

BAPTISM
baptism tBaptism is our entrance into the Church and is the basis of our whole Christian life. Through this sacrament, water and the word of God, cleanses us of all sin. We are freed from sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life. During the baptism, a baptismal covenant is made in which the person being baptized, either personally or through one's sponsor, agrees to belong entirely to Christ, who in turn promises the new Christian to bless him or her with a lifetime of divine grace. For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life.

EUCHARIST
eucharist tThe Eucharist, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Communion, is the only one of the three Sacraments of Initiation that we can (and should) receive repeatedly. It is called: Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God; Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite oursleves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body. At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion.

CONFIRMATION
confirmation tThe word Messiah (Christos in Greek) means "anointed." Jesus is the Christ, the one anointed by the Holy Spirit. At Confirmation, we are anointed with that same Holy Spirit. At the actual anointing during Confirmation we hear the words: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." This sacrament gives us the grace to live our life as a Christian boldly and without shame. Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.