Sacraments
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Sacraments are outward expressions of God’s love for His people.
Christ instituted the seven sacraments of the new law:
Baptism / Eucharist / Reconciliation / Confirmation / Holy Orders / Marriage / Anointing the Sick
Baptism
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, baptism is the Church’s way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God. Baptism is a highly sacred event and deserves careful and complete readiness. Please contact the Church Office at 336-869-7739 to register for the Baptism Preparation Workshop which is presented nine times a year on a Saturday morning. Parents must be registered and participating members of our parish community. The scheduling of baptism will be arranged at the workshop. For children seven years or older and not yet baptized, call the Faith Formation office. (see First Holy Communion below) |

Eucharist
As Catholics, we believe the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is the real presence of Jesus Christ and that He lovingly offers Himself as spiritual nourishment with each celebration of the Mass. This intimate exchange with our Lord strengthens us spiritually and brings us closer to God. It also increases our capacity to love one another more fully and to live in Christian community.
First Holy Communion
Children may receive the sacrament of first Eucharist in the spring of second grade or older. The Diocese of Charlotte requires at least one full year of formal religious education (Catholic school or faith formation) prior to receiving the sacrament of first reconciliation, and at least two full years of formal religious education prior to receiving the sacrament of first Holy Eucharist. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 336-884-5352 for more information.
For older children and teens who are interested in receiving the sacraments of initiation (baptism, reconciliation and/or first holy Communion), please contact the Director of Religious Education Deacon Wally Haarsgaard at 336-884-5352.
Adults who are interested in receiving the sacraments of initiation (baptism, reconciliation and/or first holy Communion), please contact the D.R.E. and Coordinator of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Deacon Wally Haarsgaard at 336-884-5352.
As Catholics, we believe the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is the real presence of Jesus Christ and that He lovingly offers Himself as spiritual nourishment with each celebration of the Mass. This intimate exchange with our Lord strengthens us spiritually and brings us closer to God. It also increases our capacity to love one another more fully and to live in Christian community.
First Holy Communion
Children may receive the sacrament of first Eucharist in the spring of second grade or older. The Diocese of Charlotte requires at least one full year of formal religious education (Catholic school or faith formation) prior to receiving the sacrament of first reconciliation, and at least two full years of formal religious education prior to receiving the sacrament of first Holy Eucharist. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 336-884-5352 for more information.
For older children and teens who are interested in receiving the sacraments of initiation (baptism, reconciliation and/or first holy Communion), please contact the Director of Religious Education Deacon Wally Haarsgaard at 336-884-5352.
Adults who are interested in receiving the sacraments of initiation (baptism, reconciliation and/or first holy Communion), please contact the D.R.E. and Coordinator of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Deacon Wally Haarsgaard at 336-884-5352.
Reconciliation (Confession)
“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, the new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation … We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5: 17-19, 20
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confessions will be offered: Saturdays 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM or by appointment, in the St. Francis de Sales Chapel, in the Church.
First Reconciliation
A period of preparation is needed to prepare second grade students for the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 336-884-5352 for more information.
“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, the new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation … We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5: 17-19, 20
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confessions will be offered: Saturdays 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM or by appointment, in the St. Francis de Sales Chapel, in the Church.
First Reconciliation
A period of preparation is needed to prepare second grade students for the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 336-884-5352 for more information.
Confirmation
What is Confirmation? “Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute ‘the sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded. Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. By the sacrament of Confirmation the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged. Sacrament efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church CCC 1131 (ef·fi·ca·cious) adjective \ˌe-fə-ˈkā-shəs\:having the power to produce a desired result or effect The nature of Confirmation is initiatory, completing Baptism. The purpose of initiation is conversion of life. Having been evangelized by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the individual seeks a relationship with God and enters into a way of life in response to the Holy Spirit. The effect is that Confirmation makes a person more completely the image of the Lord and intensifies awareness and response to the presence and action of the Holy Spirit. The outcome is that a person bears witness to him before all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible. To spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285 and Order of Confirmation, Introduction 1 and Code of Canon Law, canon 879]. A period of preparation is needed to prepare youth in the eighth grade for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Confirmation Program consists of two years of preparation that begins in the seventh grade. Please contact the Youth Ministry office at 336-884-5352 for more information. |
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Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to His apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest who is ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel and by providing other means to holiness.
IHM is blessed to have three priests and two deacons on staff. Our parish has the rich soil to nourish the seeds sown by our community to call forth many more to lead souls to Christ. All of us have something to contribute. It is faith-filled homes that foster vocations. Jesus tells us to pray that “the harvest master send laborers into the harvest.” When we encourage our children to discern if they have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, we show our support for their desire to serve. Let us Be Not Afraid to extend His call. For information about the spiritual discernment of a vocation to be a priest, deacon or religious, call 336-869-7739.
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to His apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest who is ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel and by providing other means to holiness.
IHM is blessed to have three priests and two deacons on staff. Our parish has the rich soil to nourish the seeds sown by our community to call forth many more to lead souls to Christ. All of us have something to contribute. It is faith-filled homes that foster vocations. Jesus tells us to pray that “the harvest master send laborers into the harvest.” When we encourage our children to discern if they have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, we show our support for their desire to serve. Let us Be Not Afraid to extend His call. For information about the spiritual discernment of a vocation to be a priest, deacon or religious, call 336-869-7739.
Marriage
Initial contact with one of the priests must be made at least six months in advance of the wedding. This preparation period is needed to complete all of the Pre-Cana Marriage requirements, as well as securing the time and the date of the wedding to avoid conflicts. Click here for more detailed information about your next steps. Please call the Church Office at 336-869-7739 to arrange a meeting with a priest. |

Anointing the Sick
“Heal the sick!” The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health. (Catechism 1509)
Formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, Anointing of the Sick is not just for those at the point of death, but may be received by anyone in danger of death from sickness or old age. This ritual of healing is available not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual illness.
Please telephone the church office at 336-869-7739 to inform us of an illness or hospitalization of a family member. Federal Privacy Law prohibits the hospital from giving room numbers, so we must have prior knowledge of a patient's room number before we visit the hospital. The Sacrament of Anointing is conferred upon request prior to surgery or at the time of an illness. During the year, the Sacrament of Anointing is also celebrated at a communal service.
“Heal the sick!” The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health. (Catechism 1509)
Formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, Anointing of the Sick is not just for those at the point of death, but may be received by anyone in danger of death from sickness or old age. This ritual of healing is available not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual illness.
Please telephone the church office at 336-869-7739 to inform us of an illness or hospitalization of a family member. Federal Privacy Law prohibits the hospital from giving room numbers, so we must have prior knowledge of a patient's room number before we visit the hospital. The Sacrament of Anointing is conferred upon request prior to surgery or at the time of an illness. During the year, the Sacrament of Anointing is also celebrated at a communal service.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church 4145 Johnson Street High Point NC 27265 Phone: 336-869-7739 Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Offices closed daily 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM |