Graces and Worship
The Catholic Church is the mystical Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, it is made up of both Word and Sacrament. Catholics believe that Jesus promised to raise our bodies and not just our souls to eternal life. Therefore, in every celebration of the sacraments we proclaim the Word of God and sign (touch) the body of the sacrament’s recipient. In other words, what the minister of the sacrament does to the body (washing, anointing, eating and drinking, etc.) the Holy Spirit is doing to the soul. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1131).
Jesus Christ instituted seven sacraments, namely…
Three sacraments of initiation, which are baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Two sacraments of healing, namely, reconciliation and anointing of the sick.
Two sacraments of service, that is, marriage and holy orders.
In every Christian life and in a Christian’s striving for discipleship, Christ offers these sacraments and, through them, graces his disciples, friends, brothers and sisters, that they may believe, hope, and love.
Worship
On the cross, Jesus Christ gave birth to his bride, the Church, so that through him, with him, and in him we may worship his heavenly Father. Jesus wants that his heavenly Father be worshiped by one people; in one voice of praise; in one act of worship, prayer, and devotion; and for one and at all times. In the Catholic Church, we worship God by 1) celebrating publicly the liturgy of the Church, namely the Eucharist and other sacraments; 2) praying daily the Liturgy of the Hours; 3) listening to and studying the Word of God, that is, the sacred Scriptures; 4) praying various devotions; and 5) serving the poor and one another.
Jim Knowles
Director of Faith Formation
If you have questions or wish to speak further with someone regarding preparation for any of the sacraments, please contact Jim Knowles, Director of Faith Formation, at 303-742-2351 or jknowles@denvernotredame.org.
Baptism
Getting your child baptized
Parents are encouraged to have their babies baptized as soon after birth as possible. At Notre Dame, there is a 3-week program in which parents are required to attend the 9:00 a.m. Mass and meet with a priest or deacon afterwards for a baptism class. Godparents are invited to attend each of these classes with the parents. At the last class, baptisms are then scheduled for a Sunday after the 11:00 a.m. Mass.
You can view preparatory material from Fr. Ed on our YouTube page.
If my child has not yet been baptized and is older than 7, what do I do?
RCIC, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children, is a baptism program for children that are older than the traditional infant baptism age. For more information concerning the baptism of your children 7 years of age and older, please see the Becoming Catholic section of our Faith Formation page.
If my child has not yet been baptized but is a teen, what do I do?
Similar to the RCIC program, there is also the Rite of Christian Initiation for Teens. For more information, please see the Becoming Catholic section of our faith formation page.
In any case, if you have questions or wish to speak further with someone regarding the baptism of your children, please contact Jim Knowles, Director of Faith Formation, at 303-742-2351 or jknowles@denvernotredame.org.
How should I pick godparents for my child?
The role of godparent comes from ancient Rome. Christian parents, facing the very real threat of losing their lives because they were disciples of Jesus, would entrust their minor children to a “parent in God.” The godparent would promise to help raise the child as a Christian and, in case of the parents death, to adopt them so as to raise them in the faith. Being a godparent is not an honorary role. A godparent should be chosen because he/she lives the Catholic Christian life and, as such, is a role model of faith and capable of supporting and even raising the child in the Catholic faith. The church asks for certain “qualifications” in godparents: be at least sixteen years old, having received the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist, and be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church. Parents of a child may not be that child’s godparents.
Confirmation
What is the age for the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Confirmation is administered in the third grade and up. Children are prepared for the sacraments by their parents, who are expected to be living the sacraments in their lives and the lives of their family. When a parent believes his/her child is ready to receive first Reconciliation, Confirmation, and/or first Communion, the parent should contact Jim Knowles, Director of Faith Formation.
What do children have to know to be confirmed?
The archbishop has set a number of objectives for preparation for confirmation and first Communion, which can be found here.
How are children who have not been baptized prepared for Confirmation?
Children older than seven who have not been baptized are to prepare for baptism, confirmation, and first Eucharist through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children and/or Teens. Contact Jim Knowles for more information.
What are the requirements for a Confirmation name?
Taking a Confirmation name is a pious practice. It is not required unless one did not take a Christian name at Baptism. The name should be that of a saint and normally is of the same gender as the candidate.
If my child has not yet been confirmed and is in 3rd grade or older, what do I do?
Archbishop Aquila of Denver has implemented a restored order program, raising the age of First Communion from 2nd grade to 3rd grade and lowering the age of Confirmation from high school to 3rd grade, following confirmation. (For more information from the Archdiocese of Denver, please click here.)
For more information regarding a child’s Confirmation following the 3rd grade, please see our sacramental preparation section of our faith formation page.
When does Confirmation take place?
Confirmation usually occurs in February-March.
If I am an adult and have not yet been confirmed, what do I do?
Adults 18 and older who have not been confirmed are invited to contact Jim Knowles, the Director of Faith Formation, at 303-742-2351 or jknowles@denvernotredame.org and discuss his/her desire for and need of Confirmation.
Reconciliation
If my child is in 3rd grade or older but has not yet received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time, what should I do?
The sacraments are best taught by parents, who as part of their baptismal and family spirituality should be celebrating the sacraments in their lives and in their family. Since the sacraments are occasions of friendship with Jesus, the most important part of any sacrament is not to know its theological content but to know how to live its sacramental grace. And knowing how to live its sacramental grace is modeled by parents so as to be imitated by children.
First Reconciliation traditionally occurs in the 3rd grade towards the end of the year, that is, when a child has reached the use of reason and can begin to understand truth and love, right from wrong, and freedom and responsibility.
For more information regarding the reception of Reconciliation for children and teenagers living at home, please see our sacramental preparation section of our faith formation page.
If I am a young adult or older and have not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation yet, what should I do?
Contact Jim Knowles, Director of Faith Formation, and he’ll work out a program of formation with you. Call him at 303-742-2351 or email him at jknowles@denvernotredame.org.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturdays: 8:30—10:30 a.m. or by appointment with Father Ed.
Contact the parish office to set up an appointment (303) 935-3900
Eucharist
The Sacrament of the Eucharist / Holy Communion
The Sacrament of the Eucharist is the third and final Sacrament of Initiation. Catholics are asked to receive Communion at least once a year, at Easter. However the church urges her children to receive Communion frequently. It is called a sacrament of initiation because receiving it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ.
First Communion usually occurs in 3rd grade or after, usually in May. As with the other sacraments of penance and confirmation, parents help in the preparation of First Communion for their child. There will be parents meetings to help in this preparation.
There is an intimate connection of the Sacrament of Holy Communion to the mystical body of Christ, the church, and to life in Christ and in the church. Because of this, one wishing to receive Communion is to believe that the church is indeed Christ’s mystical body, his beloved bride, and is to be in a state of grace – that is, free of any grave or mortal sin – prior to receiving. Otherwise, as St. Paul warns in his first letter to the Corinthians, one “eats and drinks a judgment on himself” (11:29).
Receiving Holy Communion worthily brings grace that affects an individual both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, their souls become more united to Christ and to the church, both through the graces they receive, the change in their relationships with the church, and through the change in their actions that these graces effect.
One who has been away from the church and the practice of the Catholic faith for any length of time should visit with a priest and be sacramentally reconciled with the church and Christ before receiving Communion again. Should one be unable to receive holy Communion physically, he/she can pray an act of spiritual communion, whereby he/she expresses the desire to be united with Christ and for Christ to take up his dwelling place in his/her soul. Although not sacramental, this devout way of communion can be a great source of grace that strengthens the individual until he/she is able to receive Communion once again.
Vocations
Jesus Christ calls everyone to live a life of vocation. He calls some to marriage and others to priesthood, religious life, or the single life. He may also call some married and single men to the diaconate.
With each vocation, a person lives a life of faith and prayer so that he/she may continue to grow in his/her friendship with God. The Catholic Church recognizes that each vocation is equal in the sense that no vocation is better or less than the other. Because God calls one to a particular vocation, that vocation is the best for that individual because it is the one that will lead them to friendship with Christ and service to Christ’s bride, the church.
For more information, contact Father Ed, Father John Therese, or Deacon Ernie, and refer to the Office of Vocations of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Priesthood
The Catholic priest is a male ordained minister who gives his life in complete service to the church. Priests are asked to embrace celibacy and commit to a life of pastoral service to the People of God. Priests celebrate the sacraments, lead the parish in its worship of God, teach the Catholic faith, and serve their parishioners and the poor by meeting their pastoral needs. Most priests minister in a parish setting while others serve as chaplains in universities, hospitals, prisons, or in other Christian communities.
Religious Life
Religious priests, brothers, and sisters (commonly referred to as nuns) commit their lives to the mission of their religious community, wherein they embrace the call to poverty, chastity, and obedience. They foster their call through a life of celibacy, prayer, and service. Religious priests, brothers, and sisters normally serve in specialized areas of ministry, such as healthcare, teaching, and in specific missions found in remote areas of the world. The distinctive marks of a religious priest, brother, or sister are 1) living in community; 2) serving the charism (mission) of the religious order to which they belong; 3) wearing the distinctive garb of their religious order, which is also a sign of their poverty.
Single Life
A true vocation in the Lord and in the church, the single life is, for some, the truest and only way to faithfully to live his/her baptismal calling. As St. Paul himself says, “Everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one” (I Cor 7:17). And then he adds, “An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord….An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit” (vs. 32, 34). Many single people dedicate their lives to Christ and the service of his people without formal promises or vows. Others make promises or vows of virginity.
Diaconate
A deacon is either a single or married man who is ordained to serve the poor in the name of the church. According to Church teaching, he is ordained not to priesthood but to service in imitation of Christ, the suffering servant who came not to be served but to serve. In the Mass, the deacon proclaims the gospel, leads the congregation in the prayers of the faithful, distributes the chalice of Christ’s Precious Blood, and leads the congregation out to glorify the Lord, announce the gospel, and serve one another. The Lord and the church call to this ministry men of more mature faith, stable marriages and family life (if married and with a family), and a heart for loving and serving the poor. If you want to know more about the diaconate, our pastor, Father Ed, has written a book on the spirituality and ministry of the deacon, entitled A New Friendship.
Marriage
Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at Notre Dame
“I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named…” (Eph. 3:15).
As a vocation, God calls some persons to marriage; others he does not. This call is not to be taken lightly; we understand the significance of a couple’s relationship to each other. It is important for all of us to see also the importance of the couple’s relationship with God, the Church, and the sacrament of Marriage.
In the sacrament of Marriage, a man and a woman are united so that they become one flesh, just as God became one flesh with humanity in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the bread becomes one flesh with the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Marriage is a lifelong commitment of love and honor. Although marriage is not the only way in which people love one another, it is undoubtedly the ultimate example of human love. In this way the sacrament of marriage is eschatological, that is, it points us to heaven and receives from heaven the free, faithful, and fruitful love of God in Jesus Christ. One’s wedding is an act of public worship, of the church’s prayer, and an invocation of God’s blessings on the couple. Therefore it is celebrated in a Catholic church in the presence of an official church witness, a priest or deacon. Once married, the couple’s home is transformed into a domestic church, for the church is whole and entire in a family built on the foundation of the sacrament of Marriage.
The sacrament of Marriage takes place during a celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy or a Liturgy of the Word, during which the couple exchanges their promises to Christ and their vows to one another.
Marriage is part of the sacramental life that makes it possible for Christians to achieve eternal salvation; this sacrament graces the partners as they work to live in faithfulness to God. The love of husband and wife for each other reflects the enduring love between Christ and his church, and provides them with a example of the heavenly love that awaits them.
For more information contact Father Ed at 303.935.3900 or email at ebuelt@denvernotredame.org.
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord…” (James 5:14).
In the church’s sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Jesus himself touches the sick person to heal him/her from sin and physical illness. He cured illness and exorcised demons to signify the coming of the Kingdom of God. In the sacrament Jesus heals the physical body and so teaches us that, through his own death on the cross and resurrection, he forgives our sins and saves us from eternal death.
The Anointing of the Sick is not “the last rites.” In the past, one could receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick only once in one’s life. Therefore, it was usually put off until one was near death and called, in Latin, Extreme Unction (The Last Anointing); and so it came to be called, popularly, “the last rites.” Since the Second Vatican Council put forth a renewed understanding of the sacrament and the graces it communicates, it is no longer the case that one can only receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick once, that one must wait until one is near death.
One should not wait until one is dying to receive the Anointing of the Sick. The onset or worsening of a serious illness, before major surgery, or worsening health associated with continued aging are sufficient circumstances to warrant calling for the priest. In any case, the recipient of the sacraments must be sufficiently conscious so as personally to desire and request the sacraments. In all celebrations of these sacraments (Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Viaticum) insofar as it is possible, one’s family and friends should be gathered together to accompany the sick or dying person in prayer.
The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick expresses Jesus’ and the church’s solidarity with the sick person in his/her suffering. While physical healing of illness is a hoped-for effect, the primary effect of the sacrament is spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
For more information about the Anointing of the Sick, its history, character, and the grace that flows from the sacrament, click here to see the Anointing of the Sick Catechesis PDF.
To request a priest for the Anointing of the Sick, call 303.935.3900.
For an After Hours Sacramental Emergency, call 303.980.3787.
Need help planning a funeral?
When a loved one has died
A Catholic funeral is a reflection on the paschal mystery, that is, the death and resurrection of Jesus, who alone has conquered our sinfulness, risen from the dead, and made the promise of eternal life for his friends. As such, it is not so much a celebration of the decedent’s life but a celebration of the life of the decedent’s savior, Jesus Christ, a great act of thanksgiving to him. At the same time it commends the life and body of the decedent to the Lord. Therefore it offers hope and consolation to loved ones and mourners. Notre Dame Parish extends its sympathy to the families and friends of those who have died.
A Catholic funeral traditionally includes three parts: a vigil service in the home or at a funeral home the evening before a funeral (a recitation of the rosary may take place before, within, or following the vigil service, but should not replace or substitute for it), the funeral in the parish church (either a liturgy of the Word or a celebration of the Eucharist), and committal prayers at the cemetery. The priest or deacon who assists in planning the funeral rites will work with the family to select the most appropriate liturgical format. Depending on circumstances, certain elements (for example, the vigil service) may be omitted.
The funeral rites contain a rich variety of scriptural readings and prayers from which to choose. Regardless of which specific options are chosen, a Catholic funeral is always a time to pause and grieve, to renew our love for Jesus Christ and for one another, and to reflect on the eternal destiny of our creation and redemption by God.
At this time, because of an overwhelming volume of funeral requests, funeral services are restricted to parishioners. For more information please reach out to Father Ed’s ministry assistant at 303.742.2342.