Baptism
10-04-09 The Schmidt Family had their baby baptized at Mass. Father Ron officiated. She's so precious. Congratulations!
Anointing of the Sick
10-11-09 Anointing of the Sick was performed during Mass today. It was an opportunity for the sick of mind, spirit, and body to receive special blessings. Fr. Bill officiated.
First Holy Communion
05-09-10 Our 2nd Grade Religious Ed students recently received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. They learned so much about their Faith this year, and we are so very proud of them! A reception was held after mass in celebration. Congratulations to all of you!
The Seven Sacraments
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that signify what is sacred for Catholics. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. For more information on sacraments at St. Matthew, scroll down this page.
Cluster Parish Confession Schedule:
Saturdays 11:00AM St. Josaphat
Seasonal services are scheduled during
Advent and Lent within the cluster parishes.
Saint Matthew's Online
Saginaw (Zilwaukee), Michigan
"Celebrating Our Church Community"
www.stmatthewsonline.com
Sacraments
Website Contact Information
Cluster Parishes--Mass Schedules
4:00pm Sat St. Josaphat
8:00am Sun St. Josaphat
9:30am Sun St. John the Baptist
11:00am Sun St. Matthew
Sacramental preparations for:
- Baptism--call Sr. Janet at Parish Office for appointment three months prior.
- First Eucharist (First Communion)--Second graders now have to prepare for three sacraments: First Communion, Confirmation, and First Reconciliation. St. Matthew's, like many other parishes nowadays, has a new policy that any child preparing for these sacraments must be in the program for two years. Because of this, it is expected to see the First Grade enrollment increasing for fall registration, as it is the first year of the two-year preparation program. It is suggested that parents enroll their children in the religious education program in preschool (Ages 4 & 5) to prepare for this. For those other than 2nd-Graders who wish to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist, please call Sr. Janet.
Anyone who has not received these sacraments (Baptism, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, or First Eucharist/Communion) who is in grade 3 or above should contact Sr. Janet.
- Confirmation (other than 2nd graders): Call Sr. Janet for information.
- First Reconciliation (First Confession) (other than 2nd-graders): To receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, other than 2nd graders, call Sr. Janet for information.
(The Sacrament of Reconciliation is held on Saturdays 11:00am at St. Josaphat's Church, for adults and anyone who has previously made their First Confession. Seasonal services are scheduled during Advent and Lent within the cluster parishes.)
- Marriage--call Sr. Janet at Parish Office for appointment at least six months in advance. Couples interested in having their marriage fully recognized and blessed within the Catholic Church should contact their respective pastors to set up an appointment for a preliminary discussion. In some cases, this is very simple. In others, it may require an annulment assuming there is sufficient cause. More useful information concerning special liturgies: Sometimes families have experienced a divorce and remarried or married outside of the proper process for a Catholic marriage. If you would like to discuss the possibility of an annulment or having your marriage blessed with a priest presiding over the ceremony, contact your pastor or pastoral administrator. (This is different from a request for a special prayer or blessing for a Wedding Anniversary which was done according to proper procedure.) This year the theme for Catechetical Sunday is: Matrimony: Sacrament of Enduring Love.
- Visit to the sick and homebound--call Sr. Janet at Parish Office to be added to her visits.
- Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Arrangements--Call Sr. Janet for appointment. More useful information concerning funeral preparations and special liturgies:
Special Liturgies and Planning Regulations for Funerals and Weddings
To clarify procedures for these special liturgies, Sr. Janet has prepared a set of guidelines to assist those needing them. Quite simply all information is given to Sr. Janet. She prepares the Worship Aid for the Wake Service and the Funeral Mass forwards the information to Pat Gallery to set the information and apply copyright permissions and report use of song titles to the licensing companies. Pat then forwards the set Worship Aid to Sr. Janet who in turn runs off, collates and staples copies as needed. The content of the Worship Aid must be approved by Sr. Janet. For licensing and reporting purposes the Worship Aid must go through Sr. Janet and then Pat Gallery. This is true for Funerals and Weddings. Musicians and cantors normally come from our parish or the cluster parishes. In rare instances, the family may have relatives or friends who are musicians or cantors and are familiar with the Catholic liturgy, and they must also have their music approved before the Worship Aid is sent to Pat Gallery. All Worship Aids go through Sr. Janet first, and then Pat Gallery. These guidelines should help make these special liturgies easier for all concerned.
Plan Ahead for Your Funeral
As families scramble to make final arrangements, it would be helpful to consider planning in advance your own Funeral Liturgy. It is customary in religious orders to plan your own funeral liturgy by selecting the hymns and readings, and indicating who you might like to actively participate in the liturgy. This, too, is good practice for all of us. When it comes to planning the liturgy for your funeral, you will need four hymns, three readings, and a list of those you would like to take active roles as lectors, gift bearers, and Eucharistic Ministers. File your plan away, take it out every five years to update or make changes, and put it in a place where your loved ones will know where to find it whenever that time may come.
Some Guidelines Regarding Cremation – (The following information is based on The Order of Christian Funerals Appendix on Cremation, which is approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and Confirmed by the Apostolic See, LTP, 1997.)
Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, the Church prefers that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites. When cremation is chosen, it is recommended that cremation take place after the Funeral Liturgy. (Cremation is permitted when the choice does not exclude belief in the resurrection.) (p. 1).
When cremation has taken place, a Funeral Liturgy, including Mass, in the presence of the cremated remains of the body of a deceased person is permitted in the dioceses of the United States of America under the following conditions: A. That the cremation not be inspired by motives contrary to Christian teaching, in accordance with what is laid down by the Code of Canon Law (canon 1176. 3). B. That each diocesan bishop will judge whether it is pastorally appropriate to celebrate the liturgy for the dead, with or without Mass, with the ashes present, taking into account the concrete circumstances in each individual case, and in harmony with the spirit and precise content of the current and canonical and liturgical norms (p. 3).
“The remains of cremated bodies should be treated with the same respect given to the corporeal remains of a human body. This includes the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and their final disposition. The cremated remains of a body should be entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium; they may also be buried in a common grave in a cemetery. The practices of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires” (p. 15).
(Note: The Death Register in the parish requires a record of where the cremains are buried or entombed. They should be placed in a cemetery or mausoleum. Consider the recent news of thieves stealing and sniffing a family’s urn of cremains mistaking them for pot or someone buying your property years later and having no respect for your family shrine in the backyard.)
Receiving Sacraments At St. Matthew
Confession 11:00am Saturdays St. Josaphat
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