THE SACRAMENTS

God’s Grace Transforming Us Today.” Join Us to Experience His Grace at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Dorchester

Baptism

Baptism is the sacrament by which we are born again of water and the Holy Spirit, and by which we receive a share in the Divine Life and become children of God. Before having your child baptised, you should be attending Holy Mass regularly in our parish. Having your baby baptised is an important step and it needs to be thought about carefully. As parents, you are undertaking to bring up your child to know and practise the faith of the Holy Catholic Church.

The first step is to pick up a Baptism Application Form from the church. Alternatively, you can download a ‘Word’ version by clicking the link BAPTISM DOC.doc. The original PDF document can be found BAPTISM DOC.pdf . Cost: There is no charge for the use of the church for a Baptism. An offering is left to your discretion.

First Holy Communion

The preparation course for the children takes the form of catechetical sessions which are held weekly during term time at the Holy Trinity Parish Centre. Each child will receive a workbook which they are encouraged to complete at home between sessions. The most important part of a child’s preparation is the celebration of Holy Mass, and no amount of teaching can replace this experience which is an obligation binding to all Catholics

The preparation course for the children takes the form of catechetical sessions which are held weekly during term time at the Holy Trinity Parish Centre. Each child will receive a workbook which they are encouraged to complete at home between sessions. The most important part of a child’s preparation is the celebration of Holy Mass, and no amount of teaching can replace this experience which is an obligation binding to all Catholics.

There is very good support from the parish team of catechists and other regular helpers during the children’s sessions. Any of the catechists or helpers will be pleased to answer your questions. If your child is at a Catholic school there should be help at hand there also.

If you decide to enrol your child on the First Holy Communion Course, it is of vital importance that you, as parents, fully support your child throughout. You can do this by ensuring that your child attends every class, by making time to talk through with them what they have learnt, by keeping up to date with what is happening on the course of preparation and most importantly by attending Holy Mass as a family every Sunday as the Church requires all its members to do.

When your child was baptised, you were reminded that you are the first teachers of the faith to your children by word and example. During the classes, we can only build upon what you do at home. You are the primary role models for your children. Details of the First Holy Communion Course dates in the Parish are published in our Newsletter. If you wish to enrol your child in the programme, you should write to Fr Babu Francis at the Presbytery address stating your desire for your child to receive this Sacrament and your intention for them to attend the preparatory course for all candidates.

Confirmation

The majority of Catholics are baptised as children before they are old enough to understand what it really means. Their parents and Godparents promise to bring them up in the Catholic Faith following the example of Jesus and His teaching made clear to us through the Holy Catholic Church.

When a young person reaches an age where he or she is able to understand the challenges of living out the Christian faith, they are invited to confirm the promises made on their behalf at Baptism through Confirmation.

Confirmation is one of seven Sacraments instituted by Christ. The effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through Confirmation we receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: reverence, understanding, courage, knowledge, wisdom, awe and right judgment.

Candidates for Confirmation take the name of a saint. The saint will act as a patron and guide to the person. Candidates will usually devote time during their Confirmation classes to choosing a saint who particularly inspires them.

Details of the Confirmation course dates in the Parish are published in the Newsletter. If you are aged thirteen or over and wish to be confirmed, you should write to or email Fr Babu Francis at dorchester@prcdtr.org.uk stating your desire to receive the sacrament and your intention to attend the preparatory course for all candidates.
Please note that all candidates should be attending Holy Mass each Sunday at the time of application.

Marriage

For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament, a sacred sign of God’s unconditional love for us all, and the way to celebrate the union of a man and a woman in the context of that love. The Church will do everything possible to help the couple gain every grace and blessing from the sacrament, both during the time of preparation, and afterwards.Please contact Father Babu to discuss your plans at least 6 months before the anticipated date of your wedding.

Funerals

When a Catholic dies it is possible to arrange a Funeral (Requiem) Mass to be celebrated at the church. If a Requiem Mass is not requested, then a funeral service may be celebrated in the church, crematorium or cemetery.

It is best, in the first instance, to begin arrangements for the funeral through your undertaker. This is because it is necessary to co-ordinate the availability of the priest, the church and the cemetery or crematorium.

The undertaker should be aware that no firm arrangements can be made for the funeral until they have spoken to your priest. This is important as your priest may have other arrangements which he cannot change for the time you would like the funeral, or the church may have already been booked for something else.

In planning the service, please bear in mind that secular music and readings are not permitted during Holy Mass. If you should wish to have the organ played, the undertaker and Parish Priest will help you to find an organist. The choice of music and hymns will need to be approved by the Parish Priest. Holy Trinity Church does not provide a choir for Requiem Masses. Regarding fees for the funeral, your undertaker should be able to make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

Becoming a Catholic

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Catholic, the best person to speak to in the first instance is your local parish priest and /or Deacon. If you are an adult who has not been baptised and would like to explore the possibility of becoming Catholic then the normal practice is to join a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This process can lead to becoming a member of the Church through baptism in a ceremony held during the Easter Vigil.

If you have already been baptised within another Christian community and would like to become a Catholic a similar process of learning and prayerful discernment is offered. This is usually assimilated within the RCIA process.

The RCIA normally takes place over a series of sessions exploring the Catholic Faith. Candidates mark their faith journey by liturgical rites along the way in the presence of the parish community (Rite of Welcome, Rite of Election, etc)