Special Sacraments

Sacrament of Baptism

Baptisms are celebrated on the first and third Sundays of the month at 12:30 pm. Please call the pastoral center to make arrangements for your child’s baptism. Parents who would like to have their first child baptized will be asked to participate in a Baptism Preparation session held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in the pastoral center.

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Sacrament of Marriage

The policy for the Diocese of Worcester requires a period of one year preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage, which includes sessions with the parish priest and participation at either the Pre-Cana confereneces or the Engaged Encounter weekend.  Contact one of the priests for arrangements.

The months before a wedding are usually a time of intense planning for the “big day.” Here are some things to keep in mind, when preparing for a Catholic wedding:

• All marriage arragements are the responsability of the bride and the groom.
• The wedding should be scheduled at least six months prior to the date of marriage.
• Attend Pre-Cana Program. The parish staff will inform you the date, time, location and content of this program.
• Most of the time the priest who works with you through the preparation will be the celebrant of the wedding. Clergy from outside the parish are also welcome to celebrate your marriage.
• A Nuptial Mass is the best way of celebrating the beginning of your married life. We highly recomend this for all engaged couples.
• Selct your music. Our music director Rick Vacca will assist you with the best music selection for your wedding.

When the "big day" finally arrives, here are some things you must remember:

• A Certified Copy of your baptismal record
• A confirmation certificate
• Rehearsal
• The rehearsal usually takes place the evening before the wedding day. Please also bring to the rehearsal...
• The marriage license (the wedding cannot be celebrated without this license)
• Your selection of prayers and readings for the service
• The parish offering of $ 175.00
• Ask questions.

Wedding Coordinator

Our wedding coordinator will work with you behind the scenes to assist you during your wedding rehearsal and the half hour before you wedding takes place. She is to set up your Unity Candle, pin on boutonnières, distribute flowers, organize parents, family members, and attendants. The wedding coordinator will contact you regarding any questions you may have or last minutes deails/instructions you may want to discuss.

Contacts....

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Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrement of Reconciliation may be received on Saturdays, from 3:30 PM until 4:00 PM, or anytime by appointment.  Contact one of the priests to make an appointment.

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Pastoral Care

Arrangements for the reception of the Sacraments at home can be made by contacting the rectory.  Please also notify the rectory when a parishioner is in the hospital or otherwise confined.  Emergency Sick Calls at anytime.

Many of you may have read with interest an article in the local newspaper about the work of hospital chaplains. With recent legislation relating to privacy issues for patients, chaplains and parish priests may not have access to information regarding hospital admissions for our parishioners. Therefore, I urge you to call the Pastoral Center or rectory and let us know if you have a family member, neighbor or loved one in the hospital who may want us to visit. In this regard it is also very evident that there are persons seriously ill at home who would wish the sacrament of the sick and Holy Communion. Please let us know if you have a family member or neighbor who is ill and we can come with the sacraments.

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Copyright © 2001-2008, St. Mary's Parish, Shrewsbury MA.
This page last updated on 12/27/2008.