BAPTISM

Our baptisms are celebrated twice a month. Parents are to be registered and participating in the Celebration of Eucharist with the community each Sunday. To register your child for Baptism, pick up a Baptism package from the Parish Office after Mass.

1 – Preparation To Have An Infant Baptized

Requirements:
1.    Parishioners seeking to have their baby baptized should be registered Parishioners.
2.    Must attend Sunday Mass regularly.
3.    One parent must be able to present a copy of their Catholic Baptism certificate, or provide documentation showing they have been received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
4.    Both parents are expected to attend Parent Information Evening sessions.
5.    God parents: Parents must choose one / two godparent(s) who exemplify Christian faith and living. At least one of the godparents must be a fully initiated Catholic and at least 16 years of age.

2 – Preparing For an Older Child To Be Baptized

Requirements:
1.    Parishioners with older children (between the ages of  5 and 16) need to contact the parish office in order to make an appointment for an interview.
2.    Older children preparing for Baptism will be required to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) program.
3.    Baptism will occur upon completion of the RCIC process.
4.    One parent must be able to present a copy of their Catholic Baptism certificate, or provide documentation showing they have been received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
5.    You are expected to be a regular worshipper at St. Francis de Sales Parish.

3 – Preparing For an Adult To Be Baptized

Requirements:
1.    Adults seeking Baptism into the Catholic Faith should contact one of the parish priests for a meeting.
2.    They will be required to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program which involves attending weekly meetings.
3.    Preparation culminates in the candidates receiving Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil.
4.    If the person seeking baptism is married to a Roman Catholic, but was not married in the Church, their marriage must be validated prior to the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiations at the Easter Vigil.
5.    If the person wishing baptism was previously married, an annulment may be required before entrance into the RCIA process.
6.    The person seeking to enter the Roman Catholic Faith should become acquainted with the community through participation at Sunday Mass, even though they are not yet permitted to receive Communion.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is the second stage of the initiation process. Our registered candidates participate in Confirmation Groups that serve to prepare them to make this important step. Confirmations are celebrated during our Sunday worship around the time of Pentecost.

This year we welcome Bishop Vincent Nguyen, who will be celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation at our Parish. Details to be announced later.

Requirements:
1.    Candidates must be a young adult between the ages of 12-18. If you are over 18 years of age and would like to be confirmed you are required to attend the Rite Of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process.
2.    Candidates must have been baptized in or have been received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Tradition and provide appropriate documentation.
3.    Candidates need to have celebrated the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. If you have not received these sacraments, you must attend the Rite Of Christian Initiation For Children (RCIC) in conjunction with the Confirmation Program.

What You Need To Know?
Parents are required to attend an Information Evening in the Church.
Candidates are required to submit a Commitment Form to the parish priest
during one of the Sunday Masses in which they promise to fulfill what is required in preparation for Confirmation.

Candidates must attend Confirmation classes as well as the Retreat Day.

Candidates must submit a Letter of Request for Confirmation to the Pastor during one of the Sunday Masses.

FIRST COMMUNION

After completing our Eucharistic program, our young people receive their First Communion at the Table of the Lord in small groups in the midst of our Sunday Mass or as a large group on Sunday.

1 – Preparing Children for First Communion

At St. Francis de Sales Parish sacramental preparation is in accord with the Sacramental Norms of the Archdiocese of Toronto. For First Communion, we follow the program, “Invited to the Feast,” in preparing our young. Children who have not been baptized required to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC).

Requirements :
1.    Must be a registered member of St. Francis de Sales Parish.
2.    Must come to Sunday Mass regularly
3.    The candidates must have participated in the Parish Reconciliation program, “Celebrating God’s Love,” as well as celebrate their First Reconciliation.

What’s Involved – How Does It Work?
Parents are required to attend an information meeting in the Church.
Parents must also attend a Catechetical Session on the Sacrament of the Eucharist helping them to better understand this sacrament so they might enter
more fully into its mystery.

Parents are required to attend a Retreat with their son/daughter where they participate in various activities aimed at deepening their understanding of the Eucharist.
Children along with their parents will be expected to attend an Enrollment ceremony during one of the Sunday Masses.

RECONCILIATION

The sacrament of reconciliation can be celebrated on Saturday afternoons at the Church from 4:00pm - 5:00pm, or by making an appointment to see a priest for confession.

MARRIAGE

Couples planning to be married should participate in the Celebration of Eucharist every Sunday, and must contact the church at lease one year in advance. We require a year's notice for Marriages to take place. The wedding liturgy is first and foremost an act of the Church and so it is governed by good liturgical principles. These principles include specific criteria for music, and guidelines on how the actual ceremony unfolds.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK (ANOINTING)

When And How Often Can One Celebrate This Sacrament?
The Anointing of the Sick should be celebrated at the beginning of a serious illness. If during the same illness the person's condition worsens, the sacrament may be repeated. If a person who has been anointed recovers from sickness, that person may celebrate the sacrament again in the face of another grave illness.

Who Can Be Anointed?
Those who are elderly and whose frailty is becoming more pronounced.

Those who are facing a serious operation, serious medical tests, or have suffered a serious accident.

Those who suffer from chronic illness.

To enquire about the Anointing of the Sick, or if you would like to arrange for the Anointing of the Sick, please contact our Parish Office.