Sacramental Preparation
THE SACRAMENTS
Jesus Christ instituted seven Sacraments in the new covenant: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony, and Holy Orders. While the process can at times feel daunting or perhaps overwhelming, our Pastor, parish staff, and volunteers are all looking forward to helping you and your loved ones receive the Sacraments that Christ left His Church.
Thank you for seeking Baptism for your child! If your child is under the age of 7, a Baptismal preparation program is required for both parents and godparents, so to streamline the process, we need you and your child’s prospective godparents to please complete the following online forms:
Father David will reply to you after receiving your Baptism inquiry; you may also email him directly at frdexnerqofa@gmail.com.
If your child is 7+, they have reached the age of reason and must ask for Baptism themselves. In this case, you can and should still encourage them to grow in faith, but the means of preparing them for Baptism is to be a part of our Faith Formation program, which follows the academic year calendar.
Preparation to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion typically begins in first grade, though preparation can begin earlier with the Pastor’s permission. Parents are encouraged to register their children for religious education at the beginning of first grade if they have not already started by then. Children over the age of reason (7+) who are prepared to receive their Sacraments will receive them during the Easter season after two years of preparation. Older children should enroll in regular Faith Formation classes according to their grade level. While all children in Faith Formation should be attending weekend Mass with their families, this is especially important – and required – for those families with children preparing to receive one or more of the Sacraments.
The Confirmation process in the Diocese of San Diego is two years, and preparation typically begins in ninth grade. However, because the minimum age to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in our Diocese is 15, your teen can begin their preparation earlier with the Pastor’s permission. Older students are, of course, also welcome, though if they are already 18 when starting the process, they should instead register for OCIA. Confirmation classes take place during regular Faith Formation, so you must register your teen in Faith Formation for them to receive Confirmation prep. Please also keep in mind that there will be at least one mandatory retreat, plus other extra events and preparation over the course of the two years, and both students and their families are expected to attend weekend Mass. For more information, please call the parish office 619-445-2145.
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, or OCIA, is for non-Catholic adults who are interested in learning more about Catholicism or becoming Catholic, and also for adult Catholics who have not completed their Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation). To get started, please fill out the OCIA inquiry form (below) and contact our Pastor, Father David, who once upon a time went through OCIA himself, by catching him after Mass on Sunday, or by emailing him at frdexnerqofa@gmail.com.
If you or a loved one needs or would like to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, whether because of an upcoming surgery, a chronic medical condition, or last rites, please contact Father David in person or directly at 619-445-2145. If it is after hours, please follow the instructions to leave a message on the emergency line, and Father will get back to you as soon as he can. If you would like to schedule a homebound visit at a private residence, and it is not an emergency, you may also email him at frdexnerqofa@gmail.com.
Congratulations on your engagement!
Jesus said, “Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:4-6; cf. Genesis 1:27, 2:24)
With these words Jesus elevated the natural union of man and woman to the status of a Sacrament (see also CCC 1131). The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is, therefore, a sacred covenantal bond that reflects the intimate communion of God in Christ Jesus with His Bride, the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:21-33). Marriage is an incredible gift, one to enter into with great joy and reverence.
If either you or your future spouse are Catholic, we want you to receive all of the grace that God offers married couples through the reception of Holy Matrimony, so that your marriage is not only valid in the Catholic Church, but also truly blessed by Christ our Divine Bridegroom and grace-filled. The Church’s combination of parish and diocesan programs will assist you in your preparation for your life together as a family, and enable you to be as receptive as possible when it comes time for you to receive this beautiful Sacrament as the gift that God wants it to be.
Preparing for Marriage takes at least six months to complete, so please plan ahead accordingly. It should also be noted that, if you already have a date in mind, it is always best to make sure that the church is available on the day that you are hoping to get married before reserving reception halls and the like. If you would like to celebrate your wedding at Queen of Angels, there is no cost associated with the wedding rite itself, but it is best to get started right away by emailing our Pastor, Father David, at frdexnerqofa@gmail.com.
It has been said – correctly and wisely – that everything in nature grows in silence, and that our souls, and in particular our vocations, likewise require silence to grow as God intends.
If you want to learn more about how to discern if God calling you to a life of joy-filled service as a priest or consecrated religious, please check out the videos below, and feel free to reach out to Father David directly at frdexnerqofa@gmail.com.
Discerning a Vocation as a Catholic (Fr. Ambrose, St. Michael's Abbey)