Baptism
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation. We believe as a church that the waters of baptism wash away sin and make one a son or daughter of the living God. Most Catholics are baptized as children and here at St. Malachy we ask parents to attend a baptismal preparation class so that they understand the promises of raising their children in the Catholic faith. These classes are held on the second Saturday of the Month in the even months (February, April, June, etc.). This year, the April Baptism Class will take place on April 15th due to the second Saturday being Holy Saturday.
For unbaptized adults, the normal process to prepare to receive baptism is attending the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
When deciding on Godparents, please review this WEBSITE
Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary way for one to receive Christ's gift of forgiveness for serious sins and for venial sins. The sacrament is offered weekly each Tuesday from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am - 10:00 am. You can also call and schedule an appointment with one of the priests.
Here at St. Malachy we prepare our second grade age children to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. There is home catechesis based upon curriculum provided at a meeting for parents and children to go through together. Registration is based upon second grade enrollment at St. Malachy School or St. Malachy Religious Education Programs with two years catechesis.
Eucharist
The Sacrament of the Eucharist, otherwise know as the Mass, is the source and summit of our Christian faith. It is the most important way that we offer worship to our God as a faith family. We believe that the bread and the wine become Christ's body and blood. It is a sacrament of building community, so it is also referred to as Holy Communion. At St. Malachy we prepare our second grade age children to receive Holy Communion for the first time.
The guidelines for receiving Holy Communion are as follows: for Catholics they should not be in the state of grave sin and they should have fasted at least one hour before Mass. Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life and worship. Because of this members of non-Catholic churches are ordinarily not to receive Holy Communion.
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third sacrament of initiation. When one receives it they are considered a full member of the Catholic Church. At St. Malachy, we prepare our 8th graders to receive the sacrament. As an adult, the sacrament is received along with the other sacraments of initiation after the person has completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
There is a parent/candidate meeting on August 7th from 1pm - 2:30pm to learn more about the Confirmation process.
Questions about the Confirmation process? Contact Catherine Horvath.
Marriage
Marriage Preparation
Congratulations! You must be very excited about your wedding day and hope you are just as excited to prepare for your married life together. After meeting with the pastor, you will be contacted to take the FOCCUS Inventory online. This inventory helps you to see if you have talked with one another about finances, friends, leisure time, children, faith, etc. in preparation for coming together as a married couple. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions which take about 45 minutes to answer. The cost for completing the inventory is $35.
Once you have completed the inventory you will be paired with a sponsor couple from the parish to go over the results. The sponsor couple can be a great help in answering any of your concerns about married life so don’t hesitate to ask them questions. After meeting with the sponsor couple for two or 3 times, the inventory results are given to the person presiding at your wedding.
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
schedule your upcoming wedding
Annulments
According to Catholic teaching, marriage is a permanent partnership of a man and a woman (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1601). Because a marriage lasts “until death do us part,” no one can enter into a second permanent partnership while his/her first spouse is living. Even if the civil contract is dissolved through divorce, the spiritual bond continues. The couple remains married in the eyes of the Church.
However, the Church also recognizes legitimate reasons why a wedding may not have led to a valid marriage. If through the annulment investigation the Church comes to moral certitude that no valid sacramental marriage took place, then the parties are free to marry someone else. An annulment is concerned mainly with the personal and spiritual aspects of marriage. It does not “erase” the civil contract, and it does not render the children illegitimate. It merely states that after thorough investigation, the Church has decided that a marriage, as the Church understands marriage, was not valid.
For further information, please contact Father Danda.
Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing. It promises forgiveness and a strengthening of one's spirit so as to aid them in recovering their health. If you experience an emergency, are hospitalized or are confined to your home, please call the Church Office, 317-852-3195, to arrange for visits or to receive the sacraments. You are encouraged when you register at the hospital to indicate that you are Catholic. If you are calling after hours for an emergency, please call the Church Office, 317-852-3195, and press 5.
Holy Orders/Vocations
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is received by a man who is ordained to serve as a deacon, priest or bishop. Additionally some men and women have chosen to dedicate their lives to living as a religious brother or sister typically in a religious community. Anyone considering a religious vocation or serving as a priest should contact our pastor, pastoral associate or the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The phone number of the vocation office is 317-236-1490.