Sacraments
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Baptism
By Baptism we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ.
The first and fundamental sacrament and the gate to the other sacraments is Baptism. Through the waters and the grace of the Holy Spirit, we die to sin and are raised to new life in Jesus Christ. We are reborn as children of God!
All baptism requests must start with providing the parish office your information. Please contact the parish office to have the form mailed/emailed to you. After your information has been received, it will be reviewed by our Parochial Administrator and you will be contacted to set up an appointment to meet with a member of the clergy to start preparation for the sacrament of Baptism.Adults interested in being baptized, please contact the parish office for information about joining the Catholic Church.
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Eucharist
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” -John 6:51
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith. We believe that the sacrifice of the Eucharist is Jesus offering Himself to us in a complete self-gift of love - the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist unites the people of God and nourishes the Church.
For information on First Communion, please contact the parish office.
For information on receiving the Eucharist if you are homebound or in a nursing home, please call the Parish Office (419-726-2034).
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Confirmation
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.
Confirmation is meant to be an experience of Pentecost for each Christian. In this sacrament, the Christian is sealed with the Holy Spirit, strengthening them in their witness to Christ by word and deed. Confirmation is conferred through anointing with chrism and the laying on of hands.
Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.
Students prepare for Confirmation through our 8th grade CCD program, and adults prepare through our RCIA program. Please contact the parish office for more information on CCD or RCIA, or if your child attends Catholic school but needs to receive Confirmation at St. John’s.
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Reconciliation
Reconciliation is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy.
Through Reconciliation, the faithful receive pardon through God's mercy for the sins they have committed. At the same time, they are reconciled with the Church community. The confession, or disclosure, of sins frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Our Father: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Reconciliation is typically offered at St. John the Baptist on Saturdays at 3:00pm, Tuesdays at 5:30pm, or by appointment with our pastor. For information on First Reconciliation for children, please contact the parish office.
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Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites
Jesus came to heal the whole person, body and soul.
Jesus showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do the same. Through the sacrament of anointing, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, providing them with the strongest means of support.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
If you or a loved one needs Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites, please contact the Parish Office (419-726-2034).
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Marriage
“Christian marriage, like the other sacraments, “whose purpose is to sanctify people, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God,” is in itself a liturgical action glorifying God in Jesus Christ and in the Church” -Familiaris Consortio, Section 56
The Church has a rich tradition in its teaching on sacramental marriage and covenantal union. The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, where a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, and it is by nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.
The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
All marriage requests must start with providing the parish office your information. Please contact the parish office to have the form mailed/emailed to you. After your information has been received, it will be reviewed by the Parochial Administrator and you will be contacted to set up an appointment to meet with a member of the clergy to start preparation for the sacrament. Marriage arrangements must be made at least 6 months prior to the anticipated wedding date.
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Holy Orders
"Here I am, send me." (Isaiah 6:8)
Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests, and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. The sacred rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.
Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.
If you are interested in discerning the priesthood or deaconate, we encourage you to get in touch with the Diocese of Toledo Director of Vocations, Fr. Phil Smith (learn more at toledopriesthood.org).
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