Preparing for Infant Baptism (children seven years or younger)

Baptism initiates a person into the faith community of the Catholic Church. We welcome your child to be baptized at St. Thomas the Apostle. Whenever we welcome new life, our life as a faith community is enhanced. Parents, godparents, and community members promise to share the joys and challenges of living our Catholic faith. 
 
Steps to Prepare for and Schedule an Infant Baptism:

• Contact the Parish Office by calling (610) 459-2224.
  • Attend a Pre-Jordan Baptism Class and provide completion certificate to the Parish Office.
  • Choose godparents*
    • There must be at least one Catholic godparent, but no more than two.  Each godparent will need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from their own parish of registration, even if they are parishioners of STA.
    • If there is only one Catholic godparent, in addition to the Catholic godparent, there may also be one Christian Witness (a non-Catholic), and the Christian Witness must provide a copy of their Baptismal certificate to the Parish Office.
  • Baptisms will not be scheduled until all certificates have been received.  In advance of scheduling, all certificates will need to be brought to the Parish Office:  your Pre-Jordan completion certificate,  and the two Godparent Certificates of Eligibility ((or one Catholic Godparent certificate and one Christian Witness (non-Catholic, never baptized as a Catholic) Baptismal Certificate.))
  • Complete the Baptism Registration Form - Click HERE to complete the Baptism Registration form.
  • Baptisms may be scheduled at least one month in advance.  Baptisms may take place after any of the weekend Masses (except the 7:30AM Sunday Mass.)

• At St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, we welcome and look forward to bringing older children and adults into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist).  
• The process for receiving the sacrament of Baptism for those over the age of seven involves a time of Catechesis and formation using the RCIA model.  For information regarding this process, please contact Colleen Nancarrow, the Director of Faith Formation at [email protected]

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated each 
Saturday from 4:00 – 4:45pm and
Mondays 6:00 - 6:45pm or by appointment.

Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

The sacrament of Reconciliation is the story of God’s love that never turns away from us.   Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance) is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer forgiveness of sins.  There is no sin that God will not forgive except when we believe that we do not need God’s forgiveness.  Here at St. Thomas More Oratory there will be neither judgment nor will there be a sin shared that will surprise the confessor.  Our mission is to provide an experience of God’s unconditional mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.  No matter what our sins or how often we repeat the same sins, God’s love for us will never change.  All we are asked to do is to come to him with a sorrowful heart.  

“God never, ever tires of forgiving us!  The problem is that we ourselves tire; we do not want to ask; we grow weary of asking for forgiveness.  Let us never tire!...God is the loving Father who always pardons, who has that heart of mercy for us all.”

Pope Francis, Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, March 17, 2013

The forgiveness of sins involves four parts:

1. Contrition:  a sincere sorrow for having offended God, and the most important act of the penitent.

2. Confession: confronting our sins in a profound way to God by speaking them aloud to God through the priest, who acts in the person of Christ (in persona Christi).

3. Penance: an important part of the healing process is the “penance” the priest recommends in reparation for our sins.

4. Absolution:  the priest speaks the words by which “God, the Father of Mercies” reconciles a sinner to Himself through the merits of the cross.

How to make a good confession

1. Priest:  In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

2. Penitent:  Bless me Father, for I have sinned.  It has been (how long?) since my last confession, and these are my sins:  (confess sins).

3. Priest:  May give some advice and then he will give you a penance.

4. Penitent prays the Act of Contrition:  O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you; and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all, because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, do penance, and amend my life.  Amen.

5. Priest gives you absolution:  “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of your Son, you reconciled the world to yourself.  He also gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.  Now through the ministry of the Church, may God grant you pardon and peace.  I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

6. Priest:  Go in peace.

7. Penitent:  Thanks be to God.

An Examination of Conscience

1. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve. The 1st Commandment teaches us to put God first in our lives. 

 How do I spend my time each day? Do I remember that God loves me? Do I remember to give thanks to God for all that I have received? Do I try to love the people God has placed in my life? Do I have my priorities in order? Do I pray? 

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. The 2nd commandment teaches us to speak carefully, to respect the power of our words, and to say only what we mean to say.

Do I pay attention to the way my words affect others? Do I misuse God's name to express anger or frustration? Do I make promises in God's name and then break them? Do I say hurtful things to others when I am angry or upset? Do I pay attention to the words I use and the impact they have on others? Do I put down other people? 

3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. The 3rd commandment teaches us to take time to worship God regularly and frequently.

Do I take time each week to pray and to worship God? Do I take part in Mass on a regular basis, at least every Sunday? Do I remember that my strength comes from God, and that without God I can do nothing? Do I take time to relax and appreciate all that God has given me? 

4. Honor your father and your mother.  The 4th commandment teaches us to appreciate our parents.

Do I show respect for my parents, and for all who take care of me? Am I too critical of my parents? Do I do things to upset my parents on purpose? Do I respect my brothers and sisters?  Do I respect those with lawful authority, especially teachers?

5. You shall not kill. The 5th commandment teaches us to appreciate life. 

Do I give into feelings of anger or jealousy?  Do I keep hatred in my heart?  Do I abuse alcohol or drugs?  Do I avoid gluttony? Do I do things that harm the life I have been given? Do I take good care of myself? Do I encourage other people to take good care of themselves? 

6. You shall not commit adultery.  The 6th commandment teaches us to keep our promises, and to protect our sexuality.

Do I value and respect my sexuality? Do I try to develop healthy relationships and avoid relationships where people are treated like things? Do I look at pornography? Am I guilty of masturbation, fornication, or adultery? Do I express my sexuality in appropriate ways? Do I respect the relationship God has set up between sexual intimacy and marriage?

7. You shall not steal.  The 7th commandment teaches us to respect private property and the rights of others.

Do I consider the needs and rights of others every time I take or use anything? Do I respect public property and the property of other people? Do I cheat on tests or homework? Do I share generously? Do I do the best work that I am able to give? 

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  The 8th commandment teaches us always to speak the truth and never to say more than is necessary.

Am I a truthful person? Do I lie or gossip?  Do I try to mislead other people? Do I say things just to hurt other people? Do I let gossip influence my opinions of other people? Do I reveal secrets that should have been kept confidential?

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's partner.  The 9th commandment teaches us to avoid inappropriate relationships.

Do I think of other people as whole people, or as just a body, or just a mind? Do I let myself be convinced by some media that a person's value is based on appearance, strength, or intelligence? Do I remember that all people are created in the image of God? 

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's things.  The 10th commandment teaches us to find happiness where we are.

Do I let greed or envy take over my thoughts? Do I let others suffer so I can have more? Do I think my own wants are more important than other people's? Do I remember that it is who I am, not what I own, that is really important?

Catholics who are properly disposed should receive the Holy Eucharist every week.  The Church affirms that at Mass, Christ changes bread and wine into His Body and Blood, while the appearances of bread and wine remain.  When we receive Holy Communion, we truly receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  This is called Transubstantiation.  When we take in Jesus we become like living tabernacles.  If we would only see Jesus with eyes of faith, receive him with love, and carry his loving presence into our homes and neighborhoods, workplaces and schools, we will be transformed to the likeness of God.

Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation are the three sacraments of Christian Initiation.  Confirmation enriches us with the special strength of the Holy Spirit, commending us to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

The love between a husband and wife images for us the love of Christ and His Church.  To assist couples entering this sacrament, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia requires at least six months of formation prior to getting married.  Those who wish to receive the sacrament, please call the Rectory (610-459-2224) and to attend Pre-Cana class at least 6 months in advance.  Pre-Cana classes are offered at almost every parish and you do not need to be a parishioner to attend.

Contact the Parish Office to schedule the Sacrament of the Sick

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

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.

~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español

Discerning a Vocation

“We all have a vocation. We believe that God has called us to this life to fill a special need that no one else can accomplish.” – St. Francis de Sales

Discerning one’s vocation is a key part of everyone’s life. God continues to call men to the religious life and priesthood on a daily basis. The question many ask is: How do I know God is calling me?

Vocation information for:

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales