Confirmation “celebrates the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a baptized person, completing and strengthening the grace given by the Spirit in Baptism,” states Celebrating the Sacraments from Saint Mary’s Press. “Like Baptism, Confirmation imparts a permanent character or seal in the person, marking him or her as belonging totally to Christ and as united to the church.”

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. 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. … The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.”

At St. Mary’s, full initiation through the Sacrament of Confirmation is generally celebrated in eighth grade with those in PACT?Religious Education or Catholic school. For more information contact Dr. Bill Mascitello at  201-384-0557 Extension 20 or e-mail bill@stmarystdumont.org.

Adults interested in Confirmation for themselves, e-mail Kathy Sylvester at kathy@stmarysdumont.org.

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

—  The Catechism of the Catholic Church 

Common practice of the Archdiocese of Newark asks that arrangements for Matrimony be made at least one year in advance. Engaged couples should contact the rectory at 201-384-0557 to make an appointment with one of the priests.

“Both the sacrament of Reconciliation and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick celebrate and carry out the healing ministry of Jesus,” states Celebrating Sacraments from Saint Mary’s Press. “The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, however, offers persons strength, peace, and courage to overcome the hardships of serious illness or the increasing frailty of old age.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states that 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. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious.”

Appointments for the sacrament may be made by contacting the rectory at 201-384-0557. In light of recent changes concerning the Patient Privacy Act, it is becoming difficult to visit those hospitalized. If you or someone you know would like a visit from the clergy during a stay in the hospital, please contact the rectory and leave the name, hospital, room number and approximate length of stay.

As a parish, we would like to stay connected to our homebound. Please let us know of anyone who would like to receive Holy Communion or of any lonely person who would appreciate a visit.