Baptism
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission..." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213)
Infant Baptism
Baptism is the first Sacrament of Christian Initiation. For a child to be baptized at any of our parish locations, his/her parents should be registered parishioners and practicing Catholics.
Parents, in all three parish locations, should contact the parish office in advance of a desired or expected Baptism, before birth when possible, to prepare for and to schedule both the Baptism and to register for Baptism Instruction. Call 724.745.6560 and ask for the Deacon extension to register.
Parents are asked to choose someone to serve as a godparent or sponsor for their child. Since the sponsor’s role is to assist parents in passing on the faith in which the child is being baptized, parents should choose someone who will take the responsibility seriously and will be a good role model for the child. Church law sets minimum requirements: at least 16 years old, already confirmed, and a practicing Catholic.
Click here to learn how to be a godparent
Adult Baptism
See OCIA: Formerly known as RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
-Matthew 28:19-20
Matrimonial Covenant
“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.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601)
Preparation For Marriage
Married couples, in virtue of their Sacrament of Marriage, express, and share in the mystery of marital love that exists between Christ and the Church. Through your preparation and entering into this holy vocation as married persons, you are a symbol of unconditional love and intimate communion between Jesus, (the Groom) and the Church (His bride).
To witness the love of a man and woman made holy in the Sacrament of Marriage is to see concretely the love between Christ and His Church. Marriage fills us with great joy and gratitude. That is why we take the preparation and celebration of this sacrament seriously.
As you consider the possibility of celebrating your wedding at St. Oscar Romero Parish, you will want to consider these guidelines. If you have any questions, you are welcome to call us at 724-745-6560.
Faithfully in Christ,
St. Oscar Romero Parish
Wedding Planning
It is necessary to contact a priest or deacon 6 months before the date of marriage. Pre-marriage preparation is also required for the Sacrament of Marriage. Please call your parish office to request more information.
Helpful Resources
Dating, Engagement, Marriage
and Family ResourcesUSCCB - Matrimony
St. Paul said:
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church...
This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the Church."
--Ephesians 5:25, 32
Anointing of the Sick
If you are a loved one wishes to be anointed please call the parish office, 724-745-6560.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the effects of Anointing are:
A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God’s will. Furthermore, “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior’s redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.
An ecclesial grace. The sick who receive this sacrament, “by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ,” “contribute to the good of the People of God.” By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, though the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.
A preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing). The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father’s house (CCC 1520-1523)
Holy Eucharistic
“At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He took bread...." "He took the cup filled with wine... " The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1333)
Source and Summit
The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life,” and the third sacrament of initiation. "It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324,1325)
The Eucharist: Faith Facts
Before one receives Holy Communion, it is appropriate to bow before the Sacred Host or Chalice, because the bread and wine have truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. After the priest or minister says, “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ,” we respond, “Amen,” and receive the Body of Christ on the tongue or in the hand, consuming it immediately. The Blood of Christ we drink, holding the chalice reverently and returning it to the priest or minister.
Helpful Resource
USCCB page on the Mass
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
/confession-timesReconciliation
“When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1465)
The Sacrament of Penance is the sacrament of spiritual healing. Reconciliation involves contrition, confession to a priest, absolution by the priest, and penance. After making an examination of conscience, the penitent confesses his/her sins to the priest, who is the minister of Christ’s mercy. The intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has a terrific website with a lot of information related to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
Rediscovering the Sacrament
of Penance Confession Schedule
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
-John 20:21-23
Confirmation
“The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285)
Confirmation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation. It is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace. Through this sacrament, the grace given in baptism is deepened.
Confirmation for youth is received during 9th Grade. In order to be confirmed, an individual must participate in the program that is offered through the Faith Formation Program. In addition to reflecting on their faith in classes, candidates are asked to participate in service projects and a day of prayer. Click here for more information.
Adults who are not yet confirmed are invited to call the rectory to make arrangements to celebrate the sacrament. Click here for more information.
Helpful Resource
USCCB on Confirmation
"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
-Acts 8:14-17
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time; thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate; presbyterate; and diaconate. The ministerial priesthood differs in essence from the common priesthood of the faithful because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful. The ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching, divine worship, and pastoral governance.
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536)
"In the office of the apostles there is one aspect that cannot be transmitted: to be the chosen witnesses of the Lord's Resurrection and so the foundation stones of the Church. But their office also has a permanent aspect. Christ promised to remain with them always. The divine mission entrusted by Jesus to them 'will continue to the end of time, since the Gospel they handed on is the lasting source of all life for the Church. Therefore, . . . the apostles took care to appoint successors.'"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 860)
If you sense that God may be calling you to consecrated life as a priest or religious, and you would like to test that call, there are some great resources online like these: