Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification.
The Church established by the Saviour was to be a visible organization consequently it should have external ceremonies and symbols of things sacred.
The principal reason for a sacramental system is found in man. It is the nature of man, writes St. Thomas (III:61:1), to be led by things corporeal and sense-perceptible to things spiritual and intelligible; now Divine Providence provides for everything in accordance with its nature (secundum modum suae conditionis); therefore it is fitting that Divine Wisdom should provide means of salvation for men in the form of certain corporeal and sensible signs which are called sacraments.
In order to receive the Sacraments, your child(ren) should have been participating in an RF/CCD program the previous year, and hopefully, every year from 1st through 8th. Please do not expect your child to receive a Sacrament without previous Catholic faith instruction. First Reconciliation and First Communion is in the 2nd grade. Note that Confirmation is a two-year process (7th & 8th grades), which means that your child(ren) should be in class by the 6th grade. If this is not the case, contact the Director of Religious Formation, Jill Muench, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make arrangements so that your child may begin proper training for each Sacrament.
Note: If your student is receiving a Sacrament this year, we must have a copy of his/her Baptism certificate by the first day of class.
· If you do not have a copy at hand, simply call or write to the parish where your child was baptized. In need of an address or phone number for the parish? Just call the Parish Office, 402.292.7418, to obtain such information.
· If Baptism took place at a military base, the address to contact is:
Archdiocese for Military Service
P.O. Box 4469
Washington, D.C. 29917-0469
· If your child has not been baptized, or was baptized in another Christian denomination, please contact the Director of Religious Formation ASAP.