Seven Gifts of Love – The Sacraments
One of the ways the Church lives as the Body of Christ is through the special rituals we call the Seven Sacraments. Each sacrament is a visible sign of the hidden mystery of God’s love.
In the Sacraments, Jesus acts in and through the ritual. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the transforming grace of Christ’s action is gifted to those participating. A Sacrament is more than a symbol of a spiritual reality; it makes the spiritual reality present as the Sacrament is celebrated.
The Catholic Church has seven Sacraments. They all centre on two important aspects:
- The life and ministry of Jesus
- The Tradition of the Church
All the Sacraments are community celebrations. Celebrations of our membership in the Body of Christ.
- Initiation: There are three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Together they initiate new members and provide the strength and nourishment required for Christian life to flourish. - Healing: There are two Sacraments of Healing – Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
They are gifts of spiritual and physical healing. - Service: There are two Sacraments of Service – Holy Orders and Matrimony.
The Church celebrates these ministries of love and service.
Sacrament of Marriage
It is a requirement that couples wishing to marry in the Catholic Church undertake a Pre-Marriage Course. Couples need to enrol for the course at least six months prior to the wedding day.
Marriage Preparation Programme :
Website: https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/marriage-family-life/
Contact: Gerry Smith (Leader / co-ordinator)
Phone : 09 360 3025
Email : gerrys@cda.org.nz
Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, and it marks the beginning of a person’s journey in to faith with God. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation.
Sacrament of Baptism
Ponsonby : By arrangement
Herne Bay: Saturday between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
Sunday : During 8:30am Mass or by arrangement
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we acknowledge that we sometimes make bad choices; that we sin and ask God to forgive us. No matter what we have done God longs to offer us forgiveness.
Confirmation is the second Sacrament of Initiation. At Confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit, which helps us to become good Christians. It helps us to be brave and tell people by our words and actions that we believe in Jesus.
God’s healing love at times of illness, frailty, or when someone is close to death.
Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. A great gift and food for the journey. Preparing a child to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time is an important step in living up to the promises parents made at the time of the child’s Baptism.
Members of the Body of Christ are commissioned for permanent ministry in the Church as bishops, priests or deacons.