Welcome to Christ the King Catholic Parish

What are the Holy days and when are they celebrated ... ?

All Catholics who have reached the age of reason and are not prevented by sickness or other sufficient cause, are obliged to attend Mass and to abstain from unnecessary work that impedes worship on all Sundays and on the following Holy Days of Obligation: Christmas - December 25 Immaculate Conception – December 8 *Mary, Mother of God – January 1 *Assumption of the Blessed Virgin – August 15 *All Saints Day – November 1 *When these three Holy Days fall on a Saturday or a Monday the obligation to attend mass and to abstain from unnecessary work is suspended. Ascension of Our Lord ��� Observed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter in Archdiocese of Chicago

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What are the Sacraments ... ?

The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church are easily appreciated under three headings: Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, and Sacraments at the Service of Communion.

SACRAMENTS OF INITATION (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)

• “The Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist – lay the foundations of every Christian life.” �� Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212
  • Sacrament of Baptism

• Christian Initiation of Adults – RCIA

• The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) involves preparation for and the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, which manifest the intimate relationship of these sacraments to one another. The process usually takes place within the context of a parish community or an intentional Catholic worshipping community, i.e. at a college or University. The dual foci of the RCIA for unbaptized adults are the deepening conversion to Christ and full communion with the Church. The Rite also provides for the initiation of unbaptized children of catechetical age who will receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist together. Children who have reached the age of reason receive the three sacraments at the same time.
  
  RCIA consists of four distinct periods of formation: Period of Inquiry; Period of the Catechumenate; Period of Enlightenment; and Period of Post-Baptismal Catechesis. For more information on becoming Catholic, please contact the Parish Rectory at 773-238-4877 or email us at christtheking9235@att.net .

• Christian Initiation of Children
  Baptism of infants usually takes place within the first few weeks after birth. The faith of parents, at least one being Catholic, together with the intention to raise their child in the Catholic faith, is a necessary prerequisite for celebrating the sacrament. The 1980 Instruction on Baptism and Canon Law both call for catechesis for parents and godparents regarding the responsibility they take upon themselves when they present their children for baptism.

• Sacrament of Confirmation
  In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Confirmation is always celebrated within Mass to express more clearly the fundamental connection of this sacrament with the entirety of Christian initiation, which reaches its culmination in the Eucharist. Students in the Archdiocese of Chicago are to be confirmed during their Junior High or High School years. Adults who have not been confirmed should contact their parish priest in order to participate in a period of catechesis within the parish or a Vicariate Adult Confirmation program.

• Sacrament of the Eucharist
  The Eucharist is the sacrament in which the Christian initiation reaches its culmination; for in and through this sacrament, Christians are fully joined to Christ. “The Eucharist is the ‘source and summit of the Christian life’. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesial ministries and works of the Apostolates, are bound up with the Eucharist and are orientated toward it. For in the Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch”. … “In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: ‘Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324 and 1327.
  Therefore, communities and individuals preparing to celebrate the Eucharist and to receive Holy Communion should be mindful to hold the Blessed Sacrament in highest honor and to reverence the Sacrament with the greatest adoration. Genuflections, respectful silence, and other signs of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament are appropriate recognitions of God’s mysterious gift of Christ for us in this Sacrament.

• First Communion
  The determination of readiness to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time is a primary responsibility of the pastor as well as the child’s parents and/or guardian(s). They are to see to it that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared for and are nourished by Communion. Traditionally, children are prepared for reception of the Eucharist during second grade in their parish. Children first receive the Sacrament of Penance before receiving First Communion.

• Eucharist Fast
  The regulation for fasting is considered a means of spiritual preparation for receiving the Eucharist and a symbol of reverence for the Sacrament. The Eucharist Fast is limited to one hour before actually receiving the Eucharist. It pertains to solid food and all drinks, except water. Taking medicine does not break the fast. The fast applies to priests who celebrate the Mass and by the faithful, regardless of what time of day the Mass is celebrated and Communion is received. Those who are sick, in hospitals – even if not confined to bed – and those caring for the sick, may receive communion even if they have taken food during the previous hour.

SACRAMENTS OF HEALING (Penance and Anointing of the Sick)

• “The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health (Cf. Mk 2:1-12), has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1421.

• Sacrament of Penance
  “According to the Church’s Command, ‘after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.’” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1457. However, we are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance frequently, even monthly, throughout our lifetime so that we can benefit from the graces we obtain through reception of this sacrament.

• First Penance
  The Sacrament of Penance is to precede First Eucharist. Formal instruction for Penance is to be separate and distinct from preparation for the reception of First Eucharist. The value of this practice is to catechize the children, from the age of reason, to the true Christian spirit of penance and conversion, to growth in self-knowledge and self-control,
  to a true sense of sin, even venial sin, to the necessity of asking pardon from God, and above all to a loving and confident abandonment to the mercy of the Lord. In no circumstances should a child receive First Eucharist without first having received the Sacrament of Penance.

• Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
  The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is the proper sacrament for those Catholics who have attained the use of reason and whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age. Through this sacrament, the Church comforts and supports the person who is suffering and continues the healing ministry of Christ. Only a priest or bishop can administer the Anointing of the Sick.

• Viaticum
  For those who are about to die, the Church, in addition to the Anointing of the Sick, offers the Eucharist as viaticum – food for the journey home.

 

SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
(Matrimony (Marriage) and Holy Orders)

“Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal holiness, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the people of God.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1534.

 

Sacrament of Matrimony
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman, establish between themselves a partnership of the whole 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.

 

Marriage Preparation

A couple wishing to marry should contact their parish priest or deacon no later than six months prior to the anticipated date of the wedding, earlier if possible. The purpose of this period of time is to involve the couple actively in a process through which they appreciate their readiness to marry and the nature of the sacrament for themselves and for the Church.

 

Sacrament of Holy Orders
“The whole Church is a priestly people. Through Baptism, all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ. This participation is called the ‘common priesthood of the faithful’. Based on this common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1591

��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.” ��� Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1592.

“Since the beginning, the ordained ministry has been conferred and exercised in three degrees: that of bishops, that of presbyters, and that of deacons.” – > Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1593.

 

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What is required to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation ... ?

Catechism of the Catholic Church #1491: The Sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. The penitent's acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to be the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation

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Who administers the Sacrament of Matrimony ... ?

Actually, the Sacrament of Matrimony is administered by the bride and groom. The priest and two witnesses (Best Man and Maid of Honor) are necessary for the Church and Civic records.

 

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What is the Evangelization Programs... ?

"The mission of the Office for Evangelization of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is to create among Chicago area Catholics an enthusiasm for their faith, that in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others. The Office assists the Cardinal-Archbishop in forming Catholics as evangelizers. The Office also assists the agencies of the Archdiocese and especially the parishes in educating, training, and forming Catholics in Catholic evangelization, and specifically in the three goals of Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States.

 

Organized evangelization is a relatively new ministry in the Catholic Church in the United States. In November of 1992, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. The Plan offers three goals for implementation."

 For more information, see the Office of Evangelization at "http://www.goingforth.org/" .

 

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How do I become a Catholic  ... ?

Your local parish is also the place to begin the process of becoming Catholic. Each parish will have a program of faith formation, which is commonly called the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA ). Contact a parish near you and ask to speak to the Pastor or the person who coordinates the RCIA program.

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