Sacraments

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 of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."  CCC 1213

The sacrament of Baptism may be celebrated at any weekend Mass at any of the parish churches on the 2nd and 4th weekends of the month. Parents who wish to have their child baptized are asked to attend a baptism preparation class, even if another child has already been baptized. Classes are generally offered in December, March, June, and September.  Please contact the parish secretary for further information. If you have questions regarding the baptism of older children or adults, you can learn more about the RCIA process here on our website.


Reconciliation

"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion."   CCC 1422

Individual confession may be celebrated during our weekly scheduled times (see below), or anytime by appointment by contacting one of the priests.  

Saturdays:
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Holy Ghost
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. at Sacred Heart & following 7:30 a.m. mass on Friday

Sundays:
7:45 – 7:45 a.m. at Holy Trinity

Additionally, there are communal reconciliation services held each year during Advent and Lent.   If you are interested in learning about First Reconciliation, please contact the parish office.


Eucharist

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.   CCC 1322

The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."  CCC 1324

Please contact the Director of Faith Formation for Information regarding preparing your child to receive First Holy Communion.  Please refer to our RCIA program or contact the parish office for more Information about the reception of First Holy Communion by adults and older children.

If because of age or illness you or someone you know is unable to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, please contact Deacon Jim Thill to inquire about a minister from the parish bringing the Eucharist.

If you are interested in becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Eucharistic minister), please contact the parish office.


Confirmation

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that 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."   CCC 1285

For information about celebrating Confirmation as a teenager, please contact the Director of Faith Formation.

For information about celebrating Confirmation as an adult, please contact the parish office.


Marriage

"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."   CCC 1601  

If you are seeking the sacrament of Marriage, please contact the pastor at least six months prior to the wedding to schedule the wedding and begin the marriage preparation process.   Holy Spirit Parish utilizes the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, & Study) compatibility instrument to facilitate discussion with and between the couple.  A couple is also asked to participate in at least one pre-marital enrichment program (Sponsor Couple or Engaged Encounter Weekend).

Please refer to our Wedding Guidelines for more information.


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.   CCC 1591  

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.   CCC 1536

Information about the priesthood (and religious life) in the Archdiocese of Dubuque may be found here.


Anointing of the Sick 

"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ."  CCC 1499 

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not only for those at the point of death.  When one becomes seriously ill, is having surgery, or is advancing in age, for example, it is appropriate to receive the sacrament.  Anointing of the Sick is celebrated communally at least once each year within regularly scheduled weekend Masses.  The individual celebration of the sacrament may be arranged by contacting one of the priests.