The First Sacrament of Christian Initiation

As Catholics, we have a unique practice of baptizing our children at an early age.  We do this because Baptism is a crucial way of introducing and guiding them into the faith. 

By baptizing our children, we are opening the door for them to receive other sacraments, absolving them of original sin, allowing them to receive the three theological virtues of  Faith, Hope, and Charity, and making them part of the great family of families that is the Church.

Finding the Right Godparents

Godparents play a crucial role in the lives of their godchildren. They are responsible for guiding and accompanying them on their spiritual journey throughout their lives.  Therefore, it is essential that the godparents:

1. Are people of faith, Catholic, and capable of helping their godchildren grow in Catholic virtues and love for Jesus and Our Lady.
2. Lead a life consistent with Catholic virtues.  While there are many good people, if they do not believe in or live  according to Catholic values, they are not suitable to be godparents.
3. Are at least 16 years old, have received the sacraments of initiation -Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation- and are practicing Catholics.

Baptismal Requirements

To baptize your children, there are a few necessary steps that must be followed:

• Both parents and godparents must attend the pre-baptismal class to  learn or refresh their understanding of this sacrament.
• All necessary documentation must be completed. 
• The date and time of the celebration must be determined based on the parish calendar.
• Who can register?Only parents can come to the church office to register their child for baptism.
• Required Documents for parents:
  • Long-form birth certificate of the child you wish to baptize.
  • Letter of permission from your current parish.
  • Completion of a pre-baptism class offered by Sacred Heart or at your parish (attendance is mandatory before the baptism date).
• Scheduling:
  • Please ensure that all required paperwork is completed and submitted to Cecy Tanaka: [email protected]
  • No baptisms will be scheduled on the Father's calendar without documents on file.
  • You can email all documents to: [email protected]
• For further information, please get in touch with the church office.                                                                                                                                                                    NO BAPTISMS DURING THE LENTEN SEASON AND THE MONTH OF DECEMBER   
• Godparent Qualifications:
  • Be at least 16 years old.
  • Be a registered and practicing Catholic. (Proof will be required. Letter of good standing)
  • Received all the Sacraments. Baptism, Confirmation, and (if married) married in the Catholic Church.
• Required Documents (For Each Godparent):
  • Original or certified copies of their Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage certificates (if applicable) from a Catholic church.
  • Letter of good standing from their current parish priest, verifying their active participation. A Letter of good standing will be needed from both godparents.
  • Completion of a pre-baptism class offered by Sacred Heart (attendance is mandatory before the baptism date).
• Guidelines for Godparents:
  • Marriage Status:
    • If the Godparents are married, they MUST be married in the Catholic Church and have received all their Sacraments; Baptism, 1st Communion, and Confirmation.
    • If the Godparents are single, they must be living a true single life, not cohabitating with anyone, and have received all their Sacraments; Baptism, 1st Communion, and Confirmation.
• Please Note:
  • All documents must be submitted to the church office before a baptism can be scheduled in the priest calendar.
  • You can email copies of the Letter of Good Standing, Confirmation certificates, and Marriage certificates (if applicable) to Cecy Tanaka: [email protected]
  • Additional details about the pre-baptism class and the baptism ceremony will be discussed during the class.
• We look forward to welcoming your child and their godparents into our faith community!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Forgiveness

The sacrament of reconciliation is a unique Catholic rite instituted by Jesus himself.  While other Christian confessions believe that only repentance can save us, Jesus appointed certain disciples to forgive sins in His name.   When we go to confession, we confess our sins not to the priest, but directly to Jesus who is always waiting to forgive us.  By confessing their sins, the baptized are also able to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist in a worthy manner.

Highlights for a Good Confession

A good confession requires just only 4 steps as follows:

1. Examination of conscience. I reflect deeply on all the things that I have done poorly including my mistakes and the good that I have failed to do.  I examine my thoughts, words, actions, and inactions.
2. Contrition and purpose of amendment. I recognize that I am a sinner and I repent wholeheartedly in front of God, committing myself not to sin again.
3. During confession I follow the "4 Cs rule":
   • -Clarity. I clearly and directly state my sins.
   • -Conciseness. I tell the facts without providing irrelevant details.
   • -Concreteness. I try to be as specific as possible.
   • -Completeness. I confess all sins, even the most embarrassing ones.
4. Penance. The priest explains how I can make amends for my sins.  At that moment, I thank God for his forgiveness and, commit to my resolution of amendment.

Examination of Conscience

• Have I rejected or abandoned my faith? Have I cared to know it better? Have I defended it or been ashamed of it? Is there some aspect of the faith that I do not accept?
• Have I taken God's name in vain? Have I practiced spiritualism or trusted fortune tellers or horoscopes? Have I disrespected sacred persons, places or things?
• Have I voluntarily missed Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation?
• Have I received the Lord in Holy Communion while having some grave sin on my conscience?
• Have I received Him without gratitude or due reverence?
• Have I been impatient, jealous or angry?
• Have I held a grudge or been unwilling to forgive?
• Have I been verbally or physically violent to others?
• Have I cooperated with or encouraged anyone to abort, destroy embryos, euthanize, or end human life?
• Have I been hateful or made critical judgments of thought or deed? Have I belittled others?
• Have I spoken ill of others?
• Have I drunk alcohol to excess? Have I used drugs?
• Have I watched pornographic videos or websites? Have I committed impure acts with myself or others? Do I live with someone as if we were married without being married?
• If I am married, do I try to love my wife/husband above anyone else? Do I put my marriage first? What about my children? Am I open to new lives?
• Do I allow my work to take time and energy that belongs to my family or friends?
• Have I been arrogant or selfish in thought or deed? Have I neglected the poor or needy? Have I spent money for my personal comfort or luxury forgetting my responsibilities to others and to the Church?
• Have I lied? Have I been honest and diligent in my work? Have I stolen or cheated someone at work?
• Have I been lazy? Have I preferred my personal comfort to service to others? Have I neglected my responsibility to bring others closer to God by my example and my word?

Life Confession

Do you know what a general or life confession is?  It is a confession of all the sins we have committed during our lifetime. To make the process easier, it is a good idea to create a list of the Ten Commandments, the capital sins, and the different stages of life.  Keep in mind that the sins you have confessed and received absolution for are already forgiven.

Online Confession

Is it possible to confess online or by telephone? The answer is no. This question has risen among many Catholics due to new technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is important to note that confession must always be done in person with a priest who represents the presence of God.

The Sacrament of our faith

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)
 
The Eucharist is considered the most significant Sacrament in the Catholic faith.  Jesus himself desired to remain present with us in the form of his body and blood.  It is important to note that this presence is REAL and OBJECTIVE, not just a matter of faith.  As Catholics, we hold a deep devotion towards the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

During Mass, we do not just "remember" Jesus, but we commemorate the Last Supper. This is a fundamental concept to grasp, as for the Jews, a commemoration was not just a recollection of the past but an actualization of the event.  At every Mass, Jesus asks us to do this.

5 concepts about the Eucharist

1. The origin of the word Eucharist is Greek, derived from two words: eucharisteiny and eulogein.   These words recall the Jewish blessings that acknowledge the works of God, including creation, redemption, and sanctification.
2. The moment of consecration is one of the most significant moments of the Mass.  It is an important moment because at this moment, the bread and wine change substance.  For this reason we kneel.
3. Transubstantiation is the moment when the bread and wine change substance. The bread and wine may seem like "normal" bread and wine, but Jesus is present in them.
4. Receiving Jesus.  It is essential to be prepared to receive Holy Communion.  To do so, one should have recently gone to confession, not have committed mortal sins, and should have not eaten or chewed gum one hour before Communion. 
5. Why can't I take the Holy Eucharist myself? It is important to know that Communion cannot be taken directly.  This is because Jesus always gives himself through others.

Formation for children: First Communion

At our Parish, we offer faith formation programs for both parents and children. The programs are designed to provide separate but related formation for adults and children, in order to allow parents to better address their children's questions about faith.
At Sacred Heart in Rowlett, we ensure that children receive proper knowledge and a deep understanding of their faith so that they can receive the Eucharist, the second sacrament of Christian Initiation. ​ 

Communion Catechetical Schedules: Refer to Groups/Faith Formation

The Sacrament of Holy Spirit

Confirmation is the third sacrament of Christian initiation, after Baptism and First Communion. It is a kind of seal that is imprinted within the Christian's soul, and makes us mature Christians, witnesses of Jesus.

For all these reasons, it is a sacrament that is administered during adolescence or adulthood, since a knowledge of and commitment to our faith is necessary to receive it.

If water is the element of Baptism, the Holy Chrism, blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday, is the sign of Confirmation. 

Confirmation can only be administered by the Bishop.

5 ideas to learn more about the Confirmation

1. Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints an indelible seal on the soul of the one who receives it, as a Christian.
2. During Confirmation, the baptismal promises are actualized.
3. During Confirmation, one is anointed with the Holy Chrism, a sign of consecration that is also received in Baptism and priestly ordination.
4. There is no specific age to receive it, but it is important that the person who receives it has a formation and is in a state of grace, that is, that he/she has recently received the sacrament of reconciliation.
5. It causes the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit to grow in the recipient: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
6. It configures us as persons closer to the Church, a community that walks together with the Bishop, towards the Kingdom of God.
7. It is not mandatory  for marriage, but it is always a good idea to receive it. It does not matter the age of the baptized.

Confirmation Cathechesis

In our Parish we have an integral faith formation for both parents and children. The idea is that both adults and kids can have a separate formation, but in the same line and in the same schedules, so that parents can respond to their children in their doubts of faith.

Of course, in our parish of Sacred Heart of Rowlett, a knowledge and a deep experience of faith is given to the youngs so that they can receive the Confirmation, the third sacrament of Christian Initiation. 

Confirmation Catechetical Schedules

Sunday English

3:00 PM-16:30 PM 
7th Grade and High School   Confirmation 1.  Sacrament  Preparation   for  Confirmation
8th Grade and High School Confirmation 2 (Completed year 1 in 2022-2023) 
​English Faith Formation Director​​​

Sunday Spanish  

3:00 PM-4:30 PM 
7th Grade and High School   Confirmation 1.  Sacrament  Preparation   for  Confirmation
8th Grade and High School Confirmation 2 (Completed year 1 in 2022-2023)
​Spanish Faith Formation Director​​​

The Family Foundation Sacrament

The sacrament of marriage -like the other sacraments instituted by Jesus- has a valuable particularity. 

Just as in the other sacraments it is the priest or the bishop who confers it, in the case of marriage it is the man and the woman who grant it, by giving their consent in the presence of God and the Community.

The priest and the other guests are really only witnesses of the acceptance of the couple's vocation, of their mutual self-giving and of their commitment to love and respect each other every day, to accept the children that God will give them and to raise them in the Catholic faith. One member of the marriage couple must be Catholic & provide a recent Baptismal Certificate. This form can be obtained from the church of Baptism. 

5 Ideas about Catholic Marriage

1. It is a vocation. Marriage is a vocation, a call from God, in which the spouses mutually love each other, give themselves to each other, commit themselves and help each other throughout their lives. As St. John Paul II said in the General Audience of August 18, 1982: "Marriage corresponds to the vocation of Christians only when it reflects the love which Christ the Bridegroom gives to the Church, his Bride, and with which the Church (in the likeness of the "submitted" woman, therefore fully given) tries to correspond to Christ".

2. From love, it is the basis of the family. Marriage is based on love and becomes the creative space of the Christian family, where children are received as part of that gift and that call to give life.

3. It is indissoluble. Jesus, in instituting it, does so as a lifelong commitment. Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved. In fact, when a marriage is annulled, it is because there never has been such a sacrament.

4. It confers on the spouses the power of the Holy Spirit. Although society increasingly insists that it is the same not to marry or civil marriage, this is not true. The Sacrament of Matrimony confers on the spouses, through the Holy Spirit, a special strength.

5. Rings are not indispensable. Although they are not an indispensable part of the Catholic marriage rite, they are a symbol of the spouses' commitment, and a distinguishing sign in front of others.
​Marriage Coordinator​​​
 

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life - Matthew 19:29

Apostles Today

Priests are indispensable in our Catholic Church. Thanks to them, our Church has continuity. 

Even though, since our Baptism we are all constituted as Priests, Prophets and Kings, Jesus entrusted them to administer the sacraments and thanks to their yes, to accept Jesus' choice of them, we, the baptized, can receive them. 

They are the only ones who can consecrate bread and wine in the Eucharist, and forgive sins in Confession. 

The Sacrament of Priestly Ordination can only be administered by a bishop.

To know more about our priests...

For the non-consecrated or secular people, the priestly order seems a bit distant from our reality. Here are some ideas to better understanding this sacrament.

1. Holy Orders is a sacrament that allows to consecrate deacons, priests and bishops, from the imposition of hands and some specific words, which depending on each degree is different. 
2. During Holy Orders, the Holy Spirit is especially present. The ordained person receives in his soul a seal that cannot be erased.
3. In the Catholic Church, only men can receive this sacrament. It is interesting to note that permanent deacons can be married.
4. The word Order comes from the Latin, ordinatio, and the Romans used it to designate members of the government.
5. There are 3 ranks of Holy Orders:

• The deacon: assists the presbyters and bishops in their ministry. To become a priest, it is necessary to first be ordained a deacon.1.
• The priest: they are usually responsible for a community. They are in charge of administering the sacraments. They are under the orders of the bishop.
• The bishop: they are the successors of the apostles and direct their ministry under the direction of the Pope.

Is God calling you?

If you think or feel that the Lord is calling you "to something more," visit the Diocese of Dallas website, where you will find resources and the right contacts to help you discern your vocation.
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​If you are a woman, here you will also find help in discerning your religious vocation.
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Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord
                          James 5:14

The sacrament that strengthens soul and body

During his time on Earth, Jesus healed countless numbers of sick people and forgave their sins.

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of life.  It is administered by a priest or bishop to those who are sick, about to undergo an operation or elderly.
Ideally, it is received together with the sacrament of Reconciliation while one is in a state of grace.  However, if the person is not conscious, the sacrament can still be administered.

Pastoral Care Ministry

Our Sacred Heart Parish in Rowlett provides a valuable service through its Pastoral Care ministry.  The ministry is carried out by Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, who visit the elderly, homebound and/or sick to offer Communion. They are also responsible for informing the priest if the person they visit  needs Reconciliation or Anointing of the Sick.
Request Emergency Anointing  Call 214-444-1195
Anointing Appointment