Baptism

Baptisms (English) may take place between 2PM and 3PM on any Saturday of the year, outside the season of Lent. Baptisms (Fujianese) may take place during the 3PM Sunday Eucharistic liturgy. Parents requesting this sacrament for their child must meet with the pastor by appointment at least 4 months prior to the birth of the child. Parishioners and friends outside the boundaries of the parish will need a letter from their pastor. Inquiries concerning non-infant, adolescent or adult Baptism should be made by appointment to the pastor.

Reconciliation

The sacrement of Reconciliation is celebrated in a communitarian way (individual confession) each season of Advent and Lent. The priests are available for private individual confessions every Saturday evening at 4PM before the Vigil Mass. Every time you need to talk to a priest you may call for an appointment.

Communion

Communion is distributed at each Eucharistic celebration of the Mass. (See Schedules). Each first Friday of the month, a priest or a minister may bring the holy communion to shut-ins and the sick of the parish. Conditions for receiving the Holy Communion worthily is a good preparation through confession, a one hour fasting prior to receiving it, and a period of prayer and meditation on the Word of God. Only baptized Catholics may receive Holy Communion. For any other information, please contact your priest.

Confirmation

At the age of adulthood, the young Catholic re-confirm the faith that she/he has received as a child. The re-confirmation is made at the presence of the Bishop, who is the head of each local Church. The priest is delegated to receive and give confirmation when he gives the three initiation sacrements at the Holy Saturday night, Easter Vigil.

Marriage

Couples planning to marry should make an appointment to see a priest at least one year prior to the wedding. Marriages at St. Josteph may be celebrated in English, Italian, Fujianese or Cantonese. In order to receive the Sacrement of Marriage, these are the steps to take: Contact the parish priest in order to establish a date, after you make all other arrangements. Participate in a Marriage Course, offered by the Family Life Office of the Archdiocese. The priest of the parish will give you all the information regarding places, times, and fees. A few months before the celebration of marriage, you need to meet with the priest to prepare the papers (Marriage Investigation). For this investigation, you need: The Baptism certificate from your parish of origin if Catholic. Civil Marriage Certificate, if already married outside the Church. Divorce papers if legally divorced and never married in Church. A month or two before the celebration you meet with your priest or deacon to plan the Liturgy of the celebration Finally a day or two before the celebration, you go over the ceremony with the bridal party and best man It is strongly suggested for the Catholic party to make a good confession to start a new life with a renewed spirit and renewed grace.

Annointing of the Sick

Once a year, February 11th, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick, our Church celebrate a Mass of Annointing for the whole community. Every Catholic who feels the need of the comfort of the Holy Spirit in moments of sickness, health crisis, or danger of death may call the parish office and a priest will respond in the shortest time. Parishioners who wish to see their priest during their stay at the hospital may call the parish office.

Funeral Celebration

Christians enter into life with the sacrement of Baptism and exit out of life with the Funeral Celebration. The funeral mass is ordinarily planned by the funeral home and the church of your choice. Catholics normally bring the deceased to the church for a funeral blessing and a funeral mass. Catholics can either be buried or cremated.

Holy Order of Priesthood/Sisterhood

Young Catholics wishing to become priests and receive the Holy Order of Priesthood must go through a long period of philosophical and theological formation. To be accepted into a seminary program (either diocesan or missionary), you may contact your parish priest or any other Catholic priest. Yong ladies who wish to enter religious life may contact our sisters, other sisters, or any other priest.