Sacramental Preparation
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Baptism 
Congratulations on the new addition to your family. The parish community of Saint Ann looks forward to welcoming your child into our family when you present him or her for Baptism.
Preparation:
This is a hectic and exciting time for you. To help your family get the most out of your baby's baptism, we have established a program of pre-baptismal instruction which we call Pre-Jordan.
At these one-night sessions we talk about the meaning of Baptism in your life, your role in the faith development of your children and practical details regarding the ceremony.
These one-night sessions are held each month in the Saint Ann Church Hall.
Getting Started:
To start the process of preparing for your baby's Baptism, call Madelyn Ohara in our Office of Adult Faith Formation 610-639-0923. She can help you register for a Pre-Jordan session and will mail you detailed information about sponsors and dates.
Setting the Date:
Saint Ann Church requires three things in order to baptize your baby:
- Your family must be registered members of Saint Ann Parish;
- You must attend a Pre-Jordan session;
- You must furnish proof that the sponsors (godparents) you have chosen for your child meet the canonical requirements
Once these requirements are met, we can set the date. Baptisms are celebrated in St. Ann Chapel once a month after Mass (dates are published in our parish calendar) or they may be scheduled within a Sunday Mass.
About Sponsors:
Together with the parents, the sponsor presents a child for baptism and helps the child to live a Christian life befitting the baptized and helps him or her fulfill the duties inherent in baptism.
In choosing a person to be a sponsor, parents express a desire that they want their child to be influenced by the faith and life of this Christian.
To be a sponsor, one must be:
- A baptized Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist;
- Registered in a parish;
- At least 16 years old;
- Leading a life in harmony with the Faith and the role to be undertaken.
Catholic sponsors must submit a Letter of Eligibility signed by their pastor attesting that they are registered members who practice their faith. Click here to download the Sponsor Eligibility form.
For more information about sponsor eligibility requirements, contact St. Ann's Office of Adult Faith Formation 610-639-0923.
About the Pre-Jordan Team:
The purpose of the team is to assist parents in celebrating the baptism of their child and to give them insights into the child's spiritual care and training. Team members foster a welcoming atmosphere at sessions and help facilitate discussions. Parents who are comfortable sharing their faith experiences and can assist at the one-night Pre-Jordan sessions are welcome to be part of this group. Please contact the Adult Faith Formation office (610-639-0923 or stannadulted@comcast.net) if you are interested in joining this team.
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First Penance and First Holy Communion 
In our parish, we celebrate First Penance in Advent and we celebrate First Holy Communion during the Easter season. In order to register for the reception of these two sacraments, a child must have completed two consecutive years of religious education in either PREP or in a Catholic School. First Penance dates for the 2016/2017 school year:
1. Parent’s Meeting – Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in St. Ann Church
2. First Penance Retreat – Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. (location TBA)
3. First Penance Services – Saturday, November 26, December 3, December 10, and December 17 at 12:00 noon in St. Ann ChurchFirst Holy Communion dates for the 2016/2017 school year:
1. Parent’s Meeting – Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in St. Ann Chapel
2. First Holy Communion Retreat/Rehearsal – Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in St. Ann Chapel
3. First Holy Communion will be celebrated after Easter during the regular Sunday Masses (Saturday, April 29, 2017-Sunday, May 28, 2017)We are excited and happy to partner with you in preparing for your child’s First Reconciliation day. We hope that the information here helps to answer any questions you have in anticipation of this very special day for you and your family. It is always our aim to do all we can to make sacrament celebrations reverent and memorable, and we greatly appreciate your cooperation.
The time leading up to the celebration of the sacrament is a very special time of preparation for your child. Bringing our relationship with God to peaceful terms is always a celebration. While adults sometimes struggle with the process, children approach this sacrament with a healthy excitement. It is our hope to make this a memorable occasion for your child and for you. Blessings to all during this time of preparation!
Additional First Penance & First Communion Information
If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact Madelyn O’Hara at 610-639-0923 or stannadulted@gmail.com.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
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Confirmation
The Confirmation Prep Team prepares our parish youth for reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Parishioners who feel called to share their faith with our children are welcome to join this ministry. Please contact Patti Jo Welsh, pjwelsh1984@gmail.com. -
POLICIES & PROCEDURES FOR WEDDINGS
Wedding Manual - PDF format - updated May 2014
Saying I Do: What Happens at a Catholic Wedding
FORMED web site info
About the Pre-Cana Team:Cana Ministry looks for ways to support married couples spiritually and socially. Cana Ministry Teams are open to anyone in the parish who is or has been married. A perfect marriage is not required, only a willingness to share and to listen. Training by the diocesan office is encouraged but not required. Please contact the Adult Faith Formation office (610-639-0923 or stannadulted@gmail.com) if you are interested in joining this team.
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What is R.C.I.A.?
Are you:- An adult Catholic who has not been confirmed?
- A non-Catholic who is marrying or is already married to a Catholic and wants to know more about the Catholic Church?
- A Catholic who has been away from the Church and would like to return?
- A practicing Catholic who is looking for a way to deepen your faith and understanding?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a spiritual journey into the teaching of the Catholic Church. Through R.C.I.A., Catholic and non-Catholic adults can be prepared to receive the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Together we study Scripture, the teaching of the Catholic Church and prayerfully explore our relationship with Jesus. Here at St. Ann's, we implement the RCIA through three programs, each geared to specific age groups: the RCIA for those 18 or older; the RCIT for teens; and a special sacramental preparation program for children ages 7 to 12. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or completing their sacramental preparation, please contact Madelyn O'Hara at 610-639-0923 or stannadulted@gmail.com.
RCIA FAQsThe RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the way people join the Catholic Community. It is a process of instruction, prayer and community experience that leads to full membership in the Catholic Church. It's also a way for people who are already Catholics to complete their sacramental initiation (Confirmation, First Eucharist) or to update and renew their faith.
History of the RCIA
The early Church usually baptized adults; since there were, at first, no Christian families to be born into, babies or young children were baptized along with their parents when they became Christians. When people wanted to join the Church they had to go through a period of formation, or study, called the Catechumenate. This lasted one to three years and involved the entire church community. Then during the final Lent (the forty days preceding Easter) they went on a 40-day retreat; fasting, praying, and examining their lives and their hearts in preparation for the Easter Vigil where they were Baptized and welcomed into the community. After Easter they continued to study, grow and learn.This process continued for about 500 years before it was abandoned, for a variety of reasons. Within the past 25 years, the Church has reinstated the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in a form similar to the ancient model.
The Rite recognizes the four stages of discipleship:
- The Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate;
- The Catechumenate or Instruction;
- The Purification and Enlightenment;
- The Mystagogy which is a period of continued formation after Easter, after the sacraments are conferred.
There are also special public services that mark each of these stages. This is the framework for what we will do together. The fundamental element of RCIA is your experience of God in your life. God is present to us in many ways, especially in prayer, Scripture, and the fellowship of others. While there is dogma and teaching to be learned, they get their meaning and fulfillment only in our experience of God.
So the basic elements of our program are:
- Prayer
- Scripture
- Discussions and integration into the community.
These will be supplemented by our involvement together in different aspects of parish life: Sunday mass, special rites and observances, retreats and, of course, reception of sacraments when we are ready.
