Baptism
As a community of faith, St. Cletus Parish has the responsibility of ensuring that infants baptized into the Catholic Church will be raised in the faith. Toward the fulfillment of this responsibility, the following norms have been adopted. Parents are encouraged to fulfill the following responsibilities and to have their child baptized within a reasonable time after birth.
Preparation Session: To ensure that parents are aware of the meaning of baptism in Christian life and the commitments they are making, they are expected to participate in a program of instruction and preparation. Godparents, while not required to participate, are welcome. If parents have participated in the program at St. Cletus within the last three years, they need not repeat it. Parents are required to register in advance and are encouraged to participate in this session before their baby is born. Contact Deacon Mark McCarthy at 636-946-6327 ext. 1712 or [email protected] to arrange to participate in the program. Parents who have not been sacramentally married in the Catholic Church must speak with a member of the clergy before they can enroll their child for baptism.
Godparents: A Godparent role is to assist parents in passing on the faith in which the child is baptized. Therefore, parents should choose someone who will take the role seriously and who will be a good role model for the child. Parents should speak personally with the Godparent about the meaning of this role and their expectations. Church law sets minimum requirements: A Godparent must be at least sixteen years old, already confirmed, and a practicing Catholic. If parents choose two people to be Godparents, they are to be male and female. Although non-Catholics may not serve as Godparent, they may serve as official witness to the baptism, but must be themselves practicing the Christian faith.
Preparation Session: To ensure that parents are aware of the meaning of baptism in Christian life and the commitments they are making, they are expected to participate in a program of instruction and preparation. Godparents, while not required to participate, are welcome. If parents have participated in the program at St. Cletus within the last three years, they need not repeat it. Parents are required to register in advance and are encouraged to participate in this session before their baby is born. Contact Deacon Mark McCarthy at 636-946-6327 ext. 1712 or [email protected] to arrange to participate in the program. Parents who have not been sacramentally married in the Catholic Church must speak with a member of the clergy before they can enroll their child for baptism.
Godparents: A Godparent role is to assist parents in passing on the faith in which the child is baptized. Therefore, parents should choose someone who will take the role seriously and who will be a good role model for the child. Parents should speak personally with the Godparent about the meaning of this role and their expectations. Church law sets minimum requirements: A Godparent must be at least sixteen years old, already confirmed, and a practicing Catholic. If parents choose two people to be Godparents, they are to be male and female. Although non-Catholics may not serve as Godparent, they may serve as official witness to the baptism, but must be themselves practicing the Christian faith.
Eucharist
For the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion, the children must be in second grade (as a minimum). The Sacrament of Confirmation is received in the spring of the student’s eighth grade year. We will gladly make arrangements if your child has not received the Sacraments of First Reconciliation or First Communion and is older than second grade. Please contact the PSR office for additional details. Please note that in order to participate in preparation for any of these sacraments, the child must have been in a formal program of religious education, either a Parish School of Religion, or Catholic School, directly prior to the sacrament reception year.
For more information on our Religious Education programs, contact Mrs. Laura Henderson at 636-255-1717 or [email protected]
Parish School of Religion
For more information on our Religious Education programs, contact Mrs. Laura Henderson at 636-255-1717 or [email protected]
Parish School of Religion
Confirmation
Currently, Confirmation for youth occurs in the eighth grade. Our Confirmation preparation program begins the end of the child’s seventh grade year and continues from September through March of their eighth-grade year - with the reception of the Sacrament in April. As always, arrangements can be made if needed due to a change in location, or a desire to receive the Sacrament after a child’s eighth grade year. He or she should contact Fr. Holtmann to make proper arrangements. After a brief preparation program, the individual may choose to be confirmed either with our eighth graders or at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on Pentecost Sunday when adults from the entire archdiocese gather for the celebration of this sacrament.
Reconciliation
Weekly Celebration. There are weekly celebrations of the sacrament in church every Saturday afternoon from 3:00-3:45 P.M., and on Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 P.M. If it is not possible for an individual to come at that time, he or she should feel to call one of the parish priests to arrange an appointment. The priests are more than happy to do this.
Services of Reconciliation. During Advent and Lent the priests of the parish lead the community in a communal prayer service followed by individual confessions.
First Penance. The normal time for the first celebration of the Sacrament of Penance with children in our parish is in the first semester of their second grade year followed by their first reception of the Eucharist during the second semester.
Services of Reconciliation. During Advent and Lent the priests of the parish lead the community in a communal prayer service followed by individual confessions.
First Penance. The normal time for the first celebration of the Sacrament of Penance with children in our parish is in the first semester of their second grade year followed by their first reception of the Eucharist during the second semester.
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Sick is a tangible sign of God’s love for us when we are facing serious health needs. (There is a special communion rite, called viaticum, and special prayers reserved for people who are close to death, but the other rites of pastoral care for the sick are intended for those who are seriously ill or facing surgery.)
Hospital Visitation
Our clergy and lay ministers of the parish are interested in visiting members of the parish when they are in the hospital. However, hospitals no longer automatically inform parishes when a parishioner is admitted. We will be able to visit only if we know you are in a hospital. It is most helpful to us when you or a family member notifies the parish office.
Communion for the Sick
Holy Communion is brought once a week to those who are sick or unable to go to church on a regular basis. If you or a family member wants to be put on the list on a regular or temporary basis, please call the parish office.
Individual Anointing
If you are planning to go to the hospital for surgery or extended care, contact the parish office before you go, in order to arrange for the celebration of the sacrament. This sacrament is for the sick or the chronically ill, not for the dying or dead. Individuals in hospitals should ask the chaplain there for the sacrament if you are not able to celebrate it here with one of our priests.
Communal Anointing
Periodically during the year, the sacrament of the sick is celebrated at Mass for all those who need the grace of the sacrament. We also celebrate this sacrament at the 8:00 A.M. Mass on the first Saturday of each month.
Hospital Visitation
Our clergy and lay ministers of the parish are interested in visiting members of the parish when they are in the hospital. However, hospitals no longer automatically inform parishes when a parishioner is admitted. We will be able to visit only if we know you are in a hospital. It is most helpful to us when you or a family member notifies the parish office.
Communion for the Sick
Holy Communion is brought once a week to those who are sick or unable to go to church on a regular basis. If you or a family member wants to be put on the list on a regular or temporary basis, please call the parish office.
Individual Anointing
If you are planning to go to the hospital for surgery or extended care, contact the parish office before you go, in order to arrange for the celebration of the sacrament. This sacrament is for the sick or the chronically ill, not for the dying or dead. Individuals in hospitals should ask the chaplain there for the sacrament if you are not able to celebrate it here with one of our priests.
Communal Anointing
Periodically during the year, the sacrament of the sick is celebrated at Mass for all those who need the grace of the sacrament. We also celebrate this sacrament at the 8:00 A.M. Mass on the first Saturday of each month.
Marriage
Engaged couples planning to be married at St. Cletus should make contact with Deacon Mark McCarthy at least six months in advance, but should know that many couples do so at least a year prior to their preferred date. Definite plans for a wedding date should not be decided until such contact has been made and the couple’s readiness for marriage has been determined.
Preparation for marriage involves the couple taking and reviewing a pre-marital inventory of communication and compatibility, participating in any one of several Marriage Preparation Programs, and planning the wedding ceremony with the presiding priest or deacon. Couples in which one member is not Catholic will also meet with the priest or deacon to discuss implications of the Catholic faith for their marriage. For more information, contact Deacon Mark McCarthy at 636-946-6327 ext. 1712 or [email protected].
Preparation for marriage involves the couple taking and reviewing a pre-marital inventory of communication and compatibility, participating in any one of several Marriage Preparation Programs, and planning the wedding ceremony with the presiding priest or deacon. Couples in which one member is not Catholic will also meet with the priest or deacon to discuss implications of the Catholic faith for their marriage. For more information, contact Deacon Mark McCarthy at 636-946-6327 ext. 1712 or [email protected].
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. The sacred rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.
For more information, contact Fr. Chris Holtmann at 636-946-6327 ext. 1711 or [email protected].
For more information, contact Fr. Chris Holtmann at 636-946-6327 ext. 1711 or [email protected].
