Sacraments

OCIA

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is for those interested in exploring the Catholic faith and learning more about the Catholic Church as part of a discernment process concerned with the possibility of becoming a Catholic Christian. OCIA begins the first week in October, meeting weekly at STM.

BAPTISM

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of three Sacraments to become full members of the Catholic Church. In Baptism, the baby, child or adult becomes a follower of Jesus and a member of the Catholic Church. The beautiful symbols of the rite: water, candle, oil and a white garment, all symbolize rebirth as a son or daughter of God. An older child or adult typically enters into the Church through a process called Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is the third of the three Sacraments of Initiation. For those who are adults, it is part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process, for children it is part of Religious Education.

MARRIAGE

STM, as part of the Archdiocese of Hartford, offers three resources to every couple as part of their marriage preparation process. An Engaged Couples Conference will give you information and resources for building a strong and lasting relationship. FOCCUS: Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study is a computer-scored assessment that will help you see your strengths as well as areas where more conversation is required. Engaged Encounter Weekend is a further resource that many couples choose in addition to the requirements described above.