Baptism
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway into life in the Spirit, and the door that gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word." - Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1213
If the one to be baptized is 8 or older please contact the pastor before moving forward.
Requirements:
- Parents validly married in the Catholic Church
- Godparents
- At least one Godparent is to be practicing Catholic.
- Godparents are to be a minimum of 16 years of age and have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- If any Catholic Godparent is a parishioner outside of St. Joseph, Oakley or St. Paul, Angelus, they need to have a letter of good standing sent from their pastor to the pastor of Oakley and Angelus before the baptism.
A pre-baptismal form will need to filled out. Please fill it out online with the following link: Baptismal Register Form
| Contact | Father Brian Lager 785.671.3828 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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confirmation
By the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed. - Lumen Gentium 11
At St. Joseph and St. Paul we typically confirm juniors and sophomores. The preparation for this sacrament is a two year program, which is required. The date of confirmation changes each time depending on what works for the parish and the bishop of the Diocese of Salina.
REQUIREMENTS and DOCUMENTS
1) Baptismal certificate if baptized outside of St. Joseph, Oakley or St. Paul, Angelus.
2) Confirmation Sponsor
- Must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on (Code of Canon Law - canon 871 para 1 article 3)
- Can not be a parent, and is encouraged to be the Godparent from baptism if possible.
- Please fill out the following form and return it to the Confirmation teacher or the pastor - Confirmation Sponsor Form
3) Confirmation Saint
- It is a tradition to choose a Saint or Blessed to become a patron or patroness of the one to be confirmed. Choosing this holy person or angel can come about in a variety of ways: current devotion to, named after them, the holy person's patronage is something one has dealt with in ones life or might be considering a career of which they are the patron. The confirmandee will present their choice to class, teacher(s) and pastor using the following layout: Saint Presentation Sheet
4) The confirmandee will be required to attend a retreat. The date and time will be made known months beforehand barring unforeseen circumstances.
5) The confirmandee will write a hand-written letter to the bishop of the Diocese of Salina. An outline will be provided by the pastor when that time comes.
6) If one can not attend the Confirmation Mass at St. Joseph in Oakley when it is scheduled, please let the pastor know ASAP. The pastor can then contact surrounding parishes and get the confirmandee into that celebration.
| Contact | Father Brian Lager 785.671.3828 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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eucharist
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."
1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.
1327 In brief, 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."
Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin (aka mortal sin) is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.
Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates.
Can. 919 §1. A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.
§3. The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.
Reconciliation
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422 - Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon by God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1423 - It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.
It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance and satisfaction.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1424 - It is called the sacrament of confession since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession" - acknowledgement and praise - of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness since by priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace.
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God." He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."
HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION
Examination of Conscience for Adults
Examination of Conscience for Children
TIMES FOR CONFESSION
30 minutes before weekend masses
By appointment
Penance Services during Advent and Lent - Please look at the calendar or in the bulletin
| Contact | Father Jesse Ochs 785.671.3828 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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anointing of the sick
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1503 Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people" and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick and you visited me." His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them.
1504 Often Jesus asks the sick to believe. He makes use of signs to heal: spittle and the laying on of hands, mud and washing. The sick try to touch him, "for power came forth from him and healed them all." and so in the sacraments Christ continues to "touch" us in order to heal us.
1509 "Heal the sick!" The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health.
1510 However, the apostolic Church has its own rite for the sick, attested to by St. James: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [presbyters] of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." Tradition has recognized in this rite one of the seven sacraments.
WHO CAN RECIEVE THE SACRAMENT?
Canon 1004 §1. The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.
§2. This sacrament can be repeated if the sick person, having recovered, again becomes gravely ill or if the condition becomes more grave during the same illness.
The sickness or injury has to be directly affecting a person that their life reasonably comes into question, such as cancer. Not all surgeries meet the requirements for this sacrament, nor does going under anesthesia constitute a right to this sacrament. It is similar to a soldier going into war. Just because the soldier could be injured or die by a bullet or other ordinance, does not mean we anoint that soldier. The danger of death is extrinsic to the soldier not intrinsic. If an extrinsic threat exists one should request the sacrament of Reconciliation.
| Contact | Father Jesse Ochs 785.671.3828 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Marriage
Please contact the pastor at least six months prior to the intended date.
Required Materials Checklist, most of which will be provided by the pastor:
- Baptismal Certificates if not baptized in either St. Joseph, Oakley, or St. Paul, Angelus.
- Freedom to Marry Form (green paper; one for each person)
- Attend Engaged Encounter weekend - sign up with the following link: Engaged Encounter
- Intro Session for Natural Family Planning (NFP) - Please schedule an appointment with a practitioner - NFP Practitioners
- If you were married before to provide either 1) proof of death of former spouse, 2) Annulment decree or 3) ask the pastor with any other questions regarding this if necessary.
WEDDING GUIDELINES FOR ST. JOSEPH AND ST. PAUL
1) No glitter is allowed in the church.
2) No pets will be involved in any way.
3) Flower petals for the flower girl(s) are to be fake. Real petals get smashed into the carpet and is hard to clean.
- Real flower arrangements may be used in the sanctuary.
4) No secular music for the wedding unless otherwise approved by the pastor.
5) No weddings will be scheduled during the season of Lent, as it a penitential season. This season typically includes the months of February, March and April. It changes each year according to when Easter is celebrated.
PLANNING THE LITURGY/CEREMONY
Readings - Please choose one reading from each of the links
LITURGY GUIDES - Please consult the celebrant or the pastor to determine which option will be/can be used.
| Contact | Father Jesse Ochs 785.671.3828 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Holy Orders
The sacrament of Holy Orders is divided into three orders:
1) The Order of Diaconate
- This order has two sub-orders: 1) Transitional Deacons and 2) Permanent Deacons
- Transitional deacons are men who are in the last stage before they are ordained priests. Transitional deacons are intended to be elevated to the order of priests and not remain deacons.
- Permanent deacons are generally older men who have been called to serve the church in formal way. These men are married before they are ordained and will remain deacons for the foreseeable future. Only after the death of their spouse could they possibly be elevated to the order of priests. Permanent deacons do not take the promise of celibacy initially, but will remain celibate if their spouse dies.
- Deacons make the promises of celibacy (see previous paragraph), prayer and obedience to the bishop.
- They are helpers of the priests and bishops.
- By virtue of their ordination they are allowed to perform marriages, bury the dead, baptize children, preach/give homilies, and bless people or things that is proper to their order.
2) Order of the Presbyterate (Priests)
- After having been ordained and function as a deacon for the required amount of time, deacons, in particular transitional deacons, are ordained priests.
- They retake the promises of celibacy, prayer and obedience to the bishop.
- Priests, by virtue of their ordination, can perform the following sacraments: Baptism, Confirm in particular circumstances, Celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage. (At no time can they ordain anybody)
- The main role of priests is the salvation of souls through the bestowing of God's grace through their one priesthood in Christ.
3) Order of Bishops (the Episcopacy)
- Bishops are chosen from the Order of the Presbyterate through investigation into their holiness and readiness, names are given to the Pope who then names a bishop for that Diocese or are named an auxiliary bishop (a bishop who helps main bishop of a Diocese/Archdiocese)
- Bishops lead their Diocese/Archdiocese as their shepherd. The appointments that a bishop is given at their ordination add testament to this fact, namely the miter (pointy hat) and the crosier (staff/shepherd's crook).
- Bishops are in charge of all facets of their Diocese/Archdiocese (except for auxiliaries) and have final say over the vast majority of what happens within their Diocese/Archdiocese.
- Bishops have the fullness of orders and can perform all 7 sacraments.
- Bishops, theoretically, can trace their lineage back to the apostles, similar to what is done with popes back to St. Peter. This is called Apostolic Succession which began with Jesus himself.
PRIESTLY FORMATION
The vocation to the priesthood is a unique and important calling. Without priests, there would be no sacraments, and the life of Christ in the world would quickly dissipate. Thus, the Church is constantly seeking out men who might have a call to the priesthood. Young men who enter into priestly formation are called, seminarians.
Formation takes place at seminaries, hence the name seminarian, and can last anywhere from 5-9 years for diocesan priests. Priests studying for the various Religious Orders (Capuchins, Carmelites, Dominicans, Jesuits, Fathers of Mercy, etc.) vary according to the Order.
If you are young man who thinks he might have a call to the priesthood, please contact one of the Vocation Directors below.
Fr. Andy HammekeThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
