Sacraments and Celebrations

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus.  Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist.  The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.  . . .  Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin.  However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father.  By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.

St. Ann Church baptizes infants, adults, and children.  The path to Baptism may look different for each age-group, but the same sacrament is offered to all.  To inquire about having your child baptized at Saint Ann, please visit our Baptism page.

Click here for more information about Baptism for adults at Saint Ann. 
 

	Please Click Here to learn about Catholic Baptism and RCIA.
	Watch Bishop Barron explain the gift of Baptism and why it matters.

Marriage is a vocation to holiness.  From their first days as husband and wife through their golden years, married couples have the awesome task of witnessing to God’s faithful love to each other, their children, and society.  No couple does this perfectly, and everyone needs help when love feels strained and the going gets tough.  All marriages can grow in knowledge, faith, joy, and love.  Whether you are just starting out in marriage or have fifty years under your belt, the advice, real life stories, and Church teaching here can help strengthen and bless your marriage.

	Marriage Preparation at St. Ann is an important part of a couple's engadgement.
	For Your Marriage.org helps couples at all stages of life to understand and live God’s plan for happy, holy marriages by providing educational and spiritual resources.
	Retrouvaille is for couples with marital problems that want marriage help. There is always hope of reviving your relationship.
	BELOVED uncovers the mystery and the meaning of the sacrament of marriage, inviting all couples to experience firsthand the wonder, mystery, and joy behind that first “I do”... whether you said it last year or many years ago.

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them spiritualy, and somtimes physically.  His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God.  It is also known as "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction."

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness.  But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious physical trials. 

There is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament.  A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.  It is appropriate to request an Anointing anytime there is remote danger of death or serious physical suffering to be endured.  Please do not wait until the last hours.  

An Anointing stengthens spiritual life.  It does not restore spiritual life (that is, forgive mortal sins).  Please consider making a sincere Confession before receiving an Anointing.  

To request an Anointing, please call the parish office: 615-298-1782 or email us to schedule one.  If it is a medical emergency, please make sure to select the "emergency line" option in our phone system.

Please have the following details ready: 

• Name
• Location (hosptial and room number)
• Is the person Catholic?  Have they requested it?
• Is the person conscious?
• Phone number to call in case of getting lost or delayed. 

The Church through its funeral rites commends the dead to God's merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins.  At the funeral rites, especially at the celebration of the eucharistic sacrifice, the Christian community affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great communion of saints.  At the rite of final commendation and farewell, the community acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God.  In this way it recognizes the spiritual bond that still exists between the living and the dead and proclaims its belief that all the faithful will be raised up and reunited in the new heavens and a new earth, where death will be no more.
 

	Please see St. Ann Funeral expectations and request form.
	Official information about Catholic Funeral rites from the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops.
	Explanation of Cremations for Catholics.  Please notice the synopsis at the bottom.

Adults have a responsibility to pass on the faith to younger members of the community. The celebration of quince años is a crucial time in the life of a young Hispanic woman. While society invites youth to gang membership, drug and alcohol abuse and irresponsible sexual behavior, the Church can offer the quinceañera an opportunity to reflect on her role as a Catholic Christian woman in a society which often distorts the woman’s role.

The Church aims for three goals: empowering young people to live as disciples of Christ in today’s world; drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community; and fostering the personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

The quinceañera ritual is valuable for the religious message it sends not only to young people, but also to parents, grandparents, godparents and the entire parish in calling them to prayerfully join with youth in making a commitment to God and the Church.

INSERT INFORMATION ABOUT EXPECTATIONS, SCHEDULING, ETC. 

 

	Commonly asked questions about the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday (Quinceañera) are answered here.

Preparation for the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation is accomplished through our parish school or through one of our Parish Religious Education Programs. For more information about sacrament preparation for children or for adults, please visit our Education page.