Sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.  The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.  They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition (Paragraph 1131)
     
     We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality, a reality open to all the human senses but grasped in its God-given depths with the eyes of faith. When parents hug their children, for example, the visible reality we see is the hug. The invisible reality the hug conveys is love. We cannot "see" the love the hug expresses, though sometimes we can see its nurturing effect in the child.

Sacraments - USCCB

     Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which 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, 2nd Ed. Para. 1213 
 
     We welcome you and your family with great joy to St. Michael the Archangel parish for the preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism for your child.  We hope the  guidelines below will be helpful as you begin this process.

     To inquire into receiving the sacrament of Baptism in English, please contact Deacon Paul Koppie, at (727) 797-2375, Ext 215; en Español - Idania Kessler, (727) 797-2375, Ext 223.

     “The Eucharist transforms the worshipping community so that we may be people of hope and action.  The fruit of our faith is love and the fruit of our love is service. As we reflect upon the principles of Catholic social teaching, we realize that we are called to work for charity and justice.”

–Living Eucharist: Gathered, Nourished, Sent
The Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch,
Bishop of St. Petersburg

     Eucharist celebrates our life together as a community. It is the central act of worship for Catholics. In the Eucharist, Christ is most profoundly present in the Church, which gathers to hear the Word of God and to share the nourishment of Christ's Body with one another. 
Eucharist is celebrated by the entire community at all Mass times. Eucharist is also celebrated daily.

First Communion

     First Communion is traditionally celebrated in the Spring of 2nd grade year. Two years of formal instruction in the faith is required. Both children and parents participate in the immediate preparation of this sacrament. Youth who are beyond second grade and have not celebrated this sacrament are required to be enrolled in the religious education program and will also participate in preparation for their First Communion.

     For additional information or to register for religious education, please contact the Director of Religious Education, Katie White at (727) 797-2375, Ext 243

      Confirmation seals our Baptism and confirms our commitment both to the Church and to the work of Christ in the world.

     Confirmation for young people is traditionally celebrated in the Spring of the 8th grade year. 
A minimum of one year of formal education prior to celebration of the Sacrament is required. 
Both candidates and parents participate in the preparation process.

     For additional information or to register for Confirmation classes, please contact the Director of Religious Education, Katie White at (727) 797-2375, Ext 243

     The Sacrament of Reconciliation, sometimes referred to as "confession" celebrates God's mercy and helps us to experience divine forgiveness. It enables us to return to spiritual health in the family of God, to forgive ourselves and to become reconciled with others.

Click here to view those times the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated.

     In addition, Communal Reconciliation Services are scheduled at various times throughout the year (e.g. The seasons of Advent and Lent). Please refer to the bulletin for those times. 

 Click here for to download, "How to Go to Confession."

     "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over them, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and 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." James 5:14-15.

     The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age.  This special grace unites the sick person to the passion of Christ, provides strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings, forgives sins, and restores health if it is conducive to the salvation of the soul.   Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed. Para. 1131 & 1532

     Those battling illness or facing medical procedures should ask the priest to anoint them after Mass or  make an appointment to come into the parish office to be anointed.   In addition, our priests will visit and administer the Sacrament of Annointing to those who are unable to leave their homes (Please call the Parish Office to make an appopinment).

     “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” Catechism of the Catholic Church second edition (paragraph 1601)

     Marriage is a sacramental relationship of the utmost importance to the community and the Church. It is a personal relationship of life giving love in which man and woman make the love of Christ present to each other and become a sign of the love of Christ to those around them. In marriage, the relationship of the couple is the sacrament that reveals the love of God for his people. 

First Time Marriages

Previous Marriages

Convalidation

     Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time; thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate (bishop), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons). Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition (Paragraph 1536)

     If you feel you are being called to Holy Orders or a religious life, additional information can be found here.