SACRAMENTS

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated for children (infants) of parents who are registered parishioners or those who are registered parishioners of another parish on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel; private baptisms need the approval of Fr. Whatley, Pastor. Those who are not a registered parishioner of St. Mark must obtain a letter from the Pastor of that parish allowing for the baptism to be celebrated here at St. Mark.

Parents who wish to have their child baptized at St. Mark should call the Parish Office as soon as possible after the birth of their child. Participation in our Baptismal Preparation Class, a pre-requisite session held on the 1st Monday of each month in the Youth Ministry Room of the Parish Center at 7:00 p.m., is a requirement before a baptism can be scheduled.

Godparents must be practicing members of the Roman Catholic Church, at least 16 years of age, received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist in the Catholic Church, attend Mass regularly on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation and receive the Sacraments of the Church regularly, understand and accept the responsibility which they undertake as a sponsor, and are asked to obtain a certificate from their parish certifying their eligibility to serve as Godparents. If Godparent is married, they must be married according to the laws of the Catholic Church. Provided there is one Catholic Godparent, a baptized Christian of another denomination can serve as a Christian Witness.

Preparation for adult baptisms are available through the RCIA process. Please call the Office of Religious Education at 410-744-6560, x224, or visit the RCIA webpage for further details.

First Reconciliation

Children are generally prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time when they reach the second grade. They are prepared through a special program (two-year process) and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic grade school, in addition to, one year prior to the ‘immediate preparation’ period. Older children may be prepared separately from the second graders.

Parents are required to attend a First Penance Seminar in order to prepare their children to receive the sacrament during Lent. The Seminar date will be published in the Sunday Bulletin one month in advance. Group celebrations of this sacrament will be during Lent 2009. Purchase and completion of a sacrament preparation book is required.

Adults who wish to be initiated into the sacrament of First Reconciliation should contact Anne Kidwell, Director of Religious Education. Read our RCIA web page for more information.

For further information or with questions, please contact the Religious Education office at 410-744-6560, x224 or e-mail us.

First Eucharist

Children are generally prepared to receive their first Holy Communion when they reach the second grade. They are prepared through a special program (two-year process) and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic grade school, in addition to, one year prior to the ‘immediate preparation’ period. Older children may be prepared separately from the second graders.

Parents are required to attend a First Eucharist Seminar to prepare their children for this sacrament. Important information about the preparation, registration and format of the First Eucharist celebrations is provided at the seminar. The seminar date will be published in the Sunday Bulletin one month prior to the seminar. Purchase and completion of a sacrament preparation book is required for this sacrament.

Adults who wish to be initiated into the sacrament of Holy Communion should contact Anne Kidwell, Director of Religious Education. Read our RCIA web page for further information.

For more information or with questions, please contact the Religious Education Office at 410-744-6560, x224 or e-mail us.

Matrimony

Archdiocesan guidelines require that the couple contact the Pastor of their parish (Fr. Whatley, St. Mark Church) at least 6 months prior to the date of the wedding to schedule for a pre-nuptial interview and pre-marriage classes (Pre-Cana Conferences, Sponsor Couple, or Engaged Encounter Weekends), and before any other arrangements or plans are finalized. This will allow adequate preparation for this Sacrament. The wedding date should not be set until the Pastor has been consulted. Please be advised that at least one of the engaged couple should be a parish member of St. Mark Church.

Please contact the parish with any questions: 410-744-6560 x1, or visit the Marriage Preparation section of the Archdiocese of Baltimore website.

Marriage Preparation Opportunities:

Formal preparation of engaged couples is essential for married life. In addition to working with the priest or deacon officiating at the wedding, couples participate in one of the three marriage preparation programs:

1. Marriage Preparation Conferences (Pre-Cana) – Married couples and a priest lead large group gatherings of approximately 20 couples to reflect on such issues as communications, decision-making, sexuality, and spirituality. A conference consists of two four-hour sessions, scheduled on consecutive weekends in February/March or October of each year.
2. Sponsor Couple – St. Mark offers a process through which a selected married couple from the parish meets with an engaged couple over a period of several weeks. The setting is friendly and informal, while each engaged couple gets personal attention in reviewing the many facets of married life. Some engaged couples find this option appealing, since it allows for a greater amount of flexibility in the scheduling of sessions. More »
3. Engaged Encounter – Retreats offering personal attention and guidance for approximately 20 couples are scheduled on various weekends at retreat houses throughout the Archdiocese. The engaged couple has the opportunity to concentrate exclusively on each other, while examining the essential issues they will encounter within the marriage relationship. Each retreat runs from 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening until approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and includes presentations, discernment, and worship. Check with your officiating clergy or visit the Marriage Preparation section of the Archdiocesan website for more information.

Other preparatory programs, such as those for individuals entering a second marriage, are also available from the Archdiocesan Office of Family Life by calling 410-547-5422. The priest or deacon will discuss these programs with engaged couples to help them make any necessary arrangements.

Sponsor Couple Ministry: This program is intended for couples married in the Catholic Church who are willing to be “sponsors” to engaged couples who will be married at St. Mark Church to share their own experience of Christian marriage to engaged couples as part of their preparation for marriage. There is no age or length of marriage requirement for sponsor couples. Remarried and interfaith couples are welcome. Married couples take part in a 6-hour training course – two 3-hour sessions, scheduled one or two weeks apart. Once trained, the sponsor couple and engaged couple work together in the sponsor couple’s home for several sessions (usually 5) to develop the engaged couple’s understanding of Christian marriage and increase their awareness of each other’s values and attitudes. Please call Jane in the Religious Education Office at 410-744-6560, x224 if you would like more information.

NOTE: This program is an alternative to Pre-Cana classes and Engaged weekend retreats.

Adult Confirmation

Adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are prepared according to a process designed specifically for their needs. They may contact the Religious Education office, 410-744-6560, x224, for more details about taking part in adult preparation sessions to prepare them to receive this important sacrament. Read the RCIA web page for further information.

Youth preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation should call the parish office at 410-744-6560, ext. 1 concerning the Confirmation process for youth. Please note that candidates must be baptized, have already received Eucharist and Reconciliation, and be enrolled in the Religious Education program at least one year prior to beginning the preparation in the 8th grade or high school.