Baptism
Baptism in the Church
Jesus was baptized and taught his Apostles to do likewise. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God. We become members of the Body of Christ as we are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. We can’t wait to welcome your child into the life of Christ and our Church through Baptism. SJA offers family baptisms once a month. To get started, please click "Contact Us" and our team will reach out to you.
Adults Becoming Catholic
If you’re an adult seeking Baptism or thinking about becoming Christian, your next step is Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).
Sacrament of Reconciliation
About
The Sacrament of Reconciliation imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles. In Matthew 5:23–24, Jesus says: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” This Sacrament “washes us clean” and renews us in Christ.
Communal Penance Services with the opportunity for individual confessions are celebrated during Advent and Lent each year.
If you want to make an appointment for confession, please contact the pastor:
Rev. Maxy D'Costa
503-742-8207
pastor@sja-catholicchurch.com
FIRST RECONCILIATION - CHILDREN
If you are an adult and have questions regarding Reconciliation/Confession contact this number 503-742-8228
Eucharist (Holy Communion)
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.
Sacramental preparation is available for adults who have been baptized a Catholic but have not received First Communion or Confirmation. This preparation is through RCIA.
CHILDREN'S PREPARATION FOR FIRST COMMUNION
Any baptized Catholic who has reached the age of reason, (7 years of age) and are registered members of St. John the Apostle Church. (Exceptions will be made for children wishing to receive their Sacrament here at St. John the Apostle who are not parishioners only with written permission from their parish priest.)
Confirmation
What is Confirmation?
The Sacrament of Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace. It is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and roots us more deeply and firmly into Christ, strengthens our bond with the Church, associates us more closely with her mission and helps us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds. Along with Baptism and Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation and equips the anointed for active participation in the life of the Church.
Confirmation Preparation for Adults
Confirmation preparation is available for adults who have not been baptized, have been baptized in another faith, have been baptized a Catholic but have not received First Communion or Confirmation, and those who have been baptized and have received First Communion but have not yet been confirmed. This preparation is through RCIA.
Holy Matrimony
Congratulations on Your Engagement!
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments and should be entered into with great reverence, discernment, and preparation. We very much want to support you in preparing for your wedding day, but more importantly, the parish wishes to be an ongoing support to you in your marriage. For this reason it makes sense that you be active, registered members of the parish.
Marriage preparation is one of the most important things you will ever do, and we strongly encourage you to devote an adequate amount of time to this important aspect of your engagement period. Research shows that couples who complete a structured marriage preparation program enter into marriage with a better understanding of their strengths and challenges, have realistic expectations of marriage, and have lower divorce rates.
Marriage Preparation at St. John Apostle
Plan to begin marriage preparation 9 months prior to your proposed wedding date. Six months is the typical amount of time needed to complete the marriage preparation process required by the Archdiocese of all couples completing marriage preparation in this Archdiocese (whether your marriage will be celebrated in this Archdiocese or elsewhere).
The couple should call and speak directly with the pastor to schedule an in-person meeting. During your meeting with the pastor you will discuss your freedom to marry, your understanding of commitment, and your ability to live out that commitment.
For Marriage preparation information please contact:
Father Maxy D'Costa
pastor@sja-catholicchurch.com
503-742-8200
Holy Orders
About
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. In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, represents Christ in the Church. If you would like to discern the call to priesthood or religious life, please contact our pastor.
Women's Religious Communities
Although women in the Catholic Church do not receive Holy Orders there are many women called to a religious life. If you are one of those women who feel they are being called click below to go to the Archdiocese of Portland's site "Religious Orders of Women serving in the Archdiocese of Portland."
Anointing of the Sick
About
The purpose of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is to confer a special grace on the Christian experiencing difficulties inherent in the condition of illness or age. It is administered by a priest to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, before surgery and especially near the time of death.
History
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 from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing tells us 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.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, 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 illness or the frailty of old age. ~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Contact:
Rev. Maxy D'Costa
503-742-8207