Participation in the sacramental life of the Church is essential if those who are baptized are to deepen their relationship with God and with God’s people.  The Sacraments are “pre-arranged” encounters with Christ: we receive grace from them even when we are distracted or lacking in understanding.  Of course, the more we can enter into them, the more we are able to utilize the grace they offer.

¨       THE EUCHARIST is “the source and summit of the Christian life,” Sacrosanctum Concilium 47.

Weekend Liturgies

Saturday (Mass of Anticipation):      5:00 pm      Sunday:      8:00 am & 10:00 am

Weekday Liturgies

Monday – Friday:            8:00 am           

Holy Days of Obligation  (as noted in the parish bulletin)

Holy Days include Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1); Assumption of Mary (August 15); All Saints (November 1); Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8); Christmas (December 25).

Funeral Liturgy: Arrangements can be made by calling the parish office.

¨       RECONCILIATION.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on Saturdays from 3:30 pm until about 4:30 pm or by appointment with the priest.  Those who come to confess their sins and receive absolution may speak with the priest either face-to-face or shielded by a screen; the format of the session can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.  A hearing assistance device is available for those whose hearing is impaired.  Communal Reconciliation services are held at least twice each year, during the season of Advent and during Lent.  These services include opportunity for individual confession of sins and absolution.

¨       CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM.  Parents wishing to have a child baptized must be registered members of our parish and active in the practice of their Catholic faith. Parents, siblings of the child to be baptized, and godparents are expected to participate in a program of sacramental preparation, preferably prior to the baby`s birth. Call the parish office to plan a baptism. An adult desiring baptism or membership in the Catholic Church should contact a priest or the RCIA Coordinator at the parish office to begin a program of preparation. [RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]

¨       CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION.  Young people prepare through Faith Formation classes for Confirmation beginning in ninth grade. Parents are also asked to participate in a program of sacramental preparation. Contact the Confirmation Coordinator. For more informaiton please visit the Confirmation Home Page. An adult desiring Confirmation should contact the priest or the Coordinator of RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults].

¨       CELEBRATIOIN OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK.  Anyone desiring to be anointed because of illness, age or impending surgery should contact the priest or the parish office. A communal Anointing of the Sick is scheduled twice a year.

Services for the homebound, the hospitalized or those residing in a care facility:· Anyone who is homebound, either permanently or temporarily, and who would like to receive one of the sacraments should contact the priest or the parish office. On First Fridays, the priest makes home visits, bringing Eucharist to those who have requested it. Under the direction of the priest, lay Eucharistic Ministers may bring Eucharist on a weekly basis.

¨       CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE.  Couples wishing to be married at Saint Pius X Church should contact the pastor or deacon at least six months in advance of a desired wedding date to begin a time of sacramental preparation. As required by Church law, Catholics approaching this sacrament must be baptized and confirmed. At least one of the couple must be a member of the parish and participating in the worship life of the Catholic Church.

¨       CELEBRATION OF HOLY ORDERS.  Any man who is interested in preparing for ordination to the permanent deaconate, and any unmarried man who is interested in preparing for ordination to the priest­hood, should contact the priest or the Archdiocesan Office of Vocations.

Prayer Opportunities

• ADORATION.  Spend an hour with Jesus regularly.  The Blessed Sacrament (the Body of our Lord) is exposed for prolonged Adoration in the Eucharistic Chapel on the north side of the Church, currently during the period from Sunday morning after the 10 am Mass until Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.  With additional adorers, we hope to make our adoration perpetual.  (link to more info.)
• ROSARY.  Five decades of the Rosary are prayed Monday through Friday in the Church, before weekday Mass at about 7:30 am.  All fifteen decades of the Rosary are prayed by Our Lady’s Prayer Group at 7 pm on Mondays, usually in the Church.  The full Rosary is also prayed by the Cenacle Prayer Group following weekday 8 am Mass on Mondays.  During the months of May and October, the Knights of Columbus sponsor a praying of the Rosary Monday through Friday evenings at 7 pm.  All are welcome to join in any of these prayer efforts.
• ROSARY PROCESSION.  A Rosary procession takes place on the first Sunday of May each year at 2 pm, beginning at the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
• STATIONS OF THE CROSS.  The Stations of the Cross are prayed formally every Friday in Lent at 7 pm in the Church.  Private praying of the Stations is encouraged whenever the Church is open.

Several opportunities for group study of the Bible are scheduled every year.  There is usually a Bible Study group which meets at 7:30 Saturday morning during the school year, and the program for the adult faith formation series About Being Catholic often includes study of a Biblical book or theme (See the information sheet on Faith Formation and the parish bulletin).