The Catholic Church celebrates 7 Sacraments or “signs of that which is sacred”. These are ceremonies or occurrences that point the Catholic to what is important and sacred in our lives. These moments also offer opportunities to experience, in a very special way, God’s grace and presence in our lives. Whether you are new to the Sacraments, have been away from them for some period of time, or simply want to learn more, please click on the links below to read more about each special Sacrament and how you can experience them here at Our Lady of the Lake.
At OLL, Baptisms are performed either during the Mass or after specific Masses. If the family chooses the baptism to occur during the Mass, they may choose any of the 3 weekend Mass times with proper arrangements. If the family prefers the baptism to be performed outside of Mass, they may choose it to occur after a 5pm Saturday Mass or after a 10:30am Sunday Mass. Pleaase read below for more guidelines on baptisms…
If you would like to have your child baptized at OLL, please arrange for a preparation session before the baptism is scheduled. Parents should be registered and active participants in parish life. Contact Colin to set up a meeting.
For baptismal information or to schedule a baptism and to sign up for the baptism preparation meeting, please contact Colin Faust, at 952-472-8210
The Sunday Eucharist (Sunday Mass) is the high point of our worship as a parish.
We celebrate the Eucharist each time we come to Mass.
The third of the three sacraments of initiation, the sacrament of the Eucharist is the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood and brings to completion the Christian process of initiation. In this sacrament we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could remember him in a special way. Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. When we receive Communion, we believe that we receive the person of Jesus into our very beings. Therefore the Eucharist is the source of great graces that sanctify us and help us grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Through receiving him we become one with him, and we become one with each other. As a community we become ‘the body of Christ’. and we are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.
Because the Eucharist is our great sign of unity as a community, one must be a Catholic to receive the Eucharist. To learn more about becoming Catholic click here.
The doctrine of the Holy Eucharist consist of that of the Eucharist sacrifice, the sacrificial meal, and the sacrificial food, or to express it otherwise, it consists of the doctrine of the Mass, of Communion, and of the Real Presence. There is no presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament that is not meant first and foremost as food for the faithful people, and there is no sacramental union with Christ in Holy Communion that is not to be thought of as a sacrificial meal:
‘For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he comes’ (1 Cor. 11:26).
The Eucharistic meal can only be prepared in the sacrifice of the Mass.
Children
Catholic children usually make their first Eucharist (First Communion) at age 7. Preparation for 1st Communion and 1st Reconciliation will begin for all second graders enrolled in OLL school and Faith Formation in October. If your child is older than 2nd grade and has not yet received these sacraments, please contact Kathy Hejna.
Adolescents/Adults
When an adult is baptised, he or she is confirmed and makes their First Communion in the same ceremony as their baptism at the Easter Vigil. Their preparation for this is usually through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or a similar process. For more information please contact Carla LaBore.
Confessions
Fr. Peter will be available Tuesday, 5:30pm to 6:20pm and Saturday 3:45pm to 4:45pm.
Are you seeking to recover your friendship with God? Has it been a while since your last confession? No matter how long it has been or what your questions may be, we invite you to join us on a journey to rediscover the Sacrament of Penance.
Confessions can also be scheduled at other times by making an appointment. To do so please call the church office at 952-472-8200.
To arrange to receive an Anointing for yourself or for a loved one, please call the Church Office at 952-472-8200.
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. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention (cf. Rite of Anointing, Introduction, nos. 8-10).For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God’s values.
Couples preparing for marriage at OLL should be in touch with our Pastor at least eight months before they plan to marry.To confirm a wedding, please contact the church office at 952-472-8200.
Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders — as a deacon, priest or bishop — are consecrated in Christ’s name “to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.”
Find more information regarding discerning vocations.
For further information about Vocations to the priesthood and diaconate to learn more.