Sacraments

Baptism is the first of the Sacraments and the beginning of the Christian life. Through Baptism we are freed from sin, born again as children of God and welcomed into the Church, the Body of Christ.

Water is poured over the person in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This outward sign points to the new life God gives us: we die and rise with Christ and receive the grace to begin living as his disciples.

When a child is baptised, parents and godparents also make an important promise to help the child grow in faith, learn to know and love Jesus, and participate in the life of the Church.

To arrange a Baptism or find out more, please contact Fr Jeffrey.

Confirmation completes and strengthens the grace first received in Baptism. Through this Sacrament, the baptised person receives a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit and is strengthened to live and witness to the Catholic faith.

During Confirmation, the bishop — or in some circumstances a priest — lays his hands upon the person and anoints them with Sacred Chrism, saying: “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Confirmation is much more than a ceremony marking the end of religious education. It is a Sacrament of mission. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to follow Christ more courageously, to grow in holiness and to share our faith with others.

To find out more about preparing for Confirmation, please contact Fr Jeffrey.

The Eucharist is the heart of the Catholic faith and the source and summit of the Christian life.

At every Mass, through the words of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Although their outward appearance remains the same, Catholics believe that Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

When we receive Holy Communion, we are therefore not simply receiving a symbol or remembering something Jesus did in the past. We receive Jesus Christ himself, who gives himself to us as spiritual food and draws us into deeper communion with him and with his Church.

For this reason, the celebration of Sunday Mass is at the centre of Catholic life. We gather to hear the Word of God, participate in Christ’s sacrifice and receive him in Holy Communion.

View our Mass times

Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Christ offers us the forgiveness of our sins and restores our friendship with God.

Although Baptism gives us new life in Christ, Christians still struggle with weakness and sin. Jesus therefore entrusted to his Church the ministry of reconciliation, so that when we sincerely repent and confess our sins we can receive his mercy and begin again.

In Confession, we acknowledge our sins before a priest, express our sorrow and receive absolution. Through the ministry of the priest, it is Christ himself who forgives and reconciles us.

If you have not been to Confession for a long time, there is no need to be afraid. Simply tell the priest and he will be happy to guide you through it. God’s mercy is always greater than our sins.

View our Confession times

The Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament through which Christ brings strength, peace and grace to those experiencing serious illness, frailty or difficulties physically, mentally or emotionally.

The priest lays hands upon the sick person, prays over them and anoints them with blessed oil. Through the Sacrament, the person is united more closely with Christ in his suffering and receives the strength of the Holy Spirit to face illness with faith and hope.

Marriage is a lifelong covenant in which a man and a woman freely give themselves to one another in love before God.

Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, Christ gives husband and wife the grace to love one another faithfully and generously throughout their lives. Their marriage becomes a sign of the faithful and fruitful love that Christ has for his Church.

Marriage is therefore more than the wedding day itself. It is a Christian vocation — a calling from God in which husband and wife help one another grow in holiness and, if God blesses them with children, welcome and raise them in love and faith.

Couples wishing to marry in the Catholic Church undertake a period of preparation so that they can reflect seriously on the promises they are preparing to make.

If you are considering Marriage and would like to find out more, please contact Fr Jeffrey.

Holy Orders is the Sacrament through which Christ continues the ministry he entrusted to the Apostles. Through this Sacrament, men are ordained to serve the Church as bishops, priests or deacons.

Bishops are successors of the Apostles and are entrusted with teaching, sanctifying and shepherding the Church. Priests share in the ministry of their bishop, particularly through preaching the Gospel, celebrating the Eucharist, forgiving sins and caring for the people entrusted to them. Deacons are ordained especially for a ministry of service through the Word, the liturgy and works of charity.

A vocation to ordained ministry begins with listening to God. Sometimes that call is clear; at other times it begins simply as a question that continues to return in prayer.

If you have ever wondered whether God might be calling you to the priesthood or diaconate, you do not need to have everything figured out before speaking to someone.

To talk about a possible vocation or find out more about Holy Orders, please contact Fr Jeffrey.