The sacrament of Baptism initiates one into God's family and into the parish family.  It is intended to be a community event, whether it is celebrated within Mass, or as a separate ceremony.

 

Arrangements should be made for the Baptism at least two weeks in advance.  Parents must make an appointment to visit the parish office for instructions on Baptism.  The godparents are also invited.

 

St. Angela Merici has a program to prepare parents and godparents for the Sacrament of Baptism, utilizing members of a Baptism Planning Team in cooperation with the pastor.  This team is made up of members of the parish who are already parents.  They work with the new parents to reach a fuller and more meaningful understanding of this sacrament, and lead a discussion reviewing the theology of baptism.  They also assist the new parents in offering suggestions for fuller participation in this sacrament.

 

Godparents (sponsors) must be practicing members of the Catholic Church, 16 years of age or over, canonically free and mature enough to assume this responsibility.  They must have received the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation and, if not members of St. Angela, bring a certificate from their pastor, stating that they are practicing Catholics.

 

If a godparent cannot be present in person, he/she may appoint another qualified person to act as proxy.  This name must be submitted in writing to the pastor.  The same qualifications apply. 

 

According to the Directory for Ecumenism, a member of a separated Oriental Church (Orthodox) may act as a sponsor together with a Catholic godparent, as long as the godparent meets the requirements of a sponsor.  Although it is not permissible for other separated Christians to act as sponsors for the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, they may be admitted as Christian Witnesses together with a Catholic godparent.

 

The priest accepts no offering for himself.  Any donation is made to the support of the parish.

 

The rite of Reconciliation (Penance) is usually celebrated when children reach the second grade.  Baptism must precede this sacrament.  Two years of instruction are required.

Youth:  Candidates for confirmation must have reached the eighth grade and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Eucharist.

 

Candidates must complete two consecutive years of religious instruction immediately prior to the time of Confirmation.  The Bishop usually visits the parish annually or arranges a co-operative visit with nearby parishes to administer the sacrament.

 

Adult:  Candidates enter a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.  They are to contact the parish office for an appointment.

 

Sponsors:  It is desirable that the sponsor be the godparent at Baptism.  The sponsor must be spiritually qualified and confirmed.  Sponsors who are not members of St. Angela should provide a statement of practical catholicity from their pastors.

 

Confirmation Name:  The name used at Confirmation may be the name received at Baptism or another saint's name.

Diocesan regulations require that couples make arrangements for weddings at least six months in advance. 

 

1.  Instructions on marriage for the couple are required by the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  These may be taken in Pittsburgh, in McKeesport or at St. Angela.  Engaged Encounter Weekends are an enjoyable and fruiful way to fulfill this requirement. 

2.  Copies of Baptismal certificates dated within the last six months are required.

3.  Papers are filed and interviews held by appointment at the parish office.

 

Engaged persons who come from different faith backgrounds should meet once more with the priest to discuss the particular sensitivity each partner must have to the other's faith development and practice.  At this time, the Catholic partner is specifically asked to verify his or her intention to share the Catholic faith with his or her children.

 

Marriage of Minors:  If one or both of the parties has not reached the age of 18 by the wedding date, the priest is required to seek the insights of others for their opinions.  He will meet with both sets of parents and/or guardians and will refer the young couple to an Evaluator who will meet with them and offer an assessment.  When the priest has all of this information, he will then decide whether the couple is ready for marriage.

 

Pre-Marital Pregnancy:  It used to be common thinking that pre-marital pregnancy was justification enough for a couple to enter into marriage, but the divorce rate among such couples is extremely high.  Therefore, pregnancy is not to be the motivating factor for marriage.  The priest may want to meet with both sets of parents or seek the input of an Evaluator.  Pregnancy does not remove the requirement of participation in a pre-marriage program of some type.

 

The priest may determine, in any case, not just in the case of the special circumstances discussed above, that the marriage should be delayed.  His decision may be based on his detection, in either of the engaged parties, a lack of readiness for marriage, a lack of appreciation for the spiritual and sacramental aspects of marriage, non-practice of the faith, cohabitation, a decision to permanently prevent pregnancy or refusal to take part in a pre-marriage program, evaluation or counseling.

 

The wedding date cannot be reserved until the couple meets with the priest at least six months before the proposed marriage.  Customarily, couples marry in the parish of the bride, but if only one is Catholic, the sacrament should be administered in the parish of the Catholic party.

 

Before a wedding date can be firmly established, the priest will want to interview the engaged parties to assist them in making a mature judgment concerning their marriage.  He will discuss spiritual, emotional, psychological, financial and family factors, all of which play a part in the decision to marry.  The priest will assess the couple's readiness to marry and will recommend that they proceed to take part in a pre-marriage program of instruction, such as one of those discussed above in the section on Diocesan regulations regarding marriage.  If the priest feels that one or both of the parties is not prepared for the sacrament, he will recommend that the marriage be delayed. 

 

Some couples may already have participated in some type of marriage ceremony but have not received the sacrament of Matrimony, in which case a period of assessment or completion of a pre-marriage program may still be required before they can received the sacrament.

 

1.  The couple plans the ceremony with the priest.

2.  Music arrangements are made with the parish Music Minister.

3.  The offering at weddings, which should be in keeping with the style of the ceremony planned, is made to the parish treasury, not to the officiating minister.

 

 

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered on the request of the family or person.  Please call the parish office.

 

Hospital visits are made weekly to McKeesport Hospital.  Please assist us by identifying your religion and parish to the hospital.  If the person is placed in another hospital, we depend upon notification by the family or person to the rectory.  Cards for this purpose are found in the church. 

 

Visits to the sick and homebound are arranges through the parish office, and are done by the priests and the Ladies of Charity.  Members of the parish who request it may arrange to receive Holy Eucharist more frequently than the monthly first Friday calls.

 

A communal Anointing of the Sick is usually held at St. Angela Merici in the spring of each year.  It consists of a Mass and the Sacrament of the Anointing.

 

When a death occurs, the family is asked to notify the pastor immediately.  Funeral arrangements are to be made at the parish office concerning the time of the wake service, the Funeral Mass and the burial.

 

At the funeral, the family gathers behind the casket inside the church lobby.  The priest then leads the procession down the aisle.  The same procedure is used when leaving the church.

 

Choices of reading and music at the Funeral Mass should be done in consultation with the priest.  The offering made at funerals goes to the parish treasury.  The priest accepts no stipend.  Checks should be made out to St. Angela Merici Parish. 

 

In arranging memorials for the deceased, families are urged to request donations for the Building Fund or Angel Fund.  A memorial plaque may be arranged.  There are monthly prayers for all those enrolled.