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Sacraments
Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament of a lifetime, the foundation of our life in Christ and His Church through the power of the Holy Spirit, making us God the Father's sons and daughters in Christ. At Baptism, God bestows on the person this filial relationship, freeing the person from all sin and its penalties, and making them a member of the body of Christ.
If you would like to receive the Sacrament of Baptism at Epiphany Cathedral, please approach anyone of our Cathedral priests or deacons, who would then guide you through the steps to be made, including Baptism Class prior to setting a date for the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism, and will inform you on how to make the required Baptism Pre-registration at Parish Office.
First Holy Communion
First Holy Communion is a truly significant event in the life of every recipient. It is usually celebrated during the month of May and around the age of seven or eight, after receiving appropriate catechesis and preparation.
This sacrament marks an important milestone in a child's faith-journey, as well as in the life of adults who have either been recently baptized or received into the Church. Being the child's or adult's first ever reception of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the recipient is brought for the first time into a close personal and intimate communion with our Savior and through Him, into greater communion with the Divine Trinity. Indeed, the salutary effects of the celebration of the Eucharist and the reception of the Body of Christ is such that it is the source and summit of the Christian life.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a sacrament through the faithful recipient receives the gift of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of the hands and anointing with Chrism by the Bishop.
The Sacrament of Confirmation, like Baptism, can only be given once, as it imprints an indelible mark on the soul, the character, to strengthen empowers the recipient to profess, live and become Christ's witnesses in the world. In fact, the Sacrament of Confirmation is the last of the sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism, Confession and Holy Communion.
If you have not yet been confirmed and would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact one of the priests, deacons or our Director of Religious education at 941-484-3505.
Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Confession) is offered several times during the week. We encourage you to a receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation provides us with a tangible way to seek forgiveness from God for our sins. It allows us to acknowledge our wrongdoings, express genuine remorse, and receive God's loving mercy and forgiveness. Through this sacrament we can experience reconciliation with God, restoring our relationship with God if severed through mortal sin, it gives us renewed strength to overcome all sins, and it enlivens us in the life of grace, as well as of service to Christ and to our brothers and sisters in need.
We, therefore, encourage all the faithful to seek this salutary aid which Christ Himself instituted for our salvation and which so much aids our spiritual renewal and growth within the life of grace. Please check the bulletin for confession time.
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing in the Catholic Church. The primary purpose of the Anointing of the Sick is to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical healing to those who are seriously ill, suffering from a chronic condition, facing surgery, experiencing the effects of old age, or approaching the end of their life. It brings comfort, strength, and grace to the sick person in their time of need.
The Anointing of the Sick is one of the sacraments of healing in the Catholic Church, along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). It is a special sacrament intended to bring spiritual and, if it be God's will, physical healing. To request the Anointing of the Sick for yourself or a loved one, please contact the parish office at (941) 484-3505.
Marriage
The Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church is a sacred covenant received by the Church and made between a Catholic groom and bride, or between the bride and groom where, at least, one party is Catholic and other a Baptized Non-Catholic.
Jesus affirmed the sanctity of marriage, elevating it to the dignity of a sacrament during His earthly ministry. The essence of marriage lies in the mutual love and self-giving between spouses, in their openness to life and its love care, and in a relationship that is both exclusive and permanent until death.
With the Sacrament of Marriage, the permanence of the matrimonial union between a man and woman as established by the Creator, is raised to the dignity of indissolubility. This gift of the Holy Spirit aids the spouses in their calling as parents, so that being open to the procreation and education of children, they may fulfill their sacred duties with the irrevocable and salutary assistance of the Holy Spirit for life. Through the sacramental bond, husbands and wives are also strengthened in their mutual love, their fidelity, and in their ability to support one another through life's many challenges and in their call to holiness within marriage and family life.
Those who wish to be married in our parish must complete the Marriage Preparation Program. The Diocese requires a six-month notice. Please contact the Parish Office at (941) 484-3505 for more information.
Holy Orders
“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. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536)
Episcopate
The Bishop receives the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders, which integrates him into the episcopal college and makes him the visible head of the particular Church entrusted to him. As successors of the apostles and members of the college, the bishops share in the apostolic responsibility and mission of the whole Church under the authority of the Pope, successor of St. Peter. (1594)
Presbyterate
Priests are united with the bishops in sacerdotal dignity and at the same time depend on them in the exercise of their pastoral functions; they are called to be the bishops’ prudent co-workers. They form around their bishop the presbyterium which bears responsibility with him for the particular Church. They receive from the bishop the charge of a parish community or a determinate ecclesial office. (1595)
Diaconate
Deacons are ministers ordained for tasks of service of the Church; they do not receive the ministerial priesthood, but ordination confers on them important functions in the ministry of the word, divine worship, pastoral governance, and the service of charity, tasks which they must carry out under the pastoral authority of their bishop. (1596)
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults - OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process by which adults enter the Catholic Church. It involves catechesis, spiritual formation, and sacramental preparation for those seeking Baptism or full communion with the Church.
The OCIA journey typically includes several stages, leading to the reception of the sacraments of initiation: that is, the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, culminating at the Easter vigil or during the Easter Season. It is a transformative journey of faith, welcoming adults into the Catholic community and nurturing their relationship in God.
During these sessions we offer those attending the opportunity to come together in small groups to learn more about our Catholic faith. The sessions focus on the teachings of Jesus. There are separate sessions for children or youth.
You are more than welcome to participate in the process and get involved personally with your own questions, your insights and your faith story; all within a warm and fraternal setting.
310 Sarasota Street
Venice, FL 34285
(941) 484-3505