Sacraments are signs: signs of God's action in our lives; signs of God's relationship with his people; signs of grace given to us for our salvation.
Baptism
is the gateway to our life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. By baptism, we are set free from sin and reborn as children of God. We become members of Christ's body, the Church, and are given a share in her mission.
Parents wishing to have children under the age of 7 baptised should complete the online Baptism Form. For those over the age of 7 seeking baptism, please contact the parish office.
Confirmation
strengthens us to take up our role as full members of the Church by witnessing to God's love in our words and deeds. Candidates are enriched with the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit: given wisdom and understanding, right judgement and courage, knowledge and reverence; filled with the spirit of wonder and awe in God's presence. Confirmation is celebrated during Mass, usually by a bishop, who imposes his hands on the candidates' heads and then anoints them with Chrism on their foreheads, saying: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."
In the Diocese of East Anglia, Confirmation is conferred on anyone aged 13 or over after a period of suitable preparation. Adults seeking Confirmation should contact the parish office.
The Eucharist
nourishes us for the rest of our days on earth. As Christians together we make up the mystical Body of Christ; in celebrating the Eucharist we unite ourselves with Jesus Christ our Head. Jesus said: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever.' The Eucharist is described as the source and summit of the Christian life. It is the origin for all our prayer, worship and activity, and it is the goal of everything we do. This is because in celebrating the Eucharist, we enter into communion with Christ himself, whose body and blood, soul and divinity are given to us under the form of bread and wine. Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. On the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus took bread and wine and spoke of them as being now his body and blood: signs of a new and everlasting Covenant between God and people which he was to establish by his death on the cross the following day. Faithful to Jesus' command to 'do this in memory of me', the Church continues to take bread and wine and to speak Christ's words of consecration over them.
Children are prepared to receive their first holy communion annually, following a course that runs from January through until June. Online registration via this website opens in October the previous year with an information session in December.
is when a Christian, aware of the sinfulness of their life, responds to Jesus' call to conversion ('Repent and believe in the Gospel') by seeking God's forgiveness and resolving by the help of His grace to sin no more. The penitent speaks to a priest about particular sins or areas of their life that seem troubled and then receives sacramental absolution. In this beautiful prayer the penitent hears how God has sent the Holy Spirit amongst us for the forgiveness of sins; how through the ministry of the Church they will receive pardon and peace; and how it is Christ himself who wipes away the ugliness of sinfulness with the words: 'I absolve you of your sins'.
Penance
Anointing of the Sick
'Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the presbyters of the Church and let these pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.' (James 5:14-15)
The healing promised in this sacrament can come in many forms: it may indeed be a physical healing, a restoration to full health. It may be a temporary healing, a respite, in which the sick person recovers for a time perhaps to be able to make peace with family and friends. It is always a spiritual healing, in which the sick person is united to the Passion of Jesus Christ himself, given courage and patience in the face of suffering. We trust in God to decide which type of healing is conducive to the salvation of the sick person.
During the celebration, which can be during Mass or more often at a person's home (or in a hospital or institution), the sick person together with the priest and any relatives, friends or carers present, listen first to the Word of God. After this they pray together for those who are sick and those who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick. The priest will lay his hands on the sick person's head in silent prayer and then anoint him/her on the forehead and the palm of each hand.
'Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up.'
Matrimony
The bond of marriage, by which a man and a woman enter into a communion of life and love, a faithful and permanent union open to the gift of children, predates Christianity and is not something unique to the Church. This is why the Church recognises and honours civil marriages between those who are not baptised. However, for two baptised people, marriage takes on a sacramental nature. The grace offered to the couple in this sacrament strengthens and perfects their love for one another. Marriage now raised to the level of a sacrament becomes not only a way to live together and raise children, but a means of salvation.
If you or your fiancé is Catholic and you are seeking to get married in the Catholic Church (whether in Norwich, elsewhere in the UK, or abroad), please contact us and we will guide you through the process. A minimum of sixth months notice is required for all weddings.
Holy Orders
By our Baptism and Confirmation, we all belong to what is called the common priesthood. Each of us is called to holiness of life, to proclaim the gospel, and to love and serve those around us. Some people find themselves called to 'ministry' and to the 'ministerial priesthood'. Bishops are ordained with 'the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders' and are understood to be the successors of the apostles. Priests are ordained to be co-workers with their bishop and to assist him in the apostolic mission of his diocese. Deacons are ordained not to ministerial priesthood as such but 'unto the ministry'. They are to be a sign of Christ the Servant within the Church. They dedicate themselves to works of charity, taking special care for those who are sick or in need.
If you feel called to the diaconate or priesthood ideally you should talk to your parish priest. You can contact the Director of the Permanent Diaconate, Fr Andrew Eburne on 01508 494770 and the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat Cleary, on 01842 752266.