The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.

We baptize following the command of Christ:

Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.     

-- Matthew 28:19

Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism:
If you would like to be baptized or have your children baptized, please contact the Parish Center to learn more. 

Confirmation perfects Baptismal grace; it is the sacrament which gives the Holy Spirit in order to root us more deeply in the divine filiation, incorporate us more firmly into Christ, strengthen our bond with the Church, associate us more closely with her mission, and help us bear witness to the Christian faith in words accompanied by deeds.   

-- CCC 1316

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation:
Confirmation is typically received in the 8th grade in the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

If you are an older teen or an adult Catholic who has not been confirmed, we invite you to contact the Parish Center to learn about receiving this sacrament. 

The Mass is our central act of worship, in which the Eucharist is consecrated (changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus).  Mass consists of two main parts: The Liturgy of the Word, in which the people hear the Scriptures read and then broken open in a short sermon, and The Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which we enter into the Paschal Mystery and the Last Supper of Jesus on the night before he died.

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.

-- Luke 22:19

Receiving First Communion:
The Eucharist (or Communion) is typically received for the first time in the second grade.  

If you have an older child or are an adult Catholic who has not received First Communion, we invite you to contact the Parish Center to learn about receiving this sacrament. 

The Sacrament of Penance, also called Confession or Reconciliation, is one of the two sacraments of healing.  This sacrament is for the forgiveness of sins a person commits after Baptism.  The Church receives this power to forgive sins when Jesus says to the apostles (the first bishops), 

Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.     

--John 20:22-23

Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Confessions are offered regularly on Saturday mornings from 9:00 - 9:30 AM.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is typically received for the first time in second grade (before First Communion).  

If you have an older child or are an adult Catholic who has never been to Confession, we invite you to contact the Parish Center to learn about receiving this sacrament. 

Anointing of the Sick is one of the two sacraments of healing.  The grace given in the sacrament is for strength and healing.

Is anyone among you sick?  He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up.  If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

-- James 5:14-15

Contact the Parish Center about receiving this sacrament.

God who created man out of love also calls him to love, the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love.  Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator's eyes.
--CCC 1604

A Christian wedding is a public liturgy of the entire Church.  Marriage is a sacrament that strengthens the man and woman in the life of Christ to be a sign to the world of God's love for his people.  With the grace of Christ, the love of the married couple brings forth fruitfulness for the entire Church.  

Weddings at St. Joseph Garrett
Please contact the Parish Center to inquire about scheduling your wedding and about marriage preparation.

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 degree: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.

--CCC 1536

Learn more about vocations to the diaconate or priesthood.