Call our parish for further details on how to prepare for the sacraments of initiation

The Sacrament of Baptism
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons (and daughters) of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission…"—Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1213)

Requirements for Parents

• At least one parent must be a practicing Catholic who is committed to raising the child in the Catholic faith. A parent who is not Catholic has to express a willingness to help and create a home where a child will receive an environment to grow in faith as taught by the Catholic Church.
• Attendance for one hour A baptismal formation session is required before the child is baptized, unless this is your second child and you attended a formation session at St. Joan of Arc when your first child was baptized.
•  The family asking for their child to be baptized at St. Joan of Arc has to be a registered member of our faith community. If you are not registered you may register at the rectory office 508-852 3232.
• Parents must present a Birth certificate of their child.
• Sponsors must present a Confirmation certificate.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eurcharist
Material food first changes into the one who eats it, and then, as a consequence, restores to him lost strength and increases his vitality. Spiritual food, on the other hand, changes the person who eats it into itself. Thus the effect proper to this Sacrament is the conversion of a man into Christ, so that he may no longer live, but Christ lives in him; consequently, it has the double effect of restoring the spiritual strength he had lost by his sins and defects, and of increasing the strength of his virtues.” St. Thomas, Commentary on Book IV of the Sentences, d.12, q.2, a.11

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 & 1323

The Sacrament of Confirmation
“And while staying with them Jesus charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the  promise of the Father, which, He said, ‘You heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit'”—(Acts 1:4-5).

Even though the apostles had lived with Jesus for three years, been witnesses to His miracles, and seen Him rise from the dead, it was not until they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that they were filled with courage to proclaim the Gospel to those around them. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the reception of that same Spirit, completing our initiation and sending us out into the community to tell others of the Risen Lord.

For More Information on the Confirmation program at St. Joan of Arc Parish, please Contact the Parish Office at 508-852-3232, or contact the Office of Youth Ministry of our Parish.