Sacraments
The sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Church teaches, ‘efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us'
Sacraments
Every visit to the Blessed Sacrament should include an Act of Spiritual Communion, asking Christ to come into our hearts, even when we cannot receive His Body in Holy Communion.
This Act of Love, written by Saint Francis of Assisi, is an act of spiritual communion, and it can be prayed even when we aren’t able to be physically in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Act of Love
I believe thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament, O Jesus.
I love thee and desire thee. Come into my heart. I embrace thee,
O never leave me.
I beseech thee, O Lord Jesus, may the burning and most sweet power of thy love absorb my mind, that I may die through love of thy love, who wast graciously pleased to die through love of my love.
About the sacraments
The sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Church teaches, ‘efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.’
Though not every individual has to receive every sacrament, the Church affirms that, for believers as a whole, the sacraments are necessary for salvation, as the modes of grace divinely instituted by Christ Himself. Likewise, as the sole dispenser of Christ’s sacraments, the Catholic Church itself is spoken of as ‘The universal sacrament of salvation’ containing the individual seven sacraments. Through each of these sacraments, according to the Church, Christ bestows that sacrament’s particular grace, such as incorporation into Christ and the Church, forgiveness of sins, or consecration for a particular service.
The Church teaches that the effect of a sacrament comes ‘ex opere operato’, by the very fact of being administered, regardless of the personal holiness of the minister administering it. However, a recipient’s own lack of proper disposition to receive the grace conveyed can block the effectiveness of the sacrament in that person. The sacraments presuppose faith and through their words and ritual elements, nourish, strengthen and express faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists the sacraments as follows: ‘The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.’
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 return as children of God. We become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in the mission. Baptism is a Sacrament of regeneration through water and the Word.
Baptisms take place at St Teresa’s on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month at 12 noon. Baptisms at St Vincent’s take place on request. The parish office is open on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Please email the Parish Administrator, Debbie Nicholls at bristol.stteresa@cliftondiocese.com for further details and a baptismal application from.
Please be aware that if you do not live in the parish of St Teresa’s or St Vincent’s we require permission from your Parish Priest if you wish your child to be baptised here.
Father James – Parish Priest
First Holy Communion 11th December 2021 - Applications forms now available to complete and submit on the parish website - closing date 4pm Wednesday 13th of October
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 the means of the Eucharist. At the Last Supper on the night Our Saviour was betrayed, he instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross through-out the ages and 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.
Children are prepared to receive Communion through the First Holy Communion and Reconciliation course. Adults are prepared through the RCIA course.
First Holy Communion and First Confession
Children who have been baptised in the Catholic faith and are currently in school class Year 3 and above are invited to prepare for the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and First Confession.
The children learn about the gifts which God has given to the world through creation, Baptism and Bible stories. They will be asked to find out the significance of why things are said and done during Mass, which makes it more meaningful for them. The catechists not only provide a spiritual experience but an enjoyable and memorable time during the children’s preparation for their special day.
Reconciliation
Sin is before all else an offence against God. A rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
Confessions take place at St Teresa’s on a Saturday between 11:30am – 12 noon and at St Vincent’s upon request.
During the seasons of Advent and Lent we have Penitential Mass at either St Teresa’s or St Vincent’s which several priests are present to hear Confessions: details will be in the Parish Newsletter.
Confessions can also be heard by appointment. Please contact Fr James or phone him on 0117 9833938
Father James – Parish Priest
Reconciliation prayer
God the father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Confirmation 23rd November 2021 - Application forms are now available please email the parish office closing date 4pm Thursday 30th of September - please see parish newsletter for more details
The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism on the forehead together with the words “(Name), be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”,.
The consecration of the sacred Chrism is an important action that proceeds the celebration of Confirmation but is in a certain way part of it. It is the Bishop who, in the course of the Chrism Mass of Wednesday of Holy Week, consecrates the sacred Chrism for the whole diocese.
Confirmation for our teenagers usually 13 onwards.
For adults who are baptised Catholics and who wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact the parish priest directly.
For adults who are not baptised or a non-Catholic Christian who wishes to enter the Catholic Church and become a confirmed Catholic please contact Fr James.
Marriage
The matrimonial covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life is by its nature ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. The covenant between Baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a Sacrament.
In many countries the situation may arise of a proposed marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic or a non-Christian. This is something that the couple can discuss with Fr James.
If you are resident in this area but planning to have your wedding elsewhere in the UK or perhaps overseas, then you should also arrange to meet with Fr James in order to discuss this and to begin the necessary paperwork. This should be done at least six months before the proposed wedding date.
There is a church requirement that the couple must attend a 1 day Marriage course run by Marriage Care. More information available from Fr James.
Father James – Parish Priest
Sacrament of the sick
The Church believes and confesses that among the seven Sacraments there is one specially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness: the Anointing of the Sick. The Anointing of the Sick is not a Sacrament only for those who are at the point of death. Hence as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for them to receive this Sacrament has certainly already arrived.
If a sick person who received this Anointing recovers their health they can in the case of another later illness receive this Sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious this Sacrament may be repeated. It is also fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.
If you or a member of your family would like to receive the Sacrament of the Sick please contact Fr James or phone 0117 9833938
.