Sacraments at Our Parish

A full liturgical life

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church holds that the sacraments are powers that come forth from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving, and they are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church.

In addition to the Holy Eucharist at the weekly Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, our parish offers the following sacraments to Catholics living in our home diocese of Limburg as well as in the neighboring dioceses of Mainz and Fulda. For further information on any scheduling and paperwork needed, please contact the Parish Office at tel. (069) 2193 6500 or international(a)parish-frankfurt.de. (When emailing, replace the (a) with the usual @ symbol).

Baptism

The term "baptism" comes from the Greek baptizein, meaning to "plunge" or "immerse;" "the 'plunge' into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as 'a new creature.'" (From the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Parents wishing to have their children baptized must give at least 4 weeks notice to prepare for the Sacrament, including processing of the necessary documents and scheduling. (For adults wishing to be baptized, please see the RCIA section below).
 

Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called the Sacrament of Penance, Confession or Conversion) "imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles" and "makes sacramentally present Jesus's call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin." (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 

Father Enke or the presiding priest is available to hear Confession before most weekend Masses at each of the three church locations, or at his office by appointment. Please contact him through the parish office at tel. (069) 2193 6500 or at email c.enke(a)parish-frankfurt.de.

Note that during the holy periods of Lent and Advent, the parish usually holds additional hours or a special weekday evening service to provide an extra opportunity for Reconciliation. Please watch the bulletin or check this site or the parish Facebook page for those schedules.

First Holy Communion

Children who are least 8 years old by about May of each year are eligible for First Holy Communion under diocese rules, with classes usually starting the previous September or October. Parents are welcome to contact the Parish Office to find about enrolling children in course for the 2022-23 academic year.

Confirmation

"Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ... For 'by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Every two years, our parish offers a Confirmation preparation course for parish teens who are at least 16 years old as of May 2022. The next Confirmation will take place in 2024, and registration for that course will begin in August 2023. Please check this website or the parish bulletin around that time for more details. You can also contact the Parish Office if you have any questions regarding the course. (Adults wishing to receive confirmation do so through the RCIA program; see below.)

Matrimony

 "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Our parishioners planning on getting married in the Church can usually take part in a group Pre-Cana marriage preparation course offered annually in the spring, though other timing can be arranged. Couples are strongly encouraged to contact the Parish Office immediately upon their engagement to allow enough time to process paperwork, especially if the wedding will take place in another country, as well as organize the Pre-Cana program. 

RCIA

Are you interested in becoming Catholic or in simply learning more about the Catholic faith and refreshing your knowledge? The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) course is usually offered starting in the autumn and concludes with the candidates' confirmation into the Roman Catholic Church -- including baptism, if needed -- during the Easter Vigil service, though other timing for the course is possible. Further information is available through the Parish Office (contact details above).

Anointing of the Sick

"The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of the Sick. This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

While this sacrament is particularly known as being provided during critical illness, parishioners are welcome to request it as they deal with any medical procedure, hospitalization or chronic condition. In addition to the Parish Office email and phone, parishioners may contact Father Enke at c.enke(a)parish-frankfurt.de or via mobile phone (0178) 342 23 42. (When emailing, replace the (a) with the standard @ symbol.)