Sacramental Life

This note describes how the sacraments are celebrated and administered at Saint Augustine's Church. They include Holy Baptism, Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Confession or the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Last Rites and Ministry at the Time of Death, The Burial of the Dead, Blessings, Pastoral Counsel

Holy Baptism

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is normally administered three Sundays a year on the Great Baptismal Days: the Sunday after All Saints Day (November 1); the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany); and the Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday), or at the Great Vigil of Easter.

Holy Baptism may be arranged at other times under some circumstances.

Except in an emergency, Baptism is not administered during the seasons of Advent or Lent.

Each candidate for Holy Baptism is presented by one or more godparents, who must be baptized and practicing Christians. The choice of sponsors is subject to approval by the priest.

There is no charge for Baptism at Saint Augustine’s. However, many families wish to make some offering in thanksgiving for the Baptism.

Confirmation

Baptism is the Sacrament by which we are reborn in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. Confirmation or the apostolic laying-on-of-hands is administered by the bishop of the diocese of Fond du Lac. Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of one’s baptismal vows are rites in which adults may make a public affirmation of their baptismal promises.

Please consult with the Rector on the appropriate age for confirmation.

Those already confirmed by a bishop in the apostolic succession – including individuals confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church or chrismated in the Eastern Orthodox Church – are not confirmed again but are formally received into the Episcopal Church by the bishop during the Confirmation service.

Holy Matrimony

Weddings at Saint Augustine’s are normally performed for parishioners and members of their immediate families.

All couples contemplating marriage are required to meet with the priest for at least three sessions of pre-marital instruction on the Church’s teaching concerning marriage and family life. Additional sessions may be required at the priest’s discretion. By canon law, the priest must be satisfied that the couple intends and is able to undertake a Christian marriage before he consents to conduct the wedding.

Divorced persons seeking to remarry while their former spouse is still alive are required to undergo additional counseling with the priest. The permission of the bishop must be obtained for remarriage in church.

All weddings take place in the church using the authorized liturgy in The Book of Common Prayer.

Photographers must meet with the priest before the day of the service..

Couples planning a wedding should not make announcements, mail invitations, or schedule the reception until the priest has agreed to conduct the service on the anticipated date.

Weddings may not be scheduled for Sundays, or during the seasons of Advent and Lent.

There is no charge for weddings at Saint Augustine’s. However, fees are payable to the organist. Many couples also wish to make some additional offering to the church in thanksgiving.

Confession or the Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available on the first Saturday of the month, on the day before the major feasts of the Church, by appointment or upon request.

Confessions are normally heard in the confessional in the church, but may be heard in other private locations as well.

The Anglican standard concerning confession is “All may; some should; none must.” It is the long standing teaching of the Church that if any serious sin is bothering your conscience, you should definitely make your confession to a priest and receive absolution before receiving Holy Communion. Also, many find the discipline of regular confession an immense comfort and aid to spiritual growth.

Please consult the priest for guidance on how to prepare for and make your confession.

Anointing of the Sick

Please ensure that the priest is notified immediately if you are taken to hospital or are otherwise seriously ill or injured.

Please arrange for another person to call the priest since the hospital will not do so until considerable time has passed. It is very important to remember that Saint Mary’s Hospital will not contact a priest until the next business day and then only if you request that they do so That means if a person enters the hospital on a Friday the priest will not be contacted until Monday or even Tuesday.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, also known as Holy Unction, is available by appointment or upon request. It is normally also administered after the Holy Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month at a Public Service of Healing.

Last Rites and Ministry at the Time of Death

When a parishioner is near death, the priest should be notified immediately so that the Last Rites may be administered. Calling “too soon” is always preferable to calling too late.

Please also notify the priest at the time of death so that the “Ministration at the Time of Death” may be read

Calls for these purposes can and should be made at any time of the day or night.

The Burial of the Dead

All church members are strongly encouraged to record their wishes concerning their funeral service and file them with the parish office, as surviving family members are often unfamiliar with Anglican burial customs.

As soon as possible after the death, the priest will meet with the next of kin to plan the details of the funeral service. The funeral should not be scheduled until after this meeting.

The funeral service is normally held in the church with the body or cremated remains present. A Requiem Mass is the appropriate service for one who was a communicant member of the Church.

Funerals and memorial services may be scheduled for any time of the week, except Sundays or the afternoons before Christmas Day and Easter.

If the family wishes, a vigil may be held on the evening before the funeral at a funeral home or at church. Prayers for the repose of the soul of the person who has died and for those who mourn will be offered by the priest.

The form of the service will be the authorized liturgy found in The Book of Common Prayer. Only readings from Holy Scripture are permitted. Hymns are restricted to those in the Episcopal Church’s authorized hymnals.

The priest or officiating priest will give a brief homily during the service. A homily applies the readings from Holy Scripture to the lives of the congregation. “Eulogies” are not part of the Anglican tradition. However, by prior arrangement with the priest, personal reflections may be offered at an appropriate point in the service.

Excessive floral displays are discouraged. Instead of sending flowers to the church, it is appropriate to make a donation to the church or to charity in memory of the deceased.

There is no charge for funerals at Saint Augustine’s.

The family may arrange with the Episcopal Church Women of Saint Augustine’s for refreshments or for a lunch. It is asked that, in the case of a meal, the family pay for the cost of the entree.

Blessings

The priest is normally available to bless rosaries, pictures, statues, and other holy objects upon request following daily and Sunday services. New automobiles, other vehicles and the other tools of daily life can also appropriately be blessed by a priest.

If you move into a new home, it is particularly appropriate to ask the priest to visit and do a house blessing. It is also very appropriate to arrange for house blessings after the Epiphany, January 6, or after Easter.

Pastoral Counseling

If you are experiencing personal problems of any kind, or if you are having doubts and questions concerning your faith, please do not hesitate to call the priest for an appointment. He is not a therapist, but he is always available as a spiritual father and friend to offer whatever assistance he can.