Baptism is our proof and our confirmation of our Creative God: a God who in His love and longing to be one with us, reaches out and invites us to join with Him in being creative.  Physically, he enables us to procreate; to bear new life as a continual development and sign of human unity. Spiritually, too, he enables us to procreate, to bear new life in faith as a result of our unity in faith with him and with one another.

Baptism cleanses us from original sin with which we are all born and, in the baptism of adults, of every sin committed prior to baptism.  Water is also a sign of new life.  The newly-baptised is given the new life of the Holy Spirit which unites the person in the life of the Trinity.  We call this new life “sanctifying grace”.

The Christian name given at the “Christening” is a symbol of the truth that the newly-baptised person belongs to Christ and is made like him.

The Baptism of adults

A baby is brought to baptism in the Church by the faith of his or her parents.  This is clearly not so for adults who, after hearing about Jesus Christ, are moved by the Holy Spirit within them consciously and freely to seek baptism.

The growth of the Church in the first centuries came very largely through the baptism of adults.  In more recent years the Church has returned to many of the ceremonies of those first centuries for welcoming people who seek baptism into the Church.  The whole period of deepening conversion and the ceremonies that accompany it have been brought together in what the Church calls The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA.

The RCIA is a reminder of a truth that has always been recognized by the Christian community: to be a Christian it isn’t enough to walk off the street and into a church and ask a priest for baptism. There is no such thing as an “overnight conversion.”.

Holy Cross Parish runs a Baptismal Programme for parents who are planning to have an infant or young child baptised.  The programme consists of evening meetings facilitated by a couple from the Parish, at their residence.  Couples are encouraged to attend the programme together, and to bring their child along, if necessary.  There are a number of non-Catholics who attend.

The programme has three objectives.  It is meant to help parents:

• Understand the significance and meaning of baptism in the Catholic Church
• Be familiar with the baptism rite and understand the significance of its different aspects
• Appreciate their commitment and responsibilities in bringing their children up in the faith

Material for the programme is based primarily on:

• Our Child’s Baptism – a programme for Parents and Godparents” a film by Veritas Video from Ireland
• Beloved Sons and Daughters – Preparation for Baptism”, a book by Judith Evans from the diocese of Hamilton
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The programme is conducted every month on one weeknight, usually a Friday in the Friary (14 Lavelle Road, Henderson).  The facilitators have found this arrangement maintains the group size at four to five couples and gives the opportunity for more parishioners to attend the programme.  The facilitators have ensured however that the programme material is not compromised or diluted in any way, since participants have found the programme informative and helpful in making their child’s baptism more meaningful.

For more information about the programme or if you are wishing to attend, please contact the Parish Office on (09) 838 1558 during office hours.

Reconciliation, which is also known as Confession, is the healing and reconciling action of the Holy Spirit.  Through this sacrament, we are renewed and recommitted to being open to the action of the Spirit in our lives in helping us to become more fully human and so be effective in reflecting Christ and His words of life and love to others.  In this way we strengthen Christ’s Body on earth, His community, which in turn can continue the healing, saving, loving work of Jesus Christ.  (cf Luke 7:39-48)

When we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we shouldn’t concentrate too greatly on what we say to the priest.  The Church reminds us that “the most important act of the penitent is contrition which is heartfelt sorrow along with the intention of sinning no more”.  In other words, “sorrow” in our heart is far more important than the way we express our sorrow.  Nothing brings home to us more forcefully the damage done to ourselves and others by sin than our reflection on Christ’s own all-embracing, generous love in this Sacrament.

Holy Cross Parish runs Sacramental Programme lessons once a year.  This programme covers a study of First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion for children aged between 7 ½ and 15 years old who have been baptised Catholic.

The lessons are held on Sunday mornings at Holy Cross Catholic School.  This programme is run by the Parish not the School, so keep an eye on the Parish newsletter as to when the next programme begins.

Parents are encouraged to attend each lesson with their child to help the children understand the lessons and help them with their homework sheets.

Confirmation is a continuance of what has begun at our baptism; a continuance of the developing awareness and reality of faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. At our baptism, faith was conceived; we became part of Christ’s body; part of his Church.  The Holy Spirit ensures that we are a brother or sister of Christ.  Our confirmation is the gentle unfolding of what our baptism means.

When we celebrate confirmation, we celebrate the fact that we are being transformed, and that transformation will continue to take place from the day we are confirmed until we are completely one with God.  We are on a journey to wholeness, peace and perfecting love.

Holy Cross Parish runs Sacramental Programme lessons once a year.  This programme covers a study of First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion for children aged between 7 ½ and 15 years old who have been baptised Catholic.

Parents are encouraged to attend each lesson with their child to help the children understand the lessons and help them with their homework sheets.

The lessons are held on Sunday mornings at Holy Cross Catholic School.

The Bishop celebrates the mass with the Parish Priest assisting him.

This programme is run by the Parish not the School, so keep an eye on the Parish newsletter as to when the next programme begins.

Eucharist means Thanksgiving.  The eating of the bread and wine, which are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to be the food of eternal life, is the sign of our union with Christ.

In the Eucharist, we are united with Christ through the power of the Spirit and so united with the risen Christ’s worship of his Father. “Nourished by his body and blood and filled with His Holy Spirit, we become one body, one Spirit in Christ” and so are able to offer glory and honour to the Almighty Father.

Holy Cross Parish runs Sacramental Programme lessons once a year.  This programme covers a study of First Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion for children aged between 7 ½ and 15 years old who have been baptised Catholic.

The lessons are held on Sunday mornings at 10am – 11am in Holy Cross Catholic School.  This programme is run by the Parish not the School, so keep an eye on the Parish newsletter as to when the next programme starts.

Parents are encouraged to attend each lesson with their child to help the children understand the lessons and help them with their homework sheets.

Marriage – a sacrament with a difference.  The Sacrament of Marriage is different from the other six sacraments.  Unlike the others, marriage is recognised as an essential part of secular society.  Get rid of all religion, in other words, and marriage still makes sense.

Marriage to someone who isn’t Catholic

Many Catholics marry someone who belongs to a different Church or who has no religious beliefs.  It’s important that such couples take time to understand one another’s point of view on all religious and domestic matters.  Each partner is called to respect the others’ point of view and must allow them the freedom to practise their faith.  It’s also important that the partner who isn’t a Catholic knows and understands the obligations the Catholic has to keep their own faith and to bring up any child they might have in that faith.  It’s important too, that the Catholic understands and respects the religious views of their partner with sincere reverence.

You need to meet the Parish Priest or the Officiating Priest at least six months before the wedding date, to get the requirements you need to begin the process of your wedding.

Some requirements needed are:

1. Baptismal Certificate
2. Confirmation Certificate if available
3. Attend a Pre-Marriage Education Programme – contact the Pompallier Diocesan Centre on (09) 360 3025 or via email or you can check out the website www.catholicmarriage.org.nz

The Sacrament of Holy Orders confers the character of Jesus Christ in a special way.  The ministerial priesthood is essentially different from the priesthood enjoyed by all those who are baptised, for the priest is empowered to “consecrate, offer and administer the Body of Christ” for the good of the Church and of the world.

The priest is to gather and mould his community so that everyone may live and work in the communion of love which is the Church. The celibacy of priests is a sign which enables them to more freely devote themselves to the service of God and men and women.

The priest is ordained, then, to act in the person of Jesus Christ.  The fullness of the ministerial priesthood belongs to the Bishop, who is assisted by priests and deacons.

Holy Cross Parish is served by the Capuchin Community.

Extreme Unction

The Anointing of the Sick, is the ultimate healing sacrament, available whenever our health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age.  God is always with us in our illness, loving us into health of mind, body and soul.  Through our faith we know that we will have life forever.

Some people have the idea that this sacrament is rather like the sign of death or approaching death – it is only offered when all hope is lost.  In fact the reverse is true; it is a sign of life, the eternal life promised by Jesus Christ, here and now as well as in the future.

This Sacrament may be celebrated at the Church either during a celebration of the Eucharist or at a service for those who are sick. More frequently, it is celebrated at home, during a House mass or in a hospital or nursing home.

Holy Cross Parish celebrates the Sacrament of the Sick every third Tuesday of the month in the Church, 11.30am.  In some months, wherein the Caring Community runs a luncheon for senior parishioners, it is sometimes celebrated at that time.  This is often advertised in the weekly Parish Bulletin.