Founded in 2009 + Reorganized in 2024
Sacraments
We observe the sacraments as follows:
We believe in the seven sacraments traditionally used in the church.
We believe that two sacraments (Dominical Sacraments) only are necessary for salvation: Baptism and Holy Communion. These two sacraments are ordained by Jesus Christ for all Christians.
The other five sacraments (Ecclesiastical Sacraments) are of benefit to many Christians at particular times in their lives. These are Confirmation, Penance and Absolution, Holy Unction or Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony.
The sacraments are an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace from God.
For more information on the sacraments, visit our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page.
Dominical Sacraments
Holy Baptism
Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.
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.
Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism.
The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ.
Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship.
Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom.
Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist is commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. Also called the Holy Mass, Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper
Ecclesiastical Sacraments
Confirmation
Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop, usually during the Easter Season.
For children who have been baptized, confirmation takes place when the child is in the eighth grade or above. Christian Education class must be attended while in the seventh and eighth grade.
Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ.
By the second century, Confirmation was also conferred by anointing with holy oil, which came to be called sacred Chrism.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation of a Penitent, or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, or bishop and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution. Have you ever wanted to know for sure that you were forgiven for a stupid or unkind thing that you’ve done, which still nags at your conscience? Have you ever wanted to discuss the recurring problems of the spiritual life with a priest? Have you ever wanted to have a companion or guide to help you deal with the ups and downs of being a Christian and battling against sin? The sacrament of Confession is given to us as a remedy for all these concerns. When we make a confession to a priest, we tell him the things we have done wrong. We are given advice and counsel, and the priest then pronounces absolution. Absolution is when a priest declares we are forgiven our sins in the name of Jesus himself. Absolution lets us know for sure that that those things on our conscience are put away forever, and that God forgives us. It is clear from the New Testament this practice took place in apostolic times, and many find it today a freeing gift and wonderful source of strength. The clergy at St. Francis is always available to hear confessions either before or after each celebration of the Mass. Please contact us if you would like to find another time more convenient or want to make an appointment for spiritual direction. The clergy are always happy to talk beforehand about how to make a good confession with anyone who has never used this sacrament before.
The Sacrament of Penance must be seen within the context of conversion from sin and a turn to God.
Anointing of the Sick
Sometimes called "Unction of the Sick". Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God’s grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body.
Due to federal privacy laws, hospitals cannot contact churches when a parishioner enters the hospital. Please call our office when you or a member of your family enters – or plans to enter – the hospital. Arrangements for the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick can be made when a person is homebound, in advance of scheduled surgery or when a person is admitted to the hospital.
In addition, arrangements can be made to bring Holy Communion to a person who is unable to come to Mass.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention.
Matrimony
Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which those coming to the church to seek this sacrament enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows.
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the couple, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. For many the celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church.
Anglicans, although not required, are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
Holy Orders
Holy Orders is Ordination. Ordination is the rite in which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops in apostolic succession from Jesus Christ.
The steps below outline the process as practiced in this church.
Vocation
Vocation or a call to ordained life starts with a person hearing or sensing that God is calling him or her to seek a more intimate and deeper relationship with Him?
Discernment
Once a candidate has accepted that they have a vocation, a period, often referred to as Discernment, follows. This is a marked period of time in which the candidate evaluates several aspects of religious life under the guidance of a Spiritual Advisor. Should the candidate so choose, postulancy follows.
Postulancy
EVERY step is taken to ensure that a candidate is well paired with the community they intend to join. A Postulant is a person who has been accepted by the bishop as a candidate for ordination and is in the process of being trained.
Licensed Lay Reader
A licensed lay reader or lay minister is a person authorized by a bishop in the Anglican Communion to lead certain services of worship, to preach, and to carry out pastoral and teaching functions. They are formally trained and admitted to office, but they remain part of the laity, not of the clergy.
Transitional Diaconate
A category of clergy who are ordained deacon in preparation for being ordained priest. Clergy in the transitional diaconate tend to spend up to six months serving as deacons, after which ordination to the priesthood takes place following further review and inquiry.
Permanent Diaconate
A category of clergy who are ordained as deacons and intend to remain as deacons for the rest of their lives, without being further ordained to the priesthood. Such people recognize their vocation to be that of ministry and service, rather than presiding.
Priesthood
A person who is in the process of being ordained. Preparation is done, and the day of ordination has arrived. Before, during, and after the liturgy, the brand new, freshly robed priest is correctly called an “ordained”.