Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

RCIA stands for “Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.” RCIA is a process or journey through which the Catholic faith, Catholic worship, and Catholic life is explained, reviewed and deepened. These classes are for those who would like to know more about the Catholic faith with the intent of becoming a Catholic and for those who just want to know what the Catholic faith is all about. This includes those who have been away from the Church. Each session will include a presentation, opportunities for questions, discussion, and prayer. The Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are the foundation texts of the program. Between sessions you will be asked to watch videos on FORMED.org including Symbolon, Forgiven, Presence, and Beloved.

RCIA begins September 18, 2022. Classes meet every Sunday from 1:15pm to 3:00 pm. Contact Fr. Josh Salonek at [email protected] for more information.

Baptism 

(Newborn – 6 Years Old)

Parents are encouraged to contact St. John Neumann during their pregnancy or shortly after birth to discuss Baptism Preparation Classes and the actual Baptism. A Baptism Preparation Class is required for parents who are baptizing their first child or who have not baptized within the past 5 years. Classes are held onsite at St. John Neumann approximately once a month. Baptism celebrations are scheduled once or twice a month, typically at 1:30 pm following the Noon Mass. For more information about Baptism, the scheduled dates/times for classes, and to register for classes, please contact Theresa Burdick at 651-209-8972.

(7 years and older)

To learn more about baptizing a child who is 7 years or older, please contact Fr. Josh Salonek at 651-209-8581 or [email protected] to learn more about the Christian Initiation Process for children.

First Confession and First Holy Communion

The First Sacraments program is designed in partnership with parents to prepare children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion for the first time. 
This program is open to all children who fit the following criteria: 
- Baptized and are in second grade or above 
- Attended faith formation at a parish or Catholic school last year 
- Currently attending faith formation at a parish or Catholic school

Program Components 

Weekly at-home curriculum that parents/guardians lead their children through at home. Encounter With Christ curriculum, pacing guide, and weekly support is provided. 

Two in-person retreats that parents attend with their chidlren; one before Reconciliation and on before Communion. Retreats include prayer, talks, crafts, & activities. Childcare is not available, but siblings are welcome. 

We extend a special invitation to our second grade Catholic School families to join us for Family Formation. Our special hands-on class and family home lessons compliment a Catholic School curriculum.

First  Sacraments 2022-2023  Schedule

• First Sacraments Informational Meeting (for parents and child, choose one)
  Tuesday, October 18, 6:00-7:00 pm
  Tuesday, October 25, 6:00-7:00 pm
  (child care unavailable but siblings welcome)

• Baptismal Certificates and Information Record Form Due
  Monday, November 15

First Communion - Information Record for Parish Sacramental Records form here.

• First Reconciliation Retreat (for parents and child, choose one)
  Saturday, January 21, 9:00-11:30 am
  Wednesday, January 25, 6:00-8:30 pm

• Celebration of First Reconciliation
  Saturday, February 4, 10:00 am

• First Communion Retreat (for parents and child, choose one)
  Wednesday, April 12, 6:00-8:30 pm
  Saturday, April 15, 9:00-11:30 am

• First Communion Rehearsals (for parents and child, choose one)
  Tuesday, April 25, 6:00-7:00 pm
  Wednesday, April 26, 6:00-7:00 pm

• Celebration of First Holy Communion
  Saturday, April 29
  Sunday, April 30

First Grade Families:

Since our faith builds, this is an especially important time to begin Family Formation if you have a child in first or second grade. This is because before a child can begin the preparation to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion for the first time, the child must have been enrolled in Family Formation or Catholic School the prior year. Typically these Sacraments are celebrated during second grade when a child is 7 or 8 years old.

Staff Contact, for more information.

Claire Dzurik
Family Formation Ministry Coordinator
[email protected]
Phone: 651-209-8587

Confirmation 

Youth Confirmation (High School)

Faith is a journey, something we grow into with God’s grace and in the company of the Church. Youth Confirmation Preparation gives a full experience of the Catholic faith: worship, community, service, formation.
Our young disciples explore Catholicism from the inside, by the light of the Holy Spirit. They arrive at the sacrament of Confirmation prepared to continue that journey and bear witness to Christ’s saving goodness and love for a lifetime … for eternity.

We’re frequently asked the expectations and time requirements of our preparation process.

• Candidates need to be in some sort of formal formation in faith the year they’re preparing for the sacrament as well as the year before – this could be parochial school or a parish formation program.
• In addition, to that regular formation, the sacramental preparation is about an hour or two per month (obviously the retreat is a bit more than that).

Here’s a sketch of the elements involved:

• Four or five Sunday evening gatherings with candidate and sponsor
  • Parents also attend the first and last gatherings.
• Six monthly reflection pages for candidate and sponsor to work together on.
  • Pages are read by parish leadership, who also pray for the candidates.
  • Two of those pages have a side for candidates to record service, which they do on their own.
  • We don’t require a certain number of “service hours,” just that they find ways to serve.
• One retreat.
  • “Semi-overnight” – meaning, it’s Saturday and half of Sunday, but held right here and they go home for the night.
• A short (20 min.) “interview” in March with one of our priests or a member of parish leadership.
• Rehearsal, then Confirmation – in May.

It’s all designed to give a full experience of the Catholic Church, with a special emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Our prayer is that candidates grow in their relationship with Jesus and the Church and build lasting connections as mature disciples.

Youth preparing for Confirmation must be in at least tenth grade and have been enrolled in any parish formation program or a Catholic school the prior year and the current year.

ALREADY REGISTERED? Download the schedule, monthly “pages,” and all other paperwork located on the bottom of the page.

If you have not had a chance to register for Confirmation preparation, please contact [email protected] or 651-209-8589 as soon as possible.

The staff of St. John Neumann hold our parish’s youth in daily prayer.

Staff Contact: Pat Howard
Director of Religious Education
[email protected]
Direct: 651-209-8587

Marriage

Engaged couples who want to have their wedding at St. John Neumann are invited to contact the parish at least one year before the preferred wedding date. Marriage preparation takes a minimum of one year to give the proper time and energy to the process.

Engaged couples will participate in the following preparatory steps:

• Become a registered parishioner at St. John Neumann.
• Contact a priest at least one year prior to the wedding date.
• Meet with a priest to learn the preparation process and reserve the wedding date.
• Meet with a trained Cana Sponsor couple at least three times.
• Participate in a pre-marriage retreat.
• Attend a wedding workshop and finalize plans with the priest.

Contact Theresa Kraus for more information and scheduling:

651-209-8582

[email protected]

Holy Orders

Men who are considering Holy Orders either as deacons or as priests are invited to reach out to either Fr. Tony O’Neill or Fr. Josh Salonek to find out more.

Fr. Tony O'Neill

[email protected] | Phone: 651-209-8580

Fr. Josh Salonek

[email protected] | Phone: 651-209-8581

Anointing of the Sick

History

From ancient times in the liturgical traditions of both East and West, we have testimonies to the practice of anointing of the sick with blessed oil. Over the centuries the Anointing of the Sick was conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death. Because of this it received the name "Extreme Unction." The sacrament also became known as "the Last Rites". However, the Anointing of the Sick is not only for people who are near death.

Who should receive the Anointing of the Sick?

The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament not only for those who are at the point of death. 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 arrived.

Those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age are invited to receive this sacrament. A prudent or reasonably sure judgement, without scruple, is sufficient for deciding on the seriousness of an illness.

The sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after being anointed and then again falls ill or if during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious.

A sick person may be anointed before surgery whenever a serious illness is the reason for the surgery.

Elderly people may be anointed if they have become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present.

Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by this sacrament.

The sacrament of anointing may be conferred on sick people who, although they have lost consciousness or the use of reason, have as Christian believers at least implicitly asked for it when they were in control of their faculties.

When a priest has been called to attend those who are already dead, he should not administer the sacrament of anointing. Instead, he should pray for them, asking that God forgive their sins and graciously receive them into the kingdom of Heaven.

How is the sacrament celebrated?

A priest is the only proper minister of the Anointing of the Sick. Within the rite of anointing, there are readings from Scripture, prayers for the sick person, a laying on of hands, and anointing of the sick person's forehead and hands with a blessed oil called "the Oil of the Sick". The Oil of the Sick is ordinarily blessed by our archbishop at the Chrism Mass in the Spring.

Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration, whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is very fitting to celebrate it within Mass.

If circumstances suggest it, the celebration of the sacrament can be preceded by the sacrament of Penance and followed by the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the sacrament of Christ's Passover and should be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the "viaticum" for "passing over" to eternal life.

How do we celebrate this sacrament at St. John Neumann?

By reaching out to St. John Neumann, you can request anointing in your home or at the hospital. Fr. Tony and Fr. Josh are most willing to provide you with this sacrament. 

If you have questions about being anointed, about the best time to be anointed, or other concerns about care for those who are sick or dying, please call or email Lori Hannasch. 651-209-8590 / [email protected]

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

(reference: Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1511-1532, and the Rite of Anointing and Viaticum)

Among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness. This sacrament is called the Anointing of the Sick.

Those who are seriously ill need the special help of God's grace in this time of anxiety, lest they be broken in sprit and, under the pressure of temptation, perhaps weakened in their faith.

This is why, through the sacrament of anointing, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, providing them with the strongest means of support.

This sacrament gives the grace of the Holy Spirit to those who are sick. By this grace the whole person is helped and saved, sustained by trust in God, and strengthened against the temptations of the Evil One and against anxiety over death. Thus the sick person is able to bear suffering bravely.

A return to physical health may follow the reception of this sacrament if it will be beneficial to the sick person's salvation.

Sacramental Certificate Request

To receive a certified Sacramental Certificate from St. John Neumann, please complete this form below. In order to protect the confidentiality of these records, certificates will only be issued to the individual named on the certificates, the parent or guardian of a minor child, or a requesting parish or diocese.

Sacramental Certificate Request Form