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Sacraments & Worship

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Sacraments & Worship

Sacraments at St. Joseph Parish

“The Sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.  The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament.  They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.”
–Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1131

For general information about the seven Sacraments of the Church, please visit any of the sites below. Specific information about the Sacraments at St. Joseph Parish is presented here.

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated every Sunday at 12:45 pm. Baptism is occasionally celebrated during Mass or at another time by special request. The family must be registered members of St. Joseph Parish or have permission from their pastor.

A Baptism class is offered on the second Thursday of each month. The parents of the child to be baptized will meet with a deacon to discuss the responsibilities of Christian parents, the ceremony, the meaning of the sacrament, the responsibilities of Godparents, and other practical considerations. 

The following must be completed before a Baptism may be scheduled:

  • Attendance at the Baptism class
  • Submission of the completed Baptism form
  • Submission of the government-issues birth certificate
  • Submission of the Sponsor form

Please contact the Parish Office to set a date for a Baptism and sign up for the Baptism class.

Please contact Sr. Rosemary Buttice, ASCJ for information on how to prepare for baptism and other Sacraments for school-age children or adults who have not yet been baptized.

Reconciliation

Second graders enrolled in both Saint Joseph School and the Parish School of Religion are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. First confessions are generally scheduled in January. 
The parish offers many options for confessions on a weekly basis.

Confession Times

  • THURSDAY: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
  • SATURDAY: 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Holy Communion

Second graders enrolled in both Saint Joseph School and the Parish School of Religion are prepared to receive their First Holy Communion which is typically scheduled for the last Saturday in April.

Confirmation

Students are prepared for Confirmation during their eighth grade year. Students in both Saint Joseph School and in the Parish School of Religion come together for a pre-Confirmation retreat and for the Mass, which is celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on either a Saturday or Sunday in April or May.

Holy Orders

For anyone discerning a call to the priesthood, two resources are stlvocations.org and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary,

Marriage

In order to schedule a wedding, ordinarily at least six-nine months’ notice must be given to the parish prior to the wedding. Couples are strongly encouraged to refrain from placing a deposit on a reception hall until they have met with the priest or deacon. Weddings are celebrated on Friday evenings at 5:00, 6:00, or Saturdays at 10:00 am or 1:00 pm. You may not arrive any earlier at the church than 1½ hours before the ceremony begins. Weddings are not scheduled in Lent. Wedding rehearsals usually take place at 5:00 or 6:00 pm on Thursday or Friday evenings prior to the wedding.

Please download this document for complete details regarding preparation for a wedding in St. Joseph Parish.

Annointing the Sick

Please contact one of the parish priests if you need to arrange for an annointing. If it is after business hours, please note that the parish phone system has an option for “sacramental emergencies.” When calling, you will hear the greeting which says:

“Thank you for calling St. Joseph Parish in Imperial, Missouri. Please listen carefully to the following options: If you need to reach a priest for a sacramental emergency, please press 1.”

Upon pressing 1, your call will be forwarded to the priests’ cell phones.