Sacraments at Saint Benedict Parish

Catholics believe that the sacraments are, as St. Augustine put it, outward and visible signs of inward and invisible grace. The sacraments are far more than just rituals, or symbols of events that happened long ago; they are a vital source of the help that the Living God gives us in our journey of faith.

The sacraments are at the heart of our Catholic faith. They are intimate encounters with Christ, not drive-through transactions, or something to check off. We are happy to help your family grow deeper with the sacraments at our parish. Our preparation processes are family-centred and run a bit differently than at other parishes. We are looking for families who are part of the Game Plan here at Saint Benedict and ready to commit wholeheartedly to a process of accompaniment, so please be in touch (using the form below) to find out more about what you can expect here.

Most importantly, your family should be attending Mass with us on weekends — we are a faith family! Are you new to the parish? Register as a parishioner at saintbenedict.ca/connect; we would love to connect with you.

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Infant baptism: Please contact us during your pregnancy so that we can complete your preparation before your baby is born. Sessions are in-person over three weekends, and godparents must attend second session in-person as well. (Please note that there are no baptisms during the Lenten season, and baptismal preparation takes a break during the summer months.)

First Reconciliation & Holy Communion (also known as ‘PACT’): Children should be plugged into one of our ministries here for at least one year before beginning sacramental preparation. Register them for SBPkids here. PACT sessions run 2-3 times per year.

Youth Confirmation: Youth should be plugged into one of our ministries at the parish for at least one year before beginning sacramental preparation for Confirmation. Register for The Rise here. Information for Confirmation preparation is shared through The Rise.

Marriage: Please contact us at least one year before your requested date of marriage, whether being married at Saint Benedict Parish or elsewhere. Engaged couples take part in the Alpha program and our yearly marriage preparation weekend. (Newly issued baptismal certificates are required for submission.)

Adults seeking to receive sacraments or to join the Church (OCIA): Rolling enrolment. Participants begin with the Alpha program followed by Sunday afternoon sessions over the Winter/Spring.