Sacraments

What is a Sacrament?

A sacrament is a sacred ritual by which we enter more fully into the mysteries of our Catholic faith. Every sacrament is a sign of a person's belonging to Jesus Christ and to the family of the Church. It involves sacred words and symbols which have been passed down by generations of Christians and which express the presence of God in a special way. Although the Church acts in the sacrament, in a more fundamental way we believe that it is God who acts in and through these words, these symbols, this priest and this people gathered as one body of Christ. The sacraments use ordinary things (e.g. water, oil, human gestures) to express amazing truths about God's love, power, and forgiveness active in our lives. Sacraments provide the support we need to live out our faith commitment.