The sacrament of Baptism is the sacrament that washes us free from Original Sin, and by which we become the adopted sons and daughters of God and members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. Baptism is the gateway to all the other sacraments. 

Infant Baptism

The Church says it is of such importance that children should be baptized in the first weeks after birth.

Baptisms for infants are celebrated on the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm. (In July and August, baptisms are celebrated at 12:30 pm.) Please call the rectory and speak with the parish secretary to arrange for a Baptism. A required Baptism preparation class for parents meets on the first Monday of the month at 8:00 pm in the lower church.

To have your child baptized at St. Mary's, parents must be registered members of the parish, or have a connection with the parish (for example, having been baptized or married here).

Requirements of Sponsors

There may be ONE or TWO sponsors. When there are TWO sponsors, one is male (godfather) and the other female (godmother). One sponsor must be Catholic.

Requirements for the Catholic

• at least sixteen years old and
• baptized and confirmed and received the Eucharist
• living an upright life
• no penalties (e.g., left the Church, etc.). Therefore, a Catholic who has left the Catholic Church cannot be a sponsor, and cannot be a “Christian witness” if they join another Christian communion.
• cannot be either parent
• Ageexception:
  • The pastor or the minister of baptism may admit a Catholic who is younger than sixteen.
  • In this case, the Catholic who is younger than 16 must meet requirements above (i.e., full initiation, etc.).
• “Christian Witness”
  • baptized non-Catholic with Catholic sponsor
  • The other sponsor may be a baptized Christian of a different faith. This person is a “Christian witness” (and not a “sponsor”).
  • The other witness with a Catholic sponsor may never be non-baptized. For example, Jewish or Muslim godparents are not permitted by universal church law.

Requirements for the Christian Witness:

• at least sixteen years old
• a validly baptized Christian
• living an upright life
• cannot be either parent
• cannot be a Catholic who has left the Church.
• The notation Christian witness is placed under the name of the non-Catholic Christian witness in the baptismal register.
• From the 1983 Code of Canon Law Canon 874, 1: To be admitted to the role of sponsors, a person must:
  • be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the one who takes their place or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing this role.
  • have completed their sixteenth year, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause;
  • be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken;
  • not be bound by a canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
  • not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized.

On the evening of His resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to His apostles and gave them the power to forgive all human sins. Breathing upon them, He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you retain anyone's sins, they are retained." [John 20:22-23] It is Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who wants us to meet Him in this beautiful Sacrament so that He can forgive us all our sins through His priest.

Reconciliation Schedule  Examination of Conscience (PDF)

How to go to Confession

• Spend a few moments quietly in church examining your conscience, and asking God to make you aware of your sins since the last time you went to confession.

• You always have the option to kneel behind the screen, or sit in the chair face to face with the priest.

• The priest will greet you and make the sign of the cross. You should say: "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been (state how long) since my last confession. These are my sins..."

• Tell your sins simply and honestly to the priest.

• Do not omit any sins, especially serious ones, because you are embarrassed. Never be embarrassed or nervous with a priest, whose privilege it is to hear your sins and forgive them in the name of Christ. Remember, a priest may NEVER reveal the sins he hears in confession.

• Listen to the advice the priest gives you.

• The priest will give you your "penance," (a few prayers to say after confession). Remember, it is Our Lord on the Cross who makes up for your sins, not your penance.

• Then say an Act of Contrition in front of the priest.

• The priest will then say the Prayer of Absolution over you. This is the moment when Christ blots out all yours sins through the priest.

• Go outside the confessional and say your penance right away, preferably in front of Our Lord in the tabernacle.

• Go to confession once a month, or as often as you feel you need to; never go less than once a year.

• Bring someone who has been away for a long time back to the Sacrament of Confession.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

An Examination of Conscience

I. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. YOU SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.

• Does God hold first place in my life?
• Do I seek to love God with my whole heart and soul?
• Do I give God time every day in prayer?
• Have I been involved with superstitious practices, like fortune-telling, or practiced witchcraft or the occult?
• Do I seek to obey God's Word as taught by the Church?
• Have I told a lie in confession, or have I deliberately withheld confessing a mortal sin?
• Have I received communion in a sate of mortal sin?

II. YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN.

• Have I insulted God's Holy Name or used it lightly or carelessly?
• Have I used obscene language?
• Have I been angry with God?
• Have I wished evil upon another person?
• Have I insulted or abused a sacred person or object?

III. REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE LORD'S DAY.

• Have I missed Mass deliberately on Sundays, or on Holy Days of Obligation?
• Have I tried to observe Sunday as a family day and a day?
• of rest? Have I done needless work on Sunday?

IV. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.

• Do I honor and obey my parents?
• Have I neglected my duties to my spouse and family?
• Have I given my family a good religious example?
• Do I try to bring peace into my family life?
• Do I care for my aged and infirm parents or relatives?
• Have I made certain my elderly parents can get to church, be visited by a priest, receive the sacraments, and have a funeral mass?

V. YOU SHALL NOT KILL.

• Have I murdered or physically harmed anyone?
• Have I had an abortion?
• Have I encouraged, aided or paid for anyone to have an abortion?
• Have I abused drugs or alcohol?
• Have I sold drugs?
• Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?
• Have I encouraged others to do the same?
• Have I given scandal to anyone or led anyone into sin?
• Have I harbored hatred in my heart, or been angry or resentful?

VI. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

• Have I been faithful to my marriage vows in thought and in action?
• Have I practiced any form of artificial contraception?
• Have I engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage with a member of the opposite sex, or the same sex?
• Have I masturbated?
• Have I indulged in pornographic material?
• Have I used or thought of other people as objects?
• Have I engaged in prostitution?
• Am I pure in my thoughts, words and actions?
• Do I dress provocatively?

VII. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

• Have I stolen what is not mine?
• Have I returned or made restitution for what was stolen?
• Do I waste time at work, school, or at home?
• Am I honest and fair with my employer/employee?
• Do I gamble excessively, denying my family their needs?
• Do I pay my debts promptly?
• Do I share what I have with the poor?

VIII. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.

• Have I lied, gossiped, or spoken behind anyone's back?
• Have I been truthful in my dealings with others?
• Have I been critical, negative or uncharitable in my thoughts and words of others?
• Do I keep secret what should be kept confidential?

IX. YOU SHALL NOT DESIRE YOUR NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.

• Have I consented to impure thoughts?
• Have I caused such thoughts by impure reading, movies, television, the internet, conversation, or curiosity?
• Do I seek to control my imagination?
• Do I pray at once to banish impure thoughts?

X. YOU SHALL NOT DESIRE YOUR NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.

• Am I jealous of what other people have?
• Do I envy the families or possessions of others?
• Am I greedy or selfish?
• Are material possessions the purpose of my life?
• Do I trust that God will care for all of my material and spiritual needs?

Congratulations! 

The Church joyfully anticipates the opportunity to celebrate with you this life-changing Sacrament that, as St. Paul tells us, is the image of Christ's love for His Church!

Your first step is to contact the Church Office (516-621-2222) at least 6 to 8 months before the wedding so that we can work out a plan to prepare for your marriage in the Church.  Thereafter we will know which resources are available to you and will recommend the best possible marriage preparation given your particular circumstances. 

Please notify the Rectory and Human Concerns Ministry if there is anyone seriously ill so that we can provide spiritual care.

Learn More

Learn More

What does it mean to be Catholic?

There are 1.2 billion Catholics in this world. 

The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ and his Apostles. There are four marks or characteristics of the Church, and we are reminded of them each time we pray the Nicene Creed at Mass.  

• One – means all members are united as the Body of Christ, given life by the one Spirit. We acknowledge one Lord, one faith, one Baptism 
• Holy – means the Church is centered on God. It is Christ who, by his sacrifice, makes the Church holy. 
• Catholic – means universal. The Church is for all times and all people. The Church is “the fullness” of the means of salvation” (CCC 830) 
• Apostolic – means the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles. We teach the doctrine of Jesus as it has been handed down through the apostles and their successors, the pope and bishops. 

But being Catholic is more than attending Mass on Sundays. It is an ongoing personal encounter with Christ that renews the spirit so that we may witness God’s love with joy in our world. How do we do that?   

Each Catholic is called to full and active participation in the life of the Church and has the right and responsibility to: 

1. Attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation. 
2. Confess your sins, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at least once a year. 
3. Receive the Eucharist. 
4. Observe the days of fasting (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and abstinence (Ash Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent) established by the Church. 
5. Help to provide for the needs of the Church. 

Encountering Christ and being a witness to his love means we are called to live like Jesus and work for justice and peace in this world by living the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

We are called to stand for the: 

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person 
2. Call to Family, Community and Participation 
3. Rights and Responsibilities of the Human Person 
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable 
5. Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers 
6. Solidarity of the Human Family 
7. Care for God’s Creation 

I used to be catholic

First, welcome and thank you for visiting our parish.  

Are you hearing a voice inside or a pull to come back and learn more about your faith? We know that life is full of challenges and at times, the Church may have failed you. For that we are sorry. We hope that we can help you take a step towards returning to the Sacraments and active participation in the life of the Church! 

Catholics Come Home have shared their 5 Reasons to Come Home. Do they speak to you? 

1. Catholicism is TRUE! 
2. The Catholic Church has the Sacraments – and we especially long for the Eucharist. 
3. Our families need to be built on a strong foundation of faith and we need to live it in community with others. 
4. We need God’s forgiveness and healing for our failings and God’s mercy to help us become better people. 
5. We hunger for meaning and purpose in our lives. 

For more information and resources about coming back to the Catholic faith, visit www.catholicscomehome.org, and remember, you, your family, all are welcome to Mass Sunday and everyday

Do you want to become Catholic?

Are you looking to come home to the Catholic Church? We are happy to walk with you as you seek to deepen your faith and enter into a relationship with the Lord within a Church community. Since you have made the first important step of being here, please inquire about St. Mary's Christian Initiation of Adults program. Whether you were baptized as an infant and never received the other sacraments, or if you have never been baptized, we will journey with you at a pace that suits your particular needs. Please call the Rectory at 516-621-2222. We will be happy to answer all your questions as best we can. God bless you.