Following the example set by Jesus, baptism initiates an individual into the Christian community and confers sanctifying grace upon a soul, purifying it with water and sealing it with holy chrism.
"Every child who is born is a gift of joy and of hope, and every child who is baptized is a miracle of the faith and a feast for the family of God.”
Pope Francis - Angelus Address 1-12-2014
Click here for more information on the process of Baptism
Listening to Jesus' command to "Do this in remembrance of me," First Communion / Holy Eucharist unites an individual to God and the Catholic faithful through the reception of Our Lord at Mass. The Eucharist brings us into one body and provides the graces to love and serve God and each other more faithfully, fulfilling Jesus' prayer to the Father: "I wish that they might all be one as you and I are one." If you have a child who is ready for first Communion or if you'd like to begin the process to receive Communion, please contact us.
Click here for more information on the process for First Communion in the Parish.
Confirmation finishes the rites of initiation started in baptism, sacramentally bringing a candidate into full communion with the Catholic faithful. Like the apostles at Pentecost, Confirmation anoints a person in a special way with the Holy Spirit. In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Confirmation occurs around the age of 15 and generally takes two years of preparation. If your child is ready for Confirmation, or if you haven't been confirmed yet and would like to be, please get in touch with us.
Click here for more information on the process for Confirmation in the Parish.
Let's start by acknowledging that we all sin. Everyone makes mistakes… Jesus established this beautiful sacrament to wash us of our sin and restore us through his love. Acknowledging our sins before a priest puts us in the presence of Christ himself and allows us to be reconciled to God and to one another no matter the severity of our mistakes. Forgiveness is available to all of us. If you're in need of Christ's forgiveness, please reach out to us and arrange a time to meet with a priest. If you have a child ready for first Reconciliation, let us know.
“Dear friends, celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation means being wrapped in a warm embrace. It is the embrace of the infinite mercy of the Father.”
Pope Francis - General Audience - February 2014
Confession at St Mary's is Saturday 4:00PM - 5:30PM & 6:30PM - 7:00PM
God has established a sacrament for healing in illness (both physical and spiritual) and preparation for death and entrance into new life in heaven. If you or a loved one is sick or dying and would like to receive special sacramental prayers and anointing, please contact us and be assured of our prayers with you and for you in this time.
To receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick:
a). Call the Parish Office at (661) 947-3306 and ask for a priest's assistance.
b). If the sick person needs Holy Communion on regular basis, contact the Parish Office to arrange for the service of a Eucharistic Minister both in English and in Spanish.
Engagement and Marriage is such a blessed time in a couple's life! Just as Jesus blessed the couple at Cana with his presence elevating marriage to a sacrament, he will bless you and your spouse for life through a Catholic marriage. If you'd like to get married at St. Mary's, would like support during your engagement, or would like to speak with a priest about your current marital status in the Church, please let us know.
To receive the Sacrament of Marriage:
a). Couples need to contact the Parish Office to set up an appointment with one of the priests at least 6 months before the planned wedding date.
b). Click here to view and print the parish Marriage Guide lines: Sacrament of Marriage Sacrament of Marriage Spanish
c). Prior to receiving the Sacrament of Marriage, any previous marriage (civil or church) should be cleared by the Archdiocesan Tribunal. (For information on this matter contact any priest at the parish office.)
Click here for more Matrimony information.
God calls all people to serve him through a particular vocation in life, be it marriage, consecration to a particular community as a lay person, or ministry as a priest, deacon, or religious Brother or Sister. If you feel God is calling you to serve as a priest, deacon, or religious, please reach out to our Vocations office at Click here for more information regarding Vocations.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process established for the universal Church for individuals to become Catholic and receive the sacraments of initiation –Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
Whom is RCIA for?
Click here for more information on the RCIA or for the process for Adult Confirmation in the parish.
How does a person who is interested begin?
We begin with the period of Inquiry. During this period, teaching is given to people who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. The sessions cover basic information about the Faith. There is no obligation involved in attending these meetings – they are intended to help a person decide whether they want to continue learning about the Faith. Attendees at this stage are known as Inquirers.