The Sacrament of Baptism

Contact the Parish Office to make an appointment with the Parish Priest. Complete a Baptism Request form.

The Parish Priest meets with the parents and godparents for Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism.

At least one of the godparents needs to be a confirmed, practising Catholic. If the godparent is not known to the Parish Priest, they need to obtain a letter of Good Standing from their Parish Priest.

If you are not a member of the Parish, a letter from the Parish Priest of the parish you are attending is required, granting permission for the baptism to take place in another parish.

If you are wanting the Parish Priest of St Bernard's to officiate at the baptism in another parish, you would need to obtain permission from the Parish Priest of that parish.

It is normal to pay a Stole Fee (amount at the discretion of the parents) to the church and / or the officiating priest.

 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation - also known as the Sacrament of Penance or the Sacrament of Confession

God does not need us to confess our sins out loud, since God already knows what they are. But in the Sacrament of Penance, perhaps more than anywhere else at any time, we are completely honest. Perhaps it’s the only time min our lives, but we are completely honest. Admitting who and what we are. Admitting things to God we would never dream of repeating to anyone else. It’s that utter honesty that delights the heart of God. It’s not our sins that God needs to listen to, but our honesty. Again, perhaps in this Sacrament we find the only space where we see ourselves us we really are, see ourselves just for a moment as God sees us. And the real grace is walking out of the confessional knowing that God has given me a clean slate, that I can begin my life all over again, that I can start being the person he always wanted me to be

 

The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist - The Sacrament of Holy Communion

If, as we believe, our lives are a journey back to the Father’s house, then, like the prophet Elijah, we will need food if the journey is not to become too much for our strength. The weekly Eucharist, both in word and in Sacrament, is that food. We can’t explain the Holy Eucharist any more than we can cut an orange open and show everyone what Vitamin C looks like. But we know the Lord’s presence by the fruits that Eucharist produce in people’s lives. And we know that the depth of the Eucharist, the depth of the experience, is not in how close to God we feel but in how it changes our lives. And we know too that it’s not our understanding of the Eucharist that matters – it’s our life with each other in that Eucharist that matters – that the Eucharist must be in some way be reflected in our lifestyle and our lifestyle must be in some way be reflected in Eucharist. But most of all we are convinced that Holy Communion is not our reward for being good: it’s a remedy for our weakness. Not the Bread of Reward, but becoming the Bread of Life, for those of us who still have the death of sin inside of us, who consistently fall short of the glory of God.

 

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The combined parish of St Bernard, Newlands and St Ignatius, Claremont, offers a Confirmation program that is distinct from other parishes.

Our program is a three year journey: it’s on a Sunday evening rather than during the week: and the whole class, 1ST, 2ND and final years, meet together, rather than separately.

It’s also a user-friendly program: understanding the pressures on our learners, we don’t interfere with their school or social life. And we don’t teach too many doctrines: we presume they’ve learnt these in an earlier part of their catechesis. Instead, we try to offer them pointers for an authentically Christian lifestyle. All of this springs from our understanding of Confirmation, as the continuation of a journey or, if you like, of a conversation God initiated with each of us in Baptism. The very fact that teenagers register for Confirmation leads us to believe that somewhere deep down they want to explore this conversation, continue this journey. But Confirmation is not the end of something: yes, of course, it brings to completion our initiation into the Body of Christ started in Baptism: rather, it’s a halting point along the way, a time to gather some new gifts and shed some old habits before continuing. We don’t understand Confirmation as the moment of ‘adulthood’ in the Church – adulthood happens when people, no matter what their physical age, begin to take responsibility for their lives. One doesn’t need to be Confirmed to maintain a spiritual life: but to stop living out our spirituality as soon as we are Confirmed is like stopping halfway across a road and deciding that it’s far enough!

Confirmation Faith Level (High School) is a three year programme.

Participating in the Sacraments, ie going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion, going to Confession is part of the programme, not just attending sessions every week.

Because we encourage being in community, we encourage the youth, with their families, to attend the 6.00pm Mass on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

For Confirmation enquiries, the Contact person is Leisyl Fortuin: email  stbernards@mweb.co.za

Please note that according to the regulations of the Archdiocese of Cape Town, to be eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation, a candidate has to be properly prepared for the Sacrament and in the 16th year.

 

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

The hospice and hospital ministries so integral to the life of this parish mean that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated regularly in those institutions for all those who seek healing in body, mind or spirit.

In the Anointing we try to obey exactly what the Word tells us: we lay hands, pray in faith and anoint with oil all who are sick. As we do so, it is our prayer that the Lord will do for the sick person all that the Word of God promises and, after that, abundantly, exceedingly more than we could ask or even imagine.

Because of legislation, we cannot seek out those in hospitals. If you or a loved one will be going to hospital for a procedure and cannot attend Mass before the event for an anointing, please contact the Parish Office to organise an anointing. Please let the Parish Office know the duration of the stay in hospital if the patient would like to receive Holy Communion whilst convelascing.

 

Please contact the Parish Office if you, or a loved one is housebound or in a home, so that we can organise an anointing and then on a regular bases, to take Holy Communion to them.

 

The Sacrament of Matrimony

 

WEDDING REQUIREMENTS (this is a generic list, and not all of these points may apply)

 

CHURCH’S PRE-NUPTIAL ENQUIRY

  • Permission must be gained from your own parish priest if you are planning marriage in another parish
  • The date of marriage (marriages are strongly discouraged during the Season of Lent) must be fixed
  • The time and place of marriage must be fixed
  • A marriage preparation course is obligatory.
  • Decide whether you want a nuptial Mass (about one hour) or wedding ceremony (about thirty minutes)
  •  

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

  • Baptism certificates (for those who are baptized), available from the church in which the baptism took place
  • Certified copies of ID documents of the bride, groom and the two witnesses (passports for non-SA citizens)
  • Three colour passport photographs each of the bride and the groom
  • If widowed, a certified copy of the Death Certificate
  • If a previous marriage was annulled, a certified copy of the Decree of Nullity
  • If divorced, a copy of the Final Decree
  • If a member of or living in another parish, a Freedom to Marry document from the parish priest in that parish, as well as a letter from him giving permission for the wedding by another priest
  • If not a South African, a No Impediment document from your consulate or embassy
  • If under age, a Consent to Marriage of a Minor form (available from the parish priest)
  • If not a South African, or a South African without an ID document, a Declaration for the purpose of a marriage form (available from the parish priest)
  • If already married civilly, a copy of the Marriage Certificate
  • A copy of the Ante-Nuptial Contract, if there is one

 

CEREMONY

Decide whether you want a nuptial Mass (about one hour) or wedding ceremony (about thirty minutes)

The basic structure of a wedding ceremony (without Mass) is as follows:

1. Entry of the bride (with music)

2. Welcome and opening prayer

3. Scripture readings and sermon

4. Exchange of vows and rings

5. Lighting of Nuptial Candle (optional)

6. Nuptial blessing

7. Signing of the registry

8. Exit procession of bride and groom (with music)

 

Within Mass, the Exchange of vows and rings, Lighting of Nuptial Candle (optional), Nuptial blessing and Signing of the registry all take place during the Mass

Appropriate hymns and music – the couple is responsible for this

Readings from Scripture may be chosen by the couple: alternatively, they could ask the priest to select readings

Flowers – the couple is responsible for this

Nuptial Candle (optional) – the couple is responsible for this

The bride needs to decide which surname she wants in the population register (maiden or married)

 

PERSONAL

Ante-Nuptial contract – the couple is responsible for this

COSTS 

A donation, left to the discretion of the couple, is made to the church and the officiating priest. This should be done before the wedding.