"The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." " (Catechism of Catholic Church #1212)

Initiation into the life of the Church is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful. The whole community is responsible:

• for passing on its faith, its story, values and traditions to the next generation
• and for introducing its children into the Sacramental life of the Church.

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist

These three sacraments together accomplish Christian Initiation.

“The most venerable sacrament is the blessed Eucharist, in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the Sacrifice of the cross is forever perpetuated, is the summit and the source of all worship and Christian life.” (Canon 897)

The Eucharist often called 'communion,' is the very source of our entire lives as Catholics. We say that because the Eucharist really is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.
 In the Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself.

More information:
Sacrament of the Eucharist
Eucharist short history video

To register:
For Children & Teen
For Adults - RCIA (18 years or older)

"The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith. It imprints a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church." (Canon Law 879)

By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation marks us as true witnesses of Christ, and we are more obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.


Information about the Sacrament of Confirmation:
Why we're confirmed? Video
Sacrament of Confirmation

To register for Confirmation preparation clases:
For Teens (12 - 17 years old)
For Adults - RCIA (18 years or older)

"Through the sacraments of Christian initiation, man receives the new life of Christ. Now we carry this life "in earthen vessels," and it remains "hidden with Christ in God."  We are still in our "earthly tent," subject to suffering, illness, and death. This new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost by sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1420-1421)

The two sacrament of healing are the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of Anoiting of the Sick. 

"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion." (Catwchism of Catholic Church #1422)

The Sacrament of Penance, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is the rite by which we confess our sins to be forgiven and to reconcile with God.




The Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is celebrated in either of the Reconciliation Rooms at the rear of the church, every Saturday between 3:30 and 4:20 PM and 5:30 and 6:20 PM.

Anyone who wishes to receive the sacrament at another time may simply call the Parish office or approach any one of the friars to make an appointment. 

During Advent and Lent, St Camillus also provides communal Penance Services every Wednesday.

More information:
Why Confession? 
Guide to Confession
Why confess my Sins to a Priest? video
How do I go to Confession? short video
Sacrament of Reconciliation

Informacion en español:
¿Por qué confesarse?
Guía para la Confesión

"Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick?[a] He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." (James 5:13-15)

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a prayerful celebration for someone or for a group of people who are ill and are blessed by the priest Oil of the Sick. 

The Rite of anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason. Moreover, the elderly may be anointed if they are in weak condition even though no dangerous illness is present.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit‘s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. The Holy Spirit renews our faith in God and helps us withstand the temptations.

This Sacrament can also prepare us for our final journey when we depart from this life. The Anointing of the Sick completes our identification with Jesus Christ that was begun at our Baptism. Its grace and power fortify us in our final struggles before we go to the Father’s house. 

If you or a loved one wishes to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, simply call the Parish Office and one of the friars will come to your home, hospital or nursing facility.

Information about the Sacrament of Anointin of the Sick
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick (Who it's for) short video

"Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God." (Catechism of Catholic Church #1534)

The Vocational Sacraments or Sacraments at the Service of Communion are the Holy Order and Holy Matrimony. They exist to bring about the salvation of others.

"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate." (Catechism of Catholic Church # 1536)

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. The sacred rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.

Do you feel God calling to serve as priest? 

If you have an interest in finding out more about the path to priesthood or the permanent diaconate, contact the Parish Office to speak with the pastor.



How you consider becoming a Franciscan Friar? visit www.beafranciscan.org
Or diocesan priest with the Archdiocese of Washington visit https://www.dcpriest.org/

Informational videos:
What Ordanation Means? (video)
To Be A Priest (video)
A Day in the Life of a Priest (video)
What is a Friar?
 

"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (Catechism of Catholic Church #1601)

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony (Marriage)
Christian Marriage is a sacrament that orders the husband and wife to serve one another. This service is based on the Christian virtue of charity and is done in a spirit of care and concern for the good of the spouse and child(ren) following the example of Christ.

Christ himself elevated the natural institution of marriage to the dignity of a sacrament during his public ministry.
He worked his first miracle at a wedding (John 3:1-11) and he taught that marriage in the New Covenant is permanent and holy (Matthew 19:3-9). 

Information on the Sacrament of Matrimony
What is the Sacrament of Marriage?
What Happens at a Catholic Wedding? Video
Finding Happines in Marriage (short video)

Weddings at St Camillus Parish
Congratulations! You have made one of the most important decisions of your life. As you begin your preparation for marriage, the Church is here to assist you in every way possible so that you will utilize these next few months to grow in your relationship with each other, as well as with Christ and the Church.

St. Camillus is committed to making sure couples are well prepared to celebrate this sacred commitment with each other. Timely and prayerful preparation is essential in ensuring a beautiful wedding and a healthy marriage. 
It is common practice for a couple to book the church a long time in advance. So it is important to contact the Parish Office to make sure that the church is available on the day you require. The Civil Authorities also have state requirements which must be fulfilled.

The following information may be helpful: 

1. Go to a priest at least six months before the date on which you plan to marry. The meetings of the couple with their priest are a key part of the preparation process. 
2. The priest will also advise you about the various documents that you need to collect. You will need to get a Certificate of Baptism from the parish in which you were baptized and a Certificate of Confirmation from the parish in which you were confirmed.
3. Freedom to marry: The best advice when one party has been married previously (either in a civil or religious ceremony) is not to make arrangements until meeting with the pastor.
4. Ask the priest who is to officiate at your wedding to help you with the task of creating your marriage ceremony. There are a variety of prayers, blessings, readings, etc. Read through these together and choose the ones you prefer. Choose the person(s) who will read at Mass, person(s) to read the Prayers of the Faithful. Rehearse the ceremony in church with the priest before the wedding day.
5. Marriages are only on Saturdays.