Mass

Sacraments of the Church

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick is a ministry of comfort. In this sacrament, a priest lays hands on the head of the sick, prays, and anoints the person with oil blessed for this occasion. This sacrament can be celebrated more than once and is often conferred in hospitals, nursing homes, or home settings in which someone is approaching death. This sacrament can also be given to people who are seriously ill, elderly, or experiencing severe emotional stress.

Emergency Care
If you or loved one is in immediate need of pastoral ministry, please call (309) 673-1263 opt.3 and follow the recorded instructions.

Baptism

Baptism is the celebration of an infant’s initiation into the Catholic faith and the mystery of Trinitarian life in Christ. The child’s family accepts responsibility to develop the child’s faith, in anticipation of the child choosing the faith publicly at Confirmation. A preparation class is required for the child’s parents, taught by the parish Director of Religious Education.

Baptisms are generally celebrated after the 4:30 pm Mass on Saturday or after the 11 am Mass on Sunday. For more information on attending a class or scheduling the sacrament, please contact Mrs. Terry Mischler, St Mark’s DRE, at 309-497-2838 ortmischler@saint-mark.net.

Confession

Confession provides parishioners the opportunity to acknowledge their sins in the presence of a priest and seek forgiveness of God and reconciliation with the Church. Catholics from any parish are also welcome. A variety of confession times are available, plus special services are offered during Advent and Lent.

Confession Times

Confirmation

The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. 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. They, as true witnesses of Christ, are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

Confirmation is offered to St. Mark students in the eighth grade through the school and parish Faith Formation programs. Adults wishing to be confirmed can do so through the RCIA program.

RCIA stands for Right of Christian Initiation for Adults and is the process by which non-Catholics enter the Catholic Church. Catholics who have not received sacraments beyond Baptism can also enroll in the RCIA process.
Visit RCIA page.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion, or the Holy Eucharist, completes Christian initiation. At the heart of the Eucharist celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood. In the sacrament of Holy Communion we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body.

Holy Communion is celebrated at all weekday and weekend Masses.

See Mass Schedule.

Matrimony

Matrimony is the sacrament of marriage. Couples are encouraged to contact one of the priests at least eight months prior to their wedding to schedule a date and set appointments for marriage preparation meetings.

Attendance at Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter is also required, plus a Christian Sexuality workshop or Natural Family Planning class.

For registered active parishioners, or the son or daughter of an active parishioner, the fee to use the church and other facilities is $300. The church is also available for rent by Catholic non-parishioners for a fee of $1000.

For more information, contact the Rectory at 673-1263 or stmark@saint-mark.net.