Are you or a loved one in need of a Catholic sacrament? From Baptism and First Communion to Marriage and Becoming Catholic for the first time, or coming Home to the Catholic Church, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Find the right contact below.
Congratulations! We are excited to welcome your little one to our parish family!
Please ensure you are a registered member of Risen Christ Catholic Community prior to requesting the Sacrament of Baptism. You can register HERE.
Once registered, the following steps will be necessary prior to Baptism.
- Complete a baptism registration form found HERE.
- 2. Attend our Baptism preparation class (contact Audrey via the button above for date and time).
- Provide a copy of your baby's birth certificate.
- Select godparents. Appropriate godparents will meet the following requirements:
- Aged 16 or older.
- Two are preferable; must be 1 male and 1 female. If two cannot be found, must have at least 1 godparent.
- Must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation in the Catholic Church.
- If married, must be married in the Catholic Church. If not married, cannot be living with anyone as if married.
- Cannot be the mother or father of the child.
- Provide a copy of your baptismal certificate with notations (notations show Sacraments received in the church after Baptism - First Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony) OR
- Provide a copy of your Confirmation certificate AND
- If married in the Church, provide a copy of your marriage certificate.
- Must be a registered parishioner at Risen Christ OR
- Provide a letter from the parish where you are registered, stating that you are members of the Catholic Church in good standing.
- Attend a Baptism class OR Provide a letter of attendance at a baptism class at another parish.
Sacramental Prep/2nd Grade (First Reconciliation & First Communion)- This program is for children who will be making their First Reconciliation and First Communion. A copy of your child's baptism certificate must be provided when registering for Sacramental Preparation/2nd Grade classes.
Contact
Sharleen for more information by clicking the button above.
This sacrament prep class is for youth in high school, grades 9th – 12th, who have already been baptized AND have received their first Holy Communion. Parents of youth enrolling in the Confirmation class must attend a parent meeting before their youth begins classes. Contact Melissa for more information by clicking the button above.
To participate in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, either first time newly engaged couples, or civilly married couples (regardless of years married) the steps to proceed will be as follows:
- Contact Stephenie Tellez (via the link above).
- Paperwork is required and the sooner we begin processing the documents, the better. What will be needed:
Paperwork:
- Baptismal Certificates Recent copies (usually issued within the last 6 months) for any Catholic party, obtained from the parish where they were baptized. These need to be recent because they will reflect any annotations like previous marriages or lack thereof.
- Testimony of Freedom - Form C This confirms neither party has a prior valid marriage.
- Pre-Nuptial Investigation / Pre-Marriage Questionnaire Each Catholic party (and sometimes the non-Catholic party) completes a formal interview with the marriage preparation specialist.
- FOCCUS (discussed more below) or other marriage prep documentation
- Confirmation of Baptism records Showing the Catholic party has received the other sacraments of initiation.
- Civil Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
- Witnesses Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony, just like a regular Catholic wedding.
- Dispensations (if applicable) If there is a mixed marriage (Catholic and non-Catholic Christian) or a disparity of cult (Catholic and unbaptized person), the appropriate dispensation must be obtained from the bishop.
3. A FOCCUS Study (done online).
FOCCUS stands for Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, and Study
What it is: A written inventory with a series of statements that both partners answer independently (agree/disagree/uncertain).
- Putrpose: It's not a "pass or fail" test — it's a discussion tool designed to help couples identify areas of agreement and potential conflict.
- Topics covered: It typically covers areas like communication, finances, religion/faith life, family of origin, sexuality, parenting, roles in marriage, and more.
- How it's used: A trained facilitator (often a priest, deacon, or married couple) reviews the results with the couple and guides a conversation about their differing responses.
- Goal: To encourage honest, open dialogue and mutual understanding.
4. Marriage preparation weekend.
5. In-person Meeting First time newly engaged couples will need to meet with the pastor prior to Matrimony.
All couples will meet with the FOCCUS facilitators.
A meeting with the wedding coordinator will also be required when ready to schedule the ceremony.
