Interested in learning more about Catholicism or becoming a parishioner? Please call the Parish House at (314) 721-6340.
BAPTISM
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Baptisms are conducted after the 11:00 A.M. Mass on Sunday. Please make arrangements through the Parish House by calling (314) 721-6340.
RECONCILIATION
"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."
Reconciliation, (commonly called Penance or Confession) is offered on Saturdays at 3:30-4:00 PM.
holy communion
"The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
'At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'"
Communion is offered at every mass.
Baptized children attending St. Roch School begin preparing for their First Holy Communion when they are in second grade or older. First Communions are held every year for these children on Thanksgiving Day at 10:00 AM.
For children attending other schools and/or adults interested in becoming Catholic, please make arrangements by calling the Parish House at (314) 721-6340.
PSR takes place at St. Joseph's in Clayton. Interested families can call (314)727-9059.
confirmation
"Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.
For "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. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
Children who have been baptized, received the sacraments of reconciliation and communion and who are in seventh grade or older and eligible to be confirmed. Confirmations are held every other year (odd-numbered years) for these students attending St. Roch School. The date and time are set by the Archbishop.
For children attending other schools and/or adults interested in becoming Catholic, please make arrangements by calling the Parish House at (314) 721-6340.
marriage
"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."
For those interested in the sacrament of marriage at St. Roch, please make arrangements by calling the Parish House at (314) 721-6340 at least six months before marriage date is set.
holy orders
"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."
anointing of the sick
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. and indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ."
For anointing of the sick, please make arrangements by calling the Parish House at (314) 721-6340.
Sacrament descriptions are taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
FUNERALS
"All the sacraments, and principally those of Christian initiation, have as their goal the last Passover of the child of God which, through death, leads him into the life of the Kingdom. Then what he confessed in faith and hope will be fulfilled: "I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come."
For funerals, please make arrangements by calling the Parish House at (314) 721-6340.