“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.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213)

Many Catholics receive the sacrament of baptism as infants, in the presence of his or her parents and godparents. Through the saving waters of baptism, Catholics believe that we are washed clean from the stain of original sin (caused by the sin of Adam and Eve). The grace we receive in baptism also makes us children of God the Father and welcomes us into the Catholic Church.

Baptism for Infants & Children Under 7 Years Old

Parish policy requires that families must be registered parishioners for at least six months prior to having a child Baptized. The Sacrament is celebrated on the second and fourth Sunday of most months (Baptisms are not offered on Palm Sunday, during Holy Week, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day).  A parent must call the parish office at least one month prior to the requested date in order to receive the necessary Baptism paperwork packet. New parents must also attend a Baptismal Preparation Session.

Godparents must be fully initiated Roman Catholics practicing their faith in order to undertake this role. A Christian Witness (a baptized, practicing Christian of another denomination) may serve along side a Godparent. The Catholic Godparent eligibility form must be signed & sealed by the Godparent’s Pastor and returned to the St. Mark parish office.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has instituted a new requirement: parents are now required to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate. In order for St. Mark to issue a Baptismal certificate, the birth certificate must be on file.

Baptism for Adults & Children Over 7 Years Old

Baptisms of school age children may need to be arranged through our Religious Education Program. Please contact Faith Formation Coordinator Daria Kaas at 410-744-6560, ext. 234 or [email protected]@stmarkchurch-catonsville.org for more information.

Baptisms of adults are arranged through our adult education program, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Please contact the parish office at 410- 744-6560, ext. 235 for further details.

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The Sacrament of Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Penance or Confession) is an invitation for Catholics to experience the love and mercy of God the Father through the ministry of priests. Catholics can experience healing through forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God and His Church. 

Catholics are always welcomed back to receive this sacrament - whether it has been two weeks or two decades since the last Confession. Often those who have gone to Confession relay experiencing peace and joy and feeling the weight come off their shoulders as they receive forgiveness for their sins. If you have not gone to Confession in a while, we want to welcome you back and take part in this beautiful sacrament of healing.

Children are generally prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time when they reach the second grade, following Baptism and prior to Eucharist. They are prepared through a special program and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic grade school. Older children may be prepared separately from the second graders. For further information, please contact the Religious Education Office at (410) 744-6560, ext. 234.

Adults who wish to be initiated into the Sacrament of Reconciliation should contact the Religious Education office at (410) 744-6560, ext. 234.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturdays from 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. It is recommended that penitents arrive at the beginning of the time periods to ensure adequate opportunity to receive the sacrament. Parish penance services are held during Advent and Lent and are announced in the St. Mark Church bulletin. Individuals may also call the parish office at (410) 744-6560, ext. 1 to arrange for a personal appointment with a priest to celebrate the sacrament.

Confession times at St. Mark Parish

SATURDAY (Church):

Confessions: 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.* [excluding Holy Saturday] or by appointment.

*Please bear in mind that the priest has to stop hearing confessions at 3:45 p.m. so he can prepare for the celebration of the Eucharist. Communal Penance is scheduled during the seasons of Advent and Lent and for special liturgies. Please consult the church bulletin for dates and times.

SATURDAY (Chapel):

Confessions: 8:30 – 9:15 a.m.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324). During the Mass, we gather around the Lord’s table and remember Christ’s Passion, sacrifice on the cross,  His Resurrection, and His Ascension as Jesus instructed us during the Last Supper. 

As Catholics, we believe in transubstantiation - the transformation of bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We ask that only “properly disposed” Catholics receive Holy Communion. This means that the receiving of Jesus’ Body and Blood is set aside for Catholics who are in right relationship with God and with one another. The intention here is not to dissuade anyone from receiving Communion; rather, it is an invitation to heal what is broken, creating a suitable environment for Jesus. The Church recommends going to Confession regularly prior to receiving Communion during Mass.

Children are generally prepared to receive their first Holy Communion when they reach the second grade, following Baptism and Reconciliation. They are prepared through a special program and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic grade school. If your child wishes to make his/her First Reconciliation/ First Eucharist, please complete this First Eucharist PDF form and return it to Daria Kaas at the Religious Education Office. (If you can’t open the PDF, please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.) Older children may be prepared separately from the second graders. For further information, please contact the Religious Education Office at (410) 744-6560, ext. 234.

Adults who wish to be initiated into the sacrament of Holy Communion should contact the Religious Education Office at (410) 744-6560, ext. 234.

Request Communion

Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation of the Catholic Church, along with Baptism and the Eucharist. It bestows the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens the faithful to be a powerful witness to God’s love and might in word and deed.  

“Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character,’ which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1304)

During confirmation, a priest or a bishop lays his hands on the candidate and anoints them with Chrism, a holy oil meant to symbolize the spreading of “the aroma of Christ” (2 Cor 2:15).

Confirmation is offered annually to 8th grade and high school students. Students who request this Sacrament are prepared through a special program and must already be attending religious education classes or attending Catholic school and have already received Eucharist and Reconciliation in the Roman Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation begins in the Spring and the Celebration is offered each Winter.

For more information, please call Faith Formation Director Daria Kaas at (410) 744-6560, ext. 234 or email [email protected].

Adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are prepared according to a process designed specifically for their needs. They may contact the Parish Office at 410-744-6560, ext. 1 for more information.

The Sacrament of Matrimony, or marriage, is a unique sacrament because it is the man and the woman that mutually administers the sacrament upon each other in the presence of a priest or deacon and other witnesses. 

It is a sacred covenant, a public promise made by the husband and the wife to be true to each other until death parts them. In order for a marriage to be valid, the couple must be entering into the covenant out of their own free will, without fear or coercion. They are also asked to honor and be true to each other for the rest of their lives, as well as to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church. 

To celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony in St. Mark Parish, one of the partners must be a registered member for at least one year and the couple must contact one of the priests or deacons at least six months prior to the wedding date for proper assistance. Participation in an Archdiocesan approved marriage preparation program is required.,

Please consult our Guidelines for Weddings brochure or visit the Marriage Preparation section on the Archdiocese of Baltimore web-site for additional information.

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“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 (bishop), presbyterate (priest), and diaconate (deacon).” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536).

Only baptized, Catholic men are called by the Church to become ordained and receive this sacrament. The man who is ordained a bishop or a priest receives a special grace to act “in persona Christi”, not based on his own power or merit, but in the person of Jesus Christ. Deacons “share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1570) to serve as Christ served.

Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. The Sacrament’s three degrees are conferred as follows:

• Bishops (Episcopate) receive the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which integrates them into the Episcopal college and makes them visible heads of the particular Church entrusted to them. As successors of the apostles and members of the college, the bishops share in the apostolic responsibility and mission of the whole Church under the authority of the Pope.
• Priests (Presbyterate) are united with the bishop in sacerdotal dignity and called to be the bishop’s prudent co-workers in the exercise of their pastoral functions. They gather around their bishop who bears responsibility with them for a particular church. They receive from the bishop the charge of a parish community or determinate ecclesial office.
• Deacons (Diaconate) are ordained into the ministry of service to the Church. Deacons do not receive the ministerial priesthood, but ordination confers on them the functions of the Ministry of the Word, Divine Worship, and Service of Charity under the pastoral authority of their bishop. [Catechism of the Catholic Church 1994 Reference: 1536,1595,1596]

For additional information on vocations, please contact one of the parish priests or deacons at (410) 744-6560, or call the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore at (410) 547-5431.

The Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick are the two Sacraments of Healing that were instituted by Christ to strengthen us in our physical and spiritual weakness. Any Catholic whose health is in critical state can receive this sacrament more than once, on such occasions such as grave illnesses or serious operations. 

In a unique way, this sacrament unites those who are suffering with the sufferings of Jesus, who also experienced fear and pain during His time on earth. This profound experience sometimes brings physical healing to those who are gravely ill. Moreover, celebrating this sacrament unifies the communion of the saints in interceding for the sick person, “contribut(ing) to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1522)

Individuals who are planning to enter the hospital are particularly encouraged to receive the sacrament before their admission by calling the parish office at (410) 744-6560 to arrange for an appointment with a priest. Pastoral staff members and volunteers will visit those who are in the hospital, nursing home, or confined to their own home. Please notify the parish office whenever someone enters the hospital or desires a pastoral visit. Because of HIPPA privacy rules, hospitals are no longer allowed to directly call us. Please contact the parish office directly, not the nursing home, if a patient there wishes to receive the sacraments; currently, there may be restrictions for visitors.

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