Sacraments
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Sacrament of Baptism
To arrange a Baptism at St Mary's please contact the Parish Priest to make relevant arrangements. Who are the ordinary ministers of Baptism?The ordinary ministers of Baptism are bishops, priests and deacons. But in danger of death any member of the Church (or even any person who has the requisite intention) should baptise. Later, a child who survives should be taken to the parish church to be received solemnly into the Catholic community. How does one baptise in case of emergency? Baptism is celebrated by the minister pouring water over the head of the one being baptised and saying at the… Read More -
Sacrament of Marriage
There are certain teachings which the Catholic Church does not have the power to change. The law on the indissolubility of marriage is one of these areas: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder”(cf Matthew 19:6-9). The Church has consistently upheld this belief for 2000 years. From St John Chrysostom to John Paul II the teaching remains constant. Annulment is not divorce. Annulment is a decree that no marriage ever truly existed owing to lack of consent, understanding or defect of form. Catholics who are in an abusive or unhappy relationship are not forbidden from obtaining a divorce,… Read More -
Sacrament of Confirmation
At baptism we were united to Christ and born into the life of grace. We came forth as children of God from the ‘womb’ of baptismal water. Yet, as we know from everyday life, a child is concerned primarily with taking care of himself. Gradually he must mature and become an adult. He must become concerned with others and share what he has. So must mature spiritually. Christ has given us the way whereby we become spiritual adults, aware of our responsibilities and sharing our spiritual riches with others. This is his Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is the sacrament in… Read More -
Arranging a Funeral
The following information is provided as a guideline to help you with your funeral arrangements in the Parish of St Mary’s. It tells you some of the things you have to do, and matters that need to be considered. Many of these can be done through the Funeral Director. However, it is very important that you contact the Parish Priest as soon as possible before making any arrangements with the Funeral Director. You should then contact a Funeral Director. The following are locally available: Ian Brown, Funeral Services, 101 Lanark Road, Carstairs 01555 870287 Co-operative Funeralcare, 22 Bannatyne Street, Lanark,… Read More -
Sacrament of the Eucharist
Where to begin a necessarily short statement on the Eucharist or Mass? There could scarcely be a better place to begin than the Church's Liturgy for the Mass of the Lord' Supper on Holy Thursday. Here you will find all three readings: First Reading: Exodus 12:1-8.11-14 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 'This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the… Read More
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Sacrament of Reconciliation
What is Conscience? To understand what is meant by ‘conscience’ we must first of all understand what theologians refer to as our ‘fundamental option’. A car driver may decide that he or she will never drive in such a way that will endanger themselves, their passengers or anyone else. That is a fundamentaloption a decision that affects all other decisions or actions that drivers might take. And so the daily decisions the driver makes about whether or not to wear a seat belt, about how much he or she can safely drink, about whether or not to jump the lights, overtake the car in front,… Read More -
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Message of His Holiness Pope John Paul II Theme: "The vocation to holiness" Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, Dear Brothers and Sisters! To you all "beloved of God and saints by vocation, grace and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rm 1,7). These words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome introduce the theme of the next World Day of Prayer for Vocations: "The vocation to holiness". Holiness! This is the grace and aim of every believer, as the Book of Leviticus reminds us: "Be holy, because I, the Lord, your God, am… Read More
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Sacrament Of the Sick
A clear distinction is made in the “new” Order for the Care of the Sick (issued by Pope Paul VI in 1972) between those who are seriously ill and those who are dying. Extreme Unction or Last Rites as it used to be called is now more fittingly called the Anointing of the Sick (or Sacrament of the Sick), for the sacrament is to be given to those who are seriously ill or sick but certainly not to those who are dead. The effect of the Sacrament is summarised in the Introduction to the Rite: “The sacrament provides the sick person with the… Read More
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Arranging a Baptism
To arrange a Baptism at St Mary's please contact the Parish Priest to make relevant arrangements. For further information Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Read More
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