Baptism
Baptism is a profound sacrament that welcomes a person into the Catholic Church and begins their life in Christ. It is the gateway to Christian life, where we are regenerated or “born again,” cleansed of original sin, and incorporated into the Church community. “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments” (CCC 1213).
The Church emphasizes baptizing infants soon after birth. Infant baptisms take place throughout the year at OLL. Adults prepare for baptism through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA – formerly RCIA) and are typically baptized at the Easter Vigil Mass. Those who have been validly baptized in a non-Catholic Christian community are not baptized again.
Eucharist
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium 11). The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch (CCC 1324).
Here at OLL, we typically prepare for and celebrate First Holy Communion with our second-grade faith formation students. If you are not already registered for our discipleship classes, please reach out to our Children’s Ministry Coordinator and Discipleship Department Assistant, Erin Pilarski, at epilarski@oll.org.
Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation reunites our souls with Christ. We are completely absolved of all our sins and are wiped clean through the power of God’s mercy. God wants us to come to Him at all times, especially when we have fallen away from Him.
Our Confessional can be found within our Chapel. Additional times are typically offered throughout Advent and Lent, or you can schedule an appointment.
Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action, his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry, which he charged with the “ministry of reconciliation”. The apostle is sent out “on behalf of Christ” with “God making his appeal” through him and pleading: “Be reconciled to God” (CCC 1442).
Reconciliation Times:
Wednesday
Saturday
6:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.
Confirmation
In Confirmation, a Christian is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and strengthened for service and evangelization. “By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ” (CCC 1294).
Youth Confirmation
Here at OLL, we typically prepare for confirmation with our seventh and eighth-grade faith formation students, then celebrate the sacrament at the end of their eighth-grade year. If you are not already registered for our discipleship classes, please reach out to our Confirmation Coordinator, Gretchen Catalfamo, at gcatalfamo@oll.org.
Adult Confirmation
Catholic adults who have never been confirmed and non-Catholics who have been baptized in another Christian community may prepare for confirmation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA – formerly RCIA) and are typically confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Marriage
In the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacred and permanent sacrament, governed by the canonical laws of the universal Church, the Diocese of Grand Rapids, and the State of Michigan. At Our Lady of the Lake, we take this commitment seriously and require thorough preparation to ensure you are prepared for this vocation.
Through this period of preparation, it is our goal to provide you with a clear and easy path forward. Please review our guidelines and policies below, then return the completed application form to the parish office before scheduling an appointment with our pastor.
Anointing of the Sick
“The anointing of the sick can be administered to any member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger by reason of illness or old age” (Canon 1004; cf. CCC 1514).
We recommend scheduling the sacrament shortly after you have been diagnosed with a serious illness or have scheduled a major surgery. Anointings may be celebrated at the parish, at your home, or in a hospital room. Family and friends may be present. To request an Anointing of the Sick, call the parish office at 616-399-1062 or fill out the Sacramental Emergencies Form.
Holy Orders
If you are considering joining the priesthood, we welcome your discernment! Please review the webpage below to learn more about the processes and formation of seminarians here in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
