"Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist constitute the 'sacraments of initiation' by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ. The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 977, 1213,1275, 1278)

Baptism at St. Augustine

To have a child baptized at St. Augustine or St. Mary, at least one parent must be a practicing Catholic, registered at this church, and regularly attending Mass and participating in the life of the parish. Baptisms are celebrated quarterly during the community's weekend liturgy. To inquire about baptism and the baptismal preparation session, please contact:

The Office, PA Sacramental Preparation 360-675-2303

To request a Baptism Certificate - Please download this form and submit to office.

Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal or 'confirm' the baptized in unison with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship and apostolic life of the Church" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285)

Holy Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation, and Confirmation is the second. By Confirmation (or Chrismation as it is called in the Christian East), the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Lord Jesus and His Church, and they are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses (or martyrs) of Christ and the truth of His Gospel.

For adult converts who have never been baptized, the unity of these two sacraments is now restored when they are given together at the Easter Vigil. All Catholic Christians should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation to complete their communion with Christ and be marked by the perfection of the baptismal priesthood of the faithful in order to proclaim more boldly and publicly that Jesus Christ is Lord. Any baptized adult Catholic who has not yet been confirmed should participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Easter.

For more information about Confirmation at St. Augustine's, please contact:

"Those who approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation 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."(CCC 1422)

"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." (CCC 1499)

The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of the Sick. (CCC 1511)

The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:

• The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church
• The strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age
• The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance
• The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul
• The preparation for passing over to eternal life (CCC 1532)