Sacraments
1. Baptism
It is through this sacrament that we are freed from sin, and reborn as a child of God to become members of God’s family, the Church. If you would like to explore the possibility of being baptised as an adult or bringing your child to be baptised, please contact the Parish Priest.
2. Confirmation
If you were baptised as a child, confirmation gives you the opportunity to affirm the faith that your parents and godparents expressed on your behalf. It consists of the laying on of hands and anointing with holy oil by the Bishop.
3. The Eucharist (Mass, Holy Communion)
Through the Eucharist Christians can participate in the redemption which Christ has brought about on the cross. As we take the bread and wine, we are sharing in Jesus’ body and blood. We are closer to God than ever as God literally comes under our roof.
By his death, Christ won the great victory – the forgiveness of our sins and the defeat of death itself.
4. Confession
Have you ever wanted to know for sure that you were forgiven? When we make a confession to a priest, we tell him the things we have done wrong. We are given advice and counsel, and the priest then pronounces absolution. Absolution lets us know for sure that that those things on our conscience are put away for ever, and that God forgives us. The slate has been wiped clean.
5. Marriage
Marriage is a gift given by God that allows husband and wife to ‘comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy’.
You can get married at St Oswald’s if you have not previously been married, and if either you or your fiancé(e) live in the parish, attend the church or are on the electoral roll. You may also get married here if you have a qualifying connection with the church, such as if a family member was baptised or married at St Oswald’s.
6. Holy Orders
To be called to serve in the ordained ministry is not to be promoted; the ordained are called to be servants by celebrating the sacraments, in particular the Eucharist.
Ordained ministry is highly rewarding, but it should be understood that it is also a great burden.
There is a significant amount of discernment and then training to be undertaken prior to ordination.
Anointing
We believe that through anointing with Holy Oils - a sign of God’s presence and protection over us - we are able to experience the healing presence of Jesus.
The priest will lay his hands on the head of the individual and pray for them in a moment of stillness. They will anoint their palms and forehead with Holy Oil that has been blessed by the Bishop with the sign of the cross, representing the touch of Jesus.