“Father, you give us grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of the wonders of your unseen power. In baptism we use your gift of water, which you have made a rich symbol of the grace you give us in this sacrament.

You created us in your own likeness: cleanse us from sin in a new birth to innocence by water and the Spirit.”

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM 

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.”

The Baptism of Infants

The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole “households” received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.

Faith and Baptism 

Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the godparent is asked: “What do you ask of God’s Church?” The response is: “Faith!”

For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized – child or adult on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism.

If you wish to have your child baptized please call the church office for more information 601-969-3125

Baptism, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded.

It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.

Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

Within the Diocese of Jackson, Bishop Joseph Kopacz requests that students be confirmed as sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school. Prior to that age, students should be receiving religious education either through their parish Sunday School program or an area Catholic school.

The Blessed Sacrament in which Jesus Christ truly becomes the bread and wine. In the Gospel of John, Jesus stated,  “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35).

Jesus continued saying, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51–52).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:53–56).

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the third of the Sacraments of Initiation. Even though we are required to receive Communion at least once per year (our Easter Duty), and the Church urges us to receive Communion frequently (even daily, if possible), it is called a sacrament of initiation because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ.

In Holy Communion, we are eating the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without which “you shall not have life in you” (John 6:53).
For more information call 601-969-3125

The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, Confession, Forgiveness, and Conversion) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive others.

Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?

Out of his great love, Jesus instituted this sacrament through which a sinner who is sorry receives pardon and peace and is restored to the fullness of grace with God.

Confession is a very intimate experience. Even in a communal reconciliation service that you might attend during Advent, Lent or a retreat, individual confessions are private.

The Catholic Church maintains, however, that there is also a social aspect to sin. Sin not only affects our relationship with God, sin also alienates us from other people and the Church.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus provides us with a way of being reconciled to God and to those we’ve hurt, and to be strengthened in our connection to God’s entire family.

Reconciliation is available each Wednesday 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m and  each Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (before the Vigil Mass), or by appointment by calling 601-969-3125.

In the Sacrament of Holy Orders the ordinand vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness.

Are you being called?

Is Jesus asking you to help make His presence visible in a world desperately in need of faith, hope, and love? Are you having thoughts and feelings about becoming a priest, brother or sister? Nothing is more important than discovering and living God’s will.

For Your Vocation.org – Vocation (Latin–vocare: called) A vocation is who God has “called” us to be. All of the baptized possess the vocation of the universal call to holiness and service in the Church.

The Sacrament of Matrimony is one of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. Be assured that the Rite of Marriage is a sacred ceremony, expressing and celebrating the faith not only of two people, but of our entire community of faith.

In order to respect the sacred commitment called for in a sacramental marriage, the Cathedral Parish provides you with the following guidelines for serious consideration and fitting preparation.

For more information, contact the Cathedral Office at 601-969-3125.

Cathedral Wedding Guidelines

Marriage Resources

Engaged Encounter is an intense weekend offering each  couple the time and opportunity to question, examine, and deepen their relationship with each other and with God.

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The Office of Family Ministry with Catholic Charities works with parishes to provide a variety of services that support and minister to families, whether these families are traditional, single parent, blended, or extended.  Many of these programs are focused on supporting couples.

Programs offered:

• When Families Marry – Helps engaged couples discuss important aspects of their lives and plan for a lifetime together.
• In A Redeeming State – Addresses blended family issues of stepfamily structure and step parenting.

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Love Thinks, LLC is dedicated to creating educational programs that teach how to build and strengthen relationships before and after marriage.
 

For Your Marriage – An initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, this site has information and articles concerning dating, parenting and marriage.
 

Por su matrimonio – Una iniciativa de la Conferencia Estadounidense de Obispos Católicos, este sitio contiene información y artículos relativos a citas, la paternidad y el matrimonio.

“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.”

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

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:

This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle.

From ancient times in the liturgical traditions of both East and West, we have testimonies to the practice of anointings of the sick with blessed oil. Over the centuries the Anointing of the Sick was conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death. Because of this it received the name “Extreme Unction.” Notwithstanding this evolution the liturgy has never failed to beg the Lord that the sick person may recover his health if it would be conducive to his salvation.

The Apostolic Constitution Sacram Unctionem Infirmorum, following upon the Second Vatican Council, established that henceforth, in the Roman Rite, the following be observed:

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil – pressed from olives or from other plants – saying, only once: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”

WHO RECEIVES AND WHO ADMINISTERS THIS SACRAMENT?

In case of grave illness . . .

The Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.”

If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.

“. . . let him call for the presbyters of the Church”

Only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the Sick. It is the duty of pastors to instruct the faithful on the benefits of this sacrament. The faithful should encourage the sick to call for a priest to receive this sacrament. The sick should prepare themselves to receive it with good dispositions, assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention.

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

The Cathedral staff offer their sincere condolences on the passing of your loved one.  May God give you the grace you need as you prepare to say farewell.

The Cathedral Rector and the pastoral staff will meet with family members to assist them in planning for the funeral Liturgy [and/or wake service] of their loved one.  Planning includes assistance with choosing readings, music, and as well as assistance with logistics for the funeral Mass.

Funeral Guidelines