Baptism
Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation, it is the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. The Church welcomes new members into the Christian faith community. While infant Baptism is the norm in the Catholic Church, one can be baptized at any age.
Infants & Children Under 7 Years Old
Catechesis for Baptism is directed primarily to adults who are parents and godparents of infants or young children. Parents wishing to have their child baptized must contact our Religious Education Director at the Church Office to schedule a date and provide the Church with the proper documentation. A mandatory Baptism class is required for parents and godparents. The class includes presentations and discussions on the history, theology, rite and symbols of Baptism, and the role and responsibilities of parents and godparents. Baptismal classes are held every month on the third Saturday of the month in English and on the second Sunday of the month in Spanish. Please note that we generally do not have Baptisms during Lent and Advent. Parents must contact the Church Office to sign up for the Baptismal classes and to schedule the Baptism.
Children 7 Years Old and Older
Children over 7 years old who wish to be baptized enter into a program of preparation called Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC). Children going through this program are not only baptized at Easter Vigil-the night before Easter- but they are also Confirmed and receive First Communion. For more information about the RCIC program, please contact the RCIA Coordinator at the Church Office.
Adults
Adults who wish to be baptized enter into a process of preparation called Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This process presents the initiation of adults into the Church as a public journey of conversion in the midst of the faith community- sponsors, godparents, priests, other parish ministers, family, friends, and all parishioners. The process begins with informative sessions that allows the inquirer to ask questions and helps him/her decide if the Catholic Church is the right choice. Catechesis for RCIA includes not only Catholic teachings but also seeks to encourage and enlighten faith, to direct one’s heart to God, and to become full participating members of the Body of Christ. RCIA members will be receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion during the Easter Vigil celebration. Please contact the RCIA Coordinator for more details.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Eucharist is the only Sacrament that we can (and should) receive repeatedly (by going to Mass). In Holy Communion, we consume the Body and Blood of Christ, which unites us more closely to Him and helps us to grow in grace by living a more Christian life.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy. Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned." Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). While all the Sacraments bring us an experience of the mercy that comes from Christ's dying and rising, it is the Sacrament of Reconciliation that is the unique Sacrament of mercy. -From the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Confessions at IC Church are:
Tuesday and Thursday 5:00 pm (Church)
Saturday 3:30 pm (Church) Or by appointment
Sacrament of Eucharist
First Reconciliation & First Communion
Children prepare for First Reconciliation before receiving First Communion. These Sacraments are generally celebrated during second grade, however, parents, in consultation with the pastor and catechists, are responsible for determining when the child is ready to receive these Sacraments. Children preparing for First Communion are expected to be enrolled in our Parish Religious Education Program or Catholic School for at least 2 years prior to receiving the Sacrament.
Catechesis for First Communion teaches that the Eucharist is the heart of Christian life. Children are taught that the Holy Eucharist is the real body and blood of Christ and through our participation in this sacrifice; we are spiritually nourished to live in the Christian community.
Communion of the Sick
The Holy Eucharist is brought to our shut-ins on a regular basis. Please notify the Church Office (479-783-7963) if you or someone you know would like a visitation.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation seeks to emphasize the transformation of life by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
During High School
Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation seeks to emphasize the transformation of life by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and is currently completed over a 2 year process. Per parish guidelines, candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation should be in the 10th grade or older, must attend Confirmation classes on Sundays at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center and Religious Education classes on Wednesdays nights at 6:30 pm. Requirements may vary depending on the candidate. Please contact the Director of Religious Education at the Church Office.
As Adults
If an adult has never been baptized, or was baptized in another Christian church, or was baptized in the Catholic Church but never raised in the faith, a process called Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the right choice. Informative sessions are held to allow inquirers to ask questions and help them decide if the Catholic Choice is the right choice. RCIA provides preparation for Baptism (if applicable), Confirmation and First Communion. Requisites can change depending on the candidate. For more information, please contact the RCIA Coordinator at the Church Office.
Sacrament of Marriage
Catholics believe that marriage comes as a gift from the hand of God. The Catholic vision of marriage is rooted in Sacred Scripture and is expressed in the teachings and practices of the Church. The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God.
It has these main elements:
- Marriage unites a couple in faithful and mutual love
- Marriage opens a couple to giving life
- Marriage is a way to respond to God’s call to holiness
- Marriage calls the couple to be a sign of Christ’s love in the world
Because of the sacredness of this relationship, marriage cannot be entered into lightly. Marriage preparation is essential. Engaged couples need to contact the Church Office at least SIX MONTHS prior to the intended wedding date. Those wishing to get married at Immaculate Conception Church must be members of the parish, attend the one-day Pre-Cana retreat, and take the Natural Family Planning (NFP) course.
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision.... Rather it is the response to a call and to a call of love. —Pope Francis, Address to Seminarians and Novices, July 6, 2013
Please visit the Vocation Resources page on the Diocese of Little Rock website for more information.
Anointing of the Sick
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient. The Sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after the anointing but becomes ill once again, or if, during the same illness, the person's condition becomes more serious. A person should be anointed before surgery when a dangerous illness is the reason for the intervention. A person who is ill, chronically sick, growing weaker or disabled should receive the Sacrament.
* Communion of the Sick: The Holy Eucharist is brought to our shut-ins on a regular basis by our Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. Every first Friday of the month, our priests visit the shut-ins to offer Communion and Confession. Please notify the Church Office if you or someone you know would like a visitation.
Emergency calls may be made at any time.
Service for shut-ins may be arranged at the Church Office 479-783-7963.
RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process that leads adults to full membership in the Catholic Church. This process presents the initiation of adults into the church as a public journey of conversion in the midst of the faith community. This faith community includes sponsors, godparents, catechists, priests, other parish ministers, family, friends, and all parishioners. Catechesis for RCIA includes not only Catholic teachings but it also seeks to encourage and enlighten faith, to direct one’s heart to God, to become full participating members of the body of Christ.
On the Road to Catholicism provides you with more details about the RCIA process.
RCIC: Rite of Christian Initiation for Children
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children follows the same format as the RCIA but on a level appropriate to the ages of the children involved.
Need a Certificate?
Were you baptized at IC Church? Please call the Church Office 479-783-7963.