Holy Baptism: Our First Step in Faith

Baptism is the first of the seven Sacraments and the sacred doorway through which we are welcomed into the life of Christ and His Church. Through the waters of Baptism, we become members of God’s family and begin our journey as disciples. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, laying the foundation for a lifetime of faith, grace, and communion with the Lord.

The Church provides two paths for receiving this Sacrament: one for children under the age of seven through Infant Baptism, and another for those seven and older through the Order of Christian Initiation. Each path is designed to nurture faith and deepen our relationship with Christ and His Church.

Infant Baptism

Children under the age of seven are baptized through Infant Baptism. Parents to begin this sacred process, contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office

At Immaculate Conception, Baptisms are ordinarily celebrated in a communal setting, reminding us that we are welcomed into the larger family of God. Families who desire a private Baptism are asked to meet with a priest or deacon prior to attending the preparation class. While we strive to be accommodating, not all requests can be fulfilled.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com or call (440) 428-5164. 

We look forward to walking with you as you prepare to welcome your child into the life of Christ and His Church through the Sacrament of Baptism.

Confirmation: Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit

From the beginning of salvation history, the prophets of the Old Testament proclaimed that the Spirit of God would rest upon the promised Messiah, strengthening Him for His sacred mission. This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. At His Baptism in the Jordan, the Spirit descended upon Him, revealing Him as the beloved Son of the Father. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus lived and ministered in perfect communion with the Holy Spirit.

Before His Passion and Death, the Lord promised to send the Spirit to guide and strengthen His Apostles and the entire Church. After His Resurrection, Christ poured out this gift upon His followers, empowering them to continue His saving work in the world.

Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, our baptismal grace is strengthened and brought to fullness. We are sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit and called to be courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and throughout society. Confirmation deepens our understanding of the faith and draws us into a more personal relationship with Christ, who continually intercedes for His Church and builds up His people in love and service.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.    

Reconciliation: Encountering God’s Mercy and Healing

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as the Sacrament of Penance, is one of the two Sacraments of Healing through which Christ restores our souls and renews our hearts. In this sacred encounter, we come before God with humility and trust, confessing our sins in the presence of a priest, who acts in the person of Christ. Through sincere repentance, honest confession, and a desire to make amends, we receive God’s forgiveness and are reconciled with Him and with His Church.

Through this sacrament, Jesus pours out His mercy upon us, lifting the burden of sin and strengthening us to live more faithfully as His disciples. It is an invitation to continual conversion, reminding us that no sin is greater than God’s love and no heart is beyond His healing grace.

Those who are baptized ordinarily celebrate their first confession before receiving their First Holy Communion, learning from an early age the beauty of God’s forgiveness. Throughout life, Catholics are called to approach this sacrament whenever they are conscious of having committed mortal sin, and regularly as part of a healthy spiritual life. By returning often to the Lord in Reconciliation, we grow in holiness, peace, and deeper communion with Christ.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Eucharist: Source and Summit of Our Faith

The Holy Eucharist is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation and stands at the very heart of Catholic life. As Saint Pope John Paul II beautifully taught, “The Eucharist is the source and the summit of our faith.” In this most sacred sacrament, Jesus Christ gives Himself to us completely, offering His Body and Blood as true spiritual nourishment for our souls.

As Catholics, we profess with faith and devotion that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. When He declared, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood,” He spoke with divine authority and truth. Under the appearances of bread and wine, we receive the fullness of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Whether we receive under the form of the Host, the Precious Blood, or both, we encounter the whole Christ and are united more deeply with Him and with His Church.

Through frequent reception of the Eucharist, we are strengthened in grace, renewed in love, and sent forth to live as faithful witnesses of Christ in the world. This sacrament nourishes our spiritual life and draws us into deeper communion with God and one another.

At Immaculate Conception, baptized children ordinarily receive their First Holy Communion at the end of second grade, following two consecutive years of Faith Formation. For more information or to begin the process, please contact the parish office. We look forward to walking with your family as you prepare to encounter Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Matrimony: A Sacred Covenant of Love and Life

The Sacrament of Matrimony, also known as Holy Marriage, is one of the two Sacraments of Service, together with Holy Orders. In this sacred covenant, a man and a woman freely and faithfully give themselves to one another before God and His Church. United by grace, they promise lifelong love, mutual support, and openness to the gift of life, reflecting Christ’s faithful love for His Church.

Through this sacrament, husband and wife are strengthened by God’s grace to grow in holiness together, to nurture a Christian home, and to serve one another in selfless love. Their marriage becomes a living witness of faith, hope, and charity in the world.

Immaculate Conception Parish joyfully welcomes couples who are preparing for this beautiful vocation. Engaged couples are encouraged to contact the Parish Office to schedule an appointment with one of our priests. It is recommended that this be done at least six months prior to the wedding date, in order to allow adequate time for prayerful preparation and marriage formation. We look forward to walking with you as you prepare to enter this sacred covenant.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Orders: Called and Anointed to Serve Christ and His Church

From the moment of His conception in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary until His glorious Resurrection, Jesus Christ was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. In the language of Sacred Scripture, He was anointed by the Spirit and appointed by God the Father as our eternal High Priest. As the Risen Lord, He continues forever in this priestly mission, interceding for us and leading His people in worship and salvation.

Through Baptism, all the faithful share in Christ’s priesthood and are called to offer their lives in loving service to God. In a special and sacred way, this participation is deepened through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Those ordained to the ministerial priesthood are configured to Christ the Priest and Shepherd, and are entrusted with the responsibility of preaching the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, and guiding the People of God.

Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. It is not chosen lightly, but received through prayer, discernment, and generous surrender to God’s will. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, so too do those called to this vocation respond: “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Christ Himself urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest for laborers, reminding the Church of her constant need for holy and faithful priests.

This sacred calling is gradually revealed through prayer, service, and the daily signs of God’s grace, and is carefully discerned with the guidance of the Church. Those entrusted with this responsibility help candidates recognize and respond to the Lord’s invitation to serve His people with humility, devotion, and love.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Anointing of the Sick: Christ’s Healing Presence in Times of Suffering

In the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the Church continues the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Through the prayer and anointing of the priest, it is Christ Himself who comes to touch the sick with His mercy and compassion. He brings forgiveness of sins, strength of soul, and, according to God’s will, even physical healing. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus healed the sick as signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God and as witnesses to His power over sin and death through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

This sacrament is not reserved only for those who are at the point of death. The Rite of Anointing reminds us that any member of the faithful who begins to be in danger due to serious illness, injury, or the frailty of advanced age may receive this sacred anointing. A prudent judgment about the seriousness of the condition is sufficient, allowing the faithful to receive Christ’s grace at the proper time.

When the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated, the Church prays especially for healing, trusting always in God’s loving will. If it pleases the Lord, physical recovery may be granted. Yet even when bodily healing does not occur, the sacrament brings a deeper and lasting grace. The Holy Spirit bestows peace, courage, and spiritual strength, helping the sick person unite their suffering with Christ and face illness or weakness with faith, hope, and trust in God’s abiding presence.

Through this sacrament, the faithful are reminded that they are never alone in suffering, for Christ walks with them, sustains them, and leads them toward eternal life.

For more information or to begin the process, please contact the Immaculate Conception Parish Office at office@iccmadison.com

 or call (440) 428-5164. We look forward to walking with you as you grow in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.