"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 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."5 This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."6 (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1213 and #1214)

St. John the Baptist offers the Sacrament of Baptism on a regular basis, sometimes as often as twice monthly.  Parents who wish to have their child baptized may coordinate this Sacrament with the pastor through the parish office.  All families baptizing their first child, or who have not yet done so, must attend a regularly scheduled Baptism Preparation Class. In order to schedule baptism, parents should contact the parish office at 952-474-8868 two months prior to the birth of their child.

The doctrine of the Holy Eucharist consist of that of the Eucharist sacrifice, the sacrificial meal, and the sacrificial food, or to express it otherwise, it consists of the doctrine of the Mass, of Communion, and of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about preparation for this Sacrament, visit our Faith Formation pages by using the main menu or clicking here.

The sacrament of confirmation completes the sacrament of baptism. If baptism is the sacrament of re-birth to a new and supernatural life, confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about preparation for this Sacrament, visit our Faith Formation pages on the main menu, or by clicking here.

"Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of "the wedding-feast of the Lamb."85 Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its "mystery," its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal "in the Lord" in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church.86

"The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. . . . God himself is the author of marriage."87 The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes. These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics. Although the dignity of this institution is not transparent everywhere with the same clarity,88 some sense of the greatness of the matrimonial union exists in all cultures. "The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life."89 (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1603, 1604)

The Sacrament of Marriage is administered through St. John's with great care and careful planning and preparation. Registered parishioners who are interested in preparing for and scheduling the Sacrament of Marriage at St. John's should contact the parish office at 952/474-8868.

Please note that scheduling or checking for date availability cannot be done through the parish office staff, as the Marriage Preparation process must be initiated through the Pastor before any calendaring may be done.

Required Marriage Preparation Steps include:

1)  Membership in St. John’s Parish.

2)  FOCCUS Inventory. (The FOCCUS Inventory is an Archdiocesan approved tool for all couples preparing for entering the Sacrament of Marriage. FOCCUS is an internationally used inventory designed to provide engaged couples and those working with them a personalized profile of what is needed in their marriage preparation process, offering a list of items for discussion, affirmation or problem solving.)

3)  Archdiocese Marriage Preparation Weekend (Friday evening – Saturday).

4)  4 to 6 meetings with the priest or deacon who will preside at the wedding ceremony. This includes completing the required sacramental documentation.

5)  Planning with Parish Music and Wedding Coordinator.

6)  Wedding practice.

Couples are to submit civil marriage documents to parish office a week ahead of time so they may be filled out accurately; they must supply the full name of the two witnesses at the same time.  Couple must have priest or deacon sign civil documents that assures the rebate on their marriage license.

"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 Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1499)

St. John the Baptist offers the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick several times a year. This Sacrament is offered to all of those suffering from serious physical illness, to the elderly burdened with infirmities of age, and to anyone about to undergo major surgery. No longer limited to those near danger of death, this Sacrament, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, helps a sick person to resist temptation, ease anxieties, and strengthen faith in God's power. Those receiving the Sacrament also find comfort in the communal prayer and personal presence of all parishioners who attend this celebration. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is announced in our weekly bulletin as the date approaches. If you are interested in finding out when the next is scheduled, please contact the Parish Office.

As to Orders. The supreme task which Christ had to fulfill was his priestly work of atonement which he completed as mediator between God and man. By the union in himself of humanity and divinity Christ is by nature the mediator.