Sacraments

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." (CCC 1213)

Interested in baptism for your child at Saint Raymond? Wonderful! We look forward to welcoming your child into our Catholic community. To schedule a time for a baptism, please fill out this form and submit to the parish office.

Once you have filled in the form, please contact the parish office by email at office@straymondmp.org or phone at 650-323-1755. One of our clergy or staff members will be glad to help you prepare for this beautiful sacrament.

The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible. (CCC 1455)

Confessions are held:

• Wednesday 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm during Holy Hour
• Saturday 9:15 am - 9:45 am during Adoration
• Saturday 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Confessions can also be held by appointment. Please contact the parish office.

The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1325)

To arrange for Communion for the sick and aged, please call the parish office at 650-323-1755.

Thank you for your interest in our Confirmation Preparation Program!

Our mission is to help moms and dads—the first teachers of the Faith—be the best of teachers, by providing support for families and instruction for their children in the Catholic Faith, so that the whole family can grow in relationship to God and form the next generation of Jesus' disciples for preaching the Gospel. Join us!

The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. (CCC 1601*)

St. Raymond Church is a grace filled community and we would love to assist you in preparing for a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. To start the process, please contact us no later than 12 months before your planned date so that we can complete the process in a timely manner.

Please do not book a venue or sign contracts with vendors before meeting in person with one of the priests at St. Raymond. To start the process to get married, please call the parish office at (650) 323-1755.

The Preparation Process

The following are the steps that must be completed to be married in a sacramental church wedding. Please do not start any of the steps until you have met in person with the priest who will be preparing you for your marriage and he has agreed to witness your marriage vows.

The preparation process involves the following ten steps:

1. Form A — Eligibility

   Each spouse meets with the priest to complete “Form A,” indicating readiness and eligibility for marriage.

2. Form B — Witnesses

   Each spouse provides two witnesses (close family or long-time friends) who meet with the priest to complete “Form B,” testifying to the spouse’s eligibility for marriage.

3. Dispensations if needed

   If any dispensations are necessary for the marriage, the couple meets with the priest to begin the application for those dispensations from the local bishop.

4. Annulments if needed

   If any annulments are necessary, the couple meets with the priest to begin the process of investigating and applying for them.

5. Baptism Certificate

   Catholic spouses provide a current (not original) Baptism Certificate from the parish of their Baptism made out less than six months prior to their marriage. Non-Catholic Christian spouses provide a recent Baptism Certificate from the relevant church.

6. FOCCUS Program

   The couple completes the FOCCUS program with one of our clergy.

7. Marriage Prep Retreat or Course

   The couple completes either an in-person Engaged Encounter Retreat or an online Catholic Marriage Prep program.

8. Natural Family Planning

   The couple takes a course on Natural Family Planning (NFP) either through one of the local instructors in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, or online through NFP Basics.

9. Marriage License

   The couple has a valid marriage license application ready to be signed by the priest on the day of the marriage, or a certified copy of a Civil Marriage Certificate.

10. Liturgy & Music Planning

    After the priest has agreed to witness your vows, you may start planning liturgy, music, decorations, and other details by contacting our Director of Music and Liturgy at music@straymondmp.org.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. (CCC 1536)

The Western Dominican Province and USCCB Vocations Website have more general information.

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. (CCC 1499)

Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites is available by appointment. Please talk to the priest after Mass or call the parish office at 650-323-1755 to arrange an appointment. Visits to the homebound are available.

For information on sacramental records, copies of certificates (Baptism, Marriage, etc.) and letters of good standing for baptismal godparents and Confirmation sponsors, please email us at office@straymondmp.org.

* Catechism references from the Catechism of the Catholic Church