Holy Mysteries
(Sacraments)
Canonical Ascription
Every Catholic is a member not only of the universal Catholic Church but also of one of the 22 particular, ritual, sui juris churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The largest of these churches is the Latin Church. Holy Protection parish in Denver (ergo the Fort Collins outreach community) is part of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, which is part of the sui juris Byzantine Catholic (Ruthenian) Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh.
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A person’s ascription is generally determined at baptism or by the formal process of transfer from one church sui juris to another. A person’s canonical ascription can significantly impact the administration of the holy mysteries of initiation and crowning (marriage), regardless of where one regularly attends Divine Liturgy and for how long one has done so. Therefore, please allow ample time to address these issues when you request baptism or marriage.
Mystery of
Christian Initiation
Full Byzantine initiation—Baptism, Chrismation, and First Communion—is the norm, even for infants, for ascribed members of the Eastern Churches belonging to the Byzantine liturgical family. Latin Catholics baptized as infants normally receive Confirmation and First Communion separately and at a later age. A Byzantine Catholic priest can baptize a person who will be an ascribed member of the Latin Church with the permission of his or her territorial pastor; permission to Chrismate/Confirm, however, comes from the local Latin bishop.
Mystery of
Holy Penance
The Mystery of Holy Penance will be celebrated an hour before evening feast day Divine Liturgies and, for now, on Saturday mornings. This service provides the framework for individual confessions. Individual confessions may also be scheduled at other times by appointment.
Anointing the Sick
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of healing in which we pray for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of those who are sick or suffering. We offer this sacrament to those who are in need of God's healing grace. Through this sacrament, we experience the compassion and love of Christ who came to heal the sick and the brokenhearted.
Mystery of Crowning
The Eparchy requires a preparation period of at least six months. For couples both of whom are Latin Catholics, the local archdiocese requires a preparation period of eight months, which will be followed in this parish to allow time for requesting the extra permissions required in such a case. Marriages should not be celebrated during the Fasting Seasons of the Church, especially not during the Great Fast.