| Being Catholic |
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Where can I worship as a Catholic in Utah?
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| What does it mean to be a Catholic? |
| What are the various Catholic Sacraments? |
| Why does the priest wear different-colored vestments? |
| Where can I find more Catholic-related information? |
| Where can I find information to help me in my daily walk with Christ? |
| ¿Hay los recursos de información para Católicos Hispanohablantes? |
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| Answers to these and more can be found on this page and related links. |
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| Note: graphics courtesy of artists at http://www.encuentra.com |
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| Vacation Bible School (VBS) News: Parents, we are taking orders for the Fiesta Sing and Play Ole CD of all the songs that your children learned at VBS. This is a great opportunity to extend the fun and learning they experienced at VBS. CD’S are only $10 and orders forms will be available after the 5:00p.m Saturday and 10:00a.m. Masses on August 12th & 13th and August 19 & 20. Completed order forms and payment must be turned in by August 25. If you have any questions or need further information please call Pam Repko at 770-8022. |
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Some Adult Formation Opportunities:
-Parish Mission on the Gospel of Luke, featuring Farther James DiLuzio, September 30-October 5
-Experiences of singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
-Experiences of the Liturgy of the Hours
-Opportunities for Bible studies and Catholic adult education videos during Sunday Christian Formation classes, as the need arises. (Sign up, or call Margaret & Bob Stepan if you are interested)
-Monday evening adult group at 7p.m., including informal discussions on topics of interest to Catholics and a lecture series on Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body”
-Rite of Christian Formation of Adults for non-Catholic spouses, family members, or friends who are interested in learning about the Catholic way of life, Tuesdays at 7p.m..
-Training for all Liturgical ministries as needed, and classes on the liturgy and its meaning and importance in our lives.
-Classes on the bishops call to evangelization and discipleship.
-Lectionary reflection group ever Thursday at 7p.m..
-We encourage all parishioners to try some of these gatherings to continue your growth in our Catholic faith and learn to share our faith with others. Call Margaret and Bob Stepan for more information.
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| Where can I Worship as a Catholic in Utah? |
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Many opportunities exist for Catholic worship in Utah.
The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City provides a directory of parishes and catholic schools that can be accessed via an in-site search engine. (http://www.dioslc.org/directory/index.php)
The CatholicWeb.com website has a really good Search by State or Diocese feature that enables you to obtain contact information (postal, phone, fax), service schedule, and Internet access for the listed churches in Utah and throughout the US.
Another site that offers mass schedules for travelers is http://www.masstimes.org/ASP/. This site is provide as a free ministry to traveling Catholics. It was funded by Pauline Books and Media in partnership with the Catholic Communication Campaign of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Mass Times Trust.
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| What does it mean to be a Catholic? |
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As a family of believers, we at St. Thomas Aquinas believe the following: |
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- To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world. Man must know, love and serve God in a supernatural manner in order to gain happiness of heaven. Man is raised to the supernatural order only by grace, a free gift of God.
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- We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the Catholic Church.
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- In order to be saved, all persons who have attained the use of reason must believe explicitly that God exist and that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked; in practice they must also believe in the mysteries of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation.
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- By the Blessed Trinity we mean one and the same God in three divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
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- By the Incarnation is meant that the Son of God, retaining His divine nature, took to Himself a human nature, that is, a body and soul like ours.
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- The Church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same sacrifice, and the same sacraments, under the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff and the bishops in communion with him.
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- We find the chief truths taught by Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church in the Apostles' Creed.
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| Sacraments |
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Sacrament of Baptism |
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 Parents wishing to have infants baptized should speak with the Pastor or Pastoral Associate and complete the preparation program stipulated by the Diocese. Parents should register their children, but make no final arrangements, select a date, or choose Godparents until they have met with the Pastor. Parents who present children for Baptism are to provide assurance that the children will be raised in the Catholic faith. Godparents are to be practicing Catholics. Many have asked what is the appropriate donation to the Church for the support of its baptismal preparation ministry. A stipend of $25 is considered appropriate. However, any stipend is voluntary and the Church accepts whatever a family decides is within their means. |
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First Confession and First Communion |
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 A child should have been actively involved in Religious Education Program ether in this Parish, a Catholic School, or at a previous parish for for one full year prior to entering a sacramental program. Parents are also asked to participate in the program of sacramental preparation as directed by Diocesan policies. Please contact the Director of Christian Formation for further information. |
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Sacrament of Confirmation |
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 A candidate for Confirmation should have been actively involved in a Religious Education Program in this parish, a Catholic School or at a previous parish for one full year prior to entering a sacramental program. Confirmation is conferred by the Bishop every year for students who have completed the 8th grade and any adults not previously confirmed. They are required to attend classes and demonstrate appreciation for their Catholic faith and the sacrament they are preparing to receive. Likewise, parents of those to be Confirmed are asked to participate in the preparation program. Please contact the Director of Christian Formation for further information. |
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Sacrament of Reconciliation |
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 Confessions are scheduled from 4 to 4:30 p.m. each Saturday and 1 to 1:30 p.m. each Sunday. Parishioners are also invited to arrange with the Pastor for private reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as convenient. Parish Penance Services will be scheduled during Advent and Lent, as well as at other appropriate times.
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Sacrament of Matrimony |
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 Those planning marriage should notify the Pastor or Pastoral Associate at least four months prior to the anticipated wedding, if possible. Additional time may be necessary in special circumstances. No wedding date should be set until the couple has had a first interview with the Pastor or Pastoral Associate and cleared the date on the Parish calendar.
Couples are encouraged to attend the Engaged Encounter Weekend as well as Natural Family Planning classes as required by Diocesan policy. It is recommended that couples who wish to have their marriage validated in the church (Blessing of Marriage) also attend a Marriage Encounter Weekend.
Couples wishing to be married in St. Thomas Aquinas Church are asked to make a financial offering of $100 toward the upkeep of the church. When decorating the church, please do not use tape or nails on the pews or anywhere in the church. The church is to be left clean and in good order, and decoration must be removed immediately following the services. Under no circumstances is rice to be thrown inside or outside the church.
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Communion Calls and Anointing of the Sick |
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 Parishioners are asked to notify the Pastor or Pastoral Associate if they know of Catholic relatives, friends or neighbors who are ill and homebound so they be offered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick as well as the Holy Eucharist. Lay members are available to bring communion to the sick in their homes on a weekly basis. |
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults |
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 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) includes three of the above sacraments: the Sacrament of Baptism, the Sacrament of Confirmation, and the dual Sacraments of First Confession and First Communion.
Non-Catholic adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith with a view toward entrance into the Church are welcomed and encouraged to join RCIA. This is a process-based class experience intended to support you on the journey of faith—academically, socially, spiritually. Adult Catholic sponsors will walk the journey with you. Catholics are encouraged to invite and welcome friends, relatives or neighbors to consider the Catholic faith. For more information as a non-Catholic inquirer or a Catholic sponsor, please contact the Pastor or Pastoral Associate.
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| Color of Vestments |
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| Straight Answers-The Color of Liturgical Vestments |
| by Fr. William Saunders |
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The Church's liturgical norms do prescribe specific vestment colors for various celebrations. The purpose of utilizing different colors for vestments is twofold: first, the colors highlight the particular liturgical season and the faithful's journey through these seasons. Second, the colors punctuate the liturgical season by highlighting a particular event or particular mystery of faith. The following explanation is based on the norms of "The General Instruction on the Roman Missal."
White or gold, a color symbolizing rejoicing and purity of soul, is worn during the liturgical seasons of Christmas and Easter. White vestments are also used for feasts of our Lord (except those pertaining to His passion), the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints who were not martyrs. White vestments are also worn on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and the Feasts of All Saints, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, the Chair of St. Peter, and the Conversion of St. Paul. White may also be used for Masses of Christian Burial and Masses for the Dead to signify the resurrection of our Lord, when He triumphed over sin and death, sorrow and darkness.
Red has a dual imagery: On one hand, red symbolizes the shedding of blood and is therefore used on Palm Sunday (when Christ entered Jerusalem to prepare for His death), Good Friday, any other commemoration of the Lord's passion, the votive Mass of the Precious Blood, the days marking the martyrdom of the apostles (except St. John), and the feasts of other martyrs who offered their lives for the faith.
On the other hand, red also signifies the burning fire of God's love. For this reason, red vestments are worn on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and tongues of fire rested on their heads; for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation; and for the votive Masses of the Holy Spirit.
Green is used during the liturgical season called Ordinary Time. This season focuses on the three-year period of our Lord's public ministry, and the Gospel passages, particularly on Sundays, recount His teachings, miracles, exorcisms, and other deeds during this time. All of these teachings and events engender great hope in the mystery of salvation. We focus on the life He shared with mankind during His time on this earth, the life we share now with Him in the community of the Church and through His sacraments, and we look forward to sharing everlasting life with Him perfectly in Heaven. Green symbolizes this hope and life, just as the hint of green on trees in early Spring arouses the hope of new life.
Violet or purple is used during Advent and Lent as a sign of penance, sacrifice and preparation. At the midpoint of both of these seasons-Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent-rose vestments are traditionally worn as a sign of joy: we rejoice at the midpoint because we are half-way through the preparation and anticipate the coming joy of Christmas or Easter. Some liturgists, particularly in the Episcopalian Church, have introduced the use of blue vestments during Advent as a way of distinguishing this season from Lent; however, no approval for blue vestments has been given for the Catholic Church. Purple vestments may also be used for Masses of Christian Burial or Masses for the Dead.
Although not seen very frequently in the United States today, black vestments may be worn for Masses of Christian Burial as a sign of death and mourning. Black may also be used on the Feast of All Souls or for any Mass of the Dead, such as on the anniversary of the death of a loved one.
In all, the colors of the vestments awaken us to the sense of sacred time. They are another visible way to make present the sacred mysteries we celebrate.
Fr. Saunders is president of Notre Dame Institute and associate pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria.
This article appeared in the March 16, 1995 issue of "The Arlington Catholic Herald" and can be accessed online at http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/LITCOLOR.HTM
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| Where can I find More Catholic-related Information? |
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Numerous online resources exist to assist you in your quest. We recommend starting with the following: |
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Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City (http://www.dioslc.org/)
The official website of the Catholic Diocese in Salt Lake City, this site contains regional news and events important to Utah Catholics. It also contains location information and mass schedules for parishes throughout our region, location and contact information for regional Catholic schools, and links and contact information for multiple Catholic stewardship opportunities. |
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Intermountain Catholic (http://www.icnp.com/index.html)
The Intermountain Catholic site is sponsored by the Diocese of Salt Lake City. With a more "newsy" flavor, this site includes "Letters to the Editor" and other outlets for Catholics to dialogue about related concerns and stay up to date on local/national news and events. The "Utah CatÓlico" section is a nice addition that recognizes the large proportion of Spanish-speaking Utah Catholics. |
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Catholic Community Services for Utah (http://www.ccsutah.org/)
Anyone interested in participating actively in stewardship opportunities throughout Utah will find a wealth of opportunities, contact information, and rewarding stories on the Catholic Community Services for Utah site. |
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Catholic Online (http://www.catholic.org/)
The Catholic Online site provides the latest in national and international Catholic news. It is also a great resource for thoroughly researched articles and editorials relevant to Catholics. The interactive portion of Catholic Online includes online discussion forums for both adults and youth, prayer requests, services and shopping. |
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Global Catholic Network (http://www.ewtn.com/)
The Global Catholic Network provides links to news media outlets. This site also provides a database of information resources with both answers to general questions and authoritative resources for more in-depth study. A cute feature to this site is its Kids section. |
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The Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/)
The Catholic Encyclopedia contains over 11,000 articles on Catholic topics, accessible via a search engine. Also located at this site is the Summa Theologica written by St. Thomas Aquinas. |
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| Information to help me in my Daily Walk with Christ |
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Daily Bible Readings (http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.htm)
We encourage you to make daily Bible readings a habit. The United States Conference on Catholic Bishops site includes daily readings and responsorial Psalms. |
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Stories to Strengthen Us (http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/default.asp)
The stories on the American Catholic sites inspires each of us to answer God's call to do the extraordinary in ordinary times. |
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| Los Recursos de información para Católicos Hispanohablantes |
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Encuentra (http://www.encuentra.com/)
Encuentra incluye información con respecto a la doctrina Católica básica, con respecto a las creencias, con respecto a los valores, y con respecto a los recursos educativos del estudio. Este sitio contiene también información acerca de asuntos sociales y diarios frente a Católicos. Una adición agradable a este sitio es su galería grande de imágenes Católico-Basados. |
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La Traducción libre (http://www.freetranslation.com/)
Le permite traducir cualquier texto del inglés al español y viceversa. |
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