Baptisms are held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Parents are required to meet with Fr. Jeremy Hammond for pre-baptismal instruction, preferably before the birth of the child. At least one Godparent must be a practicing Catholic. If not a practicing Catholic, the other Godparent must be a baptized Christian. Contact Fr. Hammond at 301-530-1550 to register your child for baptism.
If the child is over the age of 6, parents must also contact the Religious Education Office at (301) 530-9100.

First Holy Communion: All second grade students and others are prepared for their first Holy Communion. Traditionally, these are celebrated spring. The Archdiocese of Washington requires that a child be enrolled in religious education classes for two years prior to receiving these sacraments. Any child in a private Catholic school other than St. Jane DeChantal who will celebrate these sacraments in the current year must register with the Faith Formation office. Questions? Contact James Caulfield at (301) 530-9100.

Please call the parish office when a parishioner is in the hospital, a nursing home, or confined to home and wishes to receive a visit or any of the sacraments. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is administered to those whose  health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age (PCS, 8); to those about to undergo surgery when a serious illness is the reason for the surgery (PCS, 10); and to the elderly if they become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present (PCS, 11). Those who once had the use of reason, but have subsequently lost their mental faculties due to senility, unconsciousness, mental illness or some other reason should be anointed (C. 1006). The sacrament of anointing may be repeated when the sick person recovers after being anointed and, at a later time, becomes sick again; or when during the same illness the condition of the sick person becomes more serious (PCS, 9). The rite of viaticum is used by the Church to comfort and strengthen a dying Catholic in the passage from this life (PCS, 161). The ministry to the dying includes  the sacrament of penance, the renewal of baptismal promises, and Communion as viaticum (food for the journey).

All eighth grade students are prepared for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The date for confirmation is assigned by the Archdiocese of Washington and announced to parishioners when notification is received. The archdiocese requires that a child be enrolled in religious education classes for two years prior to receiving the sacrament. Any child in a Catholic school other than St. Jane DeChantal, who will celebrate this sacrament in the current year, must register with the Faith Formation office.

A couple wishing to marry at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church should contact one of the parish priests a minimum of six months prior to the intended date of the wedding. At least one of the parties must be a member of the parish or, if you are not a member, you must have immediate family in the parish. Do not set a date until you have met with a priest. For more information, contact Fr. Giese our pastor at 301-530-1550.

Several other initiatives and programs minister to engaged and married couples:

For Your Marriage (http://www.foryourmarriage.org) is an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that provides resources for engaged and married couples.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter(http://www.wwme.org) sponsors weekends locally for couples who want to turn their good marriage into a great marriage.

Retrouvaille (https://www.helpourmarriage.org) sponsors weekends locally that provides the tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship.

FUNERAL LITURGY PREPARATION BOOK
Liturgy Planning Form (to return to the Office of Litury)

PROCEDURE FOR SETTING UP A FUNERAL MASS FOLLOWING DEATH

When a death in the family occurs, the procedure for setting up a funeral Mass begins with contacting the funeral home of your choice. The funeral home will then contact the parish to see what days are available. Once the funeral is scheduled, the family should then contact Guiliano Grisi, the parish Director of Liturgy and Music, to plan the details of the funeral Mass. He will guide the family through the selection of readings, music and other details. The parish also produces programs to assist the family and friends in the celebration of the funeral Mass. Please review the "Funeral Liturgy Preparation Book" above for more information.