Sacraments and Liturgy

'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever' 
speaks of the mission of the Church, called to carry on the work of Christ. 
Like the mustard seed in the Gospel, the Church has grown to become a great tree, 
able to cover the whole of humanity with her branches.
--St. John Paul II, As the Third Millennium Draws Near

The heart of St. Charles Parish is the Eucharist.  "In the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324).  It is through this Eucharist that we are brought into a "common union" not only with Christ, but with each other.  We come closer to Christ in the Eucharist by attending daily and Sunday Mass, taking part in the observances of Corpus Christi and Eucharistic Days, and making frequent visits to Him in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

All the sacraments are encounters with Christ which not only deepen our relationship with Him personally but also with each other communally.  When a person is baptized, he or she is cleansed from original sin and indelibly "sealed" for Christ, the parish community increases.  When the baptized are "sealed with the Holy Spirit" in Confirmation, they are strengthened through the gifts of the Spirit, and we all take nourishment from their fruits.  We are all revitalized when the sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders empower the Mystical Body of Christ with new life.  And we all draw comfort when we ourselves, or other members of the Body of Christ, are purified and healed in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick.