Baptism finds its origin in Jesus Christ. He submitted to John’s baptism not because he needed cleansing, but to sanctify the waters and to show his solidarity with humanity. By commissioning his disciples to baptize all nations, Jesus opened the way for us to die to sin—both original and personal—and to begin a new life with God.

What Baptism Means

• New life in Christ — Baptism unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection and begins our journey as members of his Body.

• Gift of the Holy Spirit — Through Baptism the Holy Spirit draws us into holiness, enabling us to walk in the light of Christ.

• Call to discipleship — Baptized Christians are invited to trust Christ’s wisdom, deepen their love for him, and live out the Gospel.

Preparation and Schedule

• Baptism preparation for infants is usually held in the Social Hall at 6:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month, except during Advent and Lent; consult the parish bulletin for exact dates and any changes.

Reconciliation is available each Saturday at 2pm, and may also be offered after 9am daily masses.

Not only does the Sacrament of Penance free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us.  We are liberated to be forgivers.  We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church.  The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven.  In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins.  With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God.

In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission.  Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.  Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church.  After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.

Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.  . . .  We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.

Getting Married in the Catholic Church (Simplified Guide)

Marriage in the Catholic Church is a sacred commitment and requires sincere preparation.
Each person must:

• Be free to marry (never married before, widowed, or have a declaration of nullity).

• Have known their fiancé for at least six months.

• Be capable of making a mature, deliberate decision about marriage.

• Have the emotional, psychological, and spiritual ability to live a faithful, lifelong Christian marriage.

Step 1: Provide Required Documents

The Church will need:

• Recent baptismal certificates

• Proof of First Communion and Confirmation

• Affidavit of Freedom to Marry

• Civil marriage license

• Marriage Preparation Course certificate

Gather these documents early and keep them together for your priest or Marriage Coordinator.

Step 2: Meet With the Priest or Marriage Coordinator

The couple meets with the priest/Coordinator along with one witness for each person (someone who has known them since adolescence).
Prenuptial forms and affidavits are completed and signed at this meeting.

Step 3: Attend Marriage Preparation Classes

Marriage preparation classes must be completed before a wedding date can be set.

Step 4: Schedule the Wedding

A wedding date is reserved only after all requirements and preparation are completed.

• Do not book a reception hall until a priest confirms your date.

• Weddings outside the Diocese of Reno require all documents to be submitted 9 months before the wedding.

Coordinate all ceremony details with Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to ensure compliance with church policies.

Planning the Ceremony

Couples may personalize their ceremony within Church guidelines.
Because Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament:

• Music must be liturgical.

• Attire for the entire wedding party should be modest.

• All music, photography, video, flowers, and other arrangements must be approved in advance by the coordinator and music director.

Contact the wedding coordinator to finalize plans and provide your marriage license.

Rehearsal

Rehearsals take place in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
All participants must behave reverently and avoid disruptive behavior, gum, food, or drink.

Wedding Day

• The wedding party should arrive 30 minutes early to ensure an on‑time start.

• Enjoy God’s blessing on your marriage.

From the moment of Jesus' conception in the womb of Mary until his Resurrection, he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In biblical language, he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and thus established by God the Father as our high priest. As Risen Lord, he remains our high priest. . . . While all the baptized share in Christ's priesthood, the ministerial priesthood shares this through the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a special way. 

"Here I am, send me." (Is 6:8)

Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.  Those who seek priesthood respond generously to God's call using the words of the prophet, "Here I am, send me" (Is 6:8).  This call from God can be recognized and understood from the daily signs that disclose his will to those in charge of discerning the vocation of the candidate.

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.

Please call or visit the front office for details.