Sacraments – Mary Our Queen

Baptism

Apart from marriage, the baptism of a child is one of the most grace-filled moments in the life of a family. When a mother learns that she is with child, a family often begins to plan showers and to prepare a nursery, all of which are worthy practices. But in preparing for a child’s birth, we should never forget to prepare for a child’s rebirth into the Body of Christ through that initial sacrament of Baptism. In Baptism, an indelible (albeit invisible) mark is placed upon us that sets us aside. We are forever claimed as a son or daughter of God as well as a soldier of Christ, members of the Church Militant. As such, we are also called to be future saints with God’s great grace. Spiritual preparation is essential, then, not only in getting the ceremony and sacrament completed, but also in preparing another soul to be raised up in a godly and Christian way.

To have your child baptized at Mary Our Queen, we ask you to follow the steps below:

Be registered at Mary Our Queen at least six months prior to baptism date and attend Mass regularly/be in good standing with our parish
Submit a Baptism Registration Form (below) along with your a copy of Child’s Birth Certificate
Attend a Baptism Preparation class (scheduled through the Baptism Coordinator)
Prayerfully select the child’s godparents, who will need to submit a Letter of Good Standing from their home parish.

How do I register for a Baptism class? What do we learn in the class?

Once you submit your Baptism Registration Form (below), the office will confirm receipt of your document via email and connect you with our Baptism Coordinator to schedule you for a Parent Baptism Class. Our program, Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God, prepares families for the beautiful Sacrament of Baptism, while reminding them of who they are as God’s children and the significance of their vocation. The program is designed to provide parents with an incredible encounter with Jesus and with the Church. This program will prepare parents to have their children baptized. Parents will learn what it means to be children of God and that in the Church, they will always have a place where they belong.

Who can be a Godparent?

According to Church law, godparents and sponsors must be people who lead and live a Christian life, they must be practicing Catholics. A godparent or sponsor must have received the sacraments of Christian initiation themselves (baptism, confirmation and communion). The whole point of being a godparent or sponsor is to assist a person to be faithful to their baptismal promises, so non-practicing Catholics are already failing at this, and are disqualified. Baptized non-Catholics can only act as Christian witnesses. A godparent or sponsor must be 16 years of age or older.

There should be only one male and only one female sponsor or godparent. Parents cannot be the godparents or sponsors of their own children. Parents, sponsors and pastors should not permit non-Christian names to be given in baptism and/or confirmation.

When choosing godparents, please choose faithful, practicing Catholics who will be dutiful in their task to keep your child, and thus your family, practicing Catholics. Godparents should be confirmed, and if they are married Catholics, they should be married in the Church. A good godparent is someone who will scold a parent if they stop going to Mass, and correct a parent if they stop going to regular confession. A serious godparent will make sure the parents are doing all they can to raise up Catholic children. Prayer should be an important part of their daily life. Talking with God everyday helps one to know and love the One who knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us more than we can comprehend. Choose a godparent who actually prays! These qualities mean that it is essential to find a conscientious, practicing Catholic who is serious about living out his or her own Catholic life.

To begin the process of having your child baptized, please complete our Baptism Registration Form below and submit with a copy of your child’s birth certificate. Once you submit your Baptism Registration Form (below), the office will confirm receipt of your document via email and connect you with our Baptism Coordinator to scheduled your attendance for a Baptism Class.

Name of Child(Required)

First Middle Last

Sex of Child(Required)

Male

Female

Date of Birth(Required)

Place of Birth(Required)

City State / Province / Region Country

Requested Date for Baptism (we will confirm once you submit registration form and documents).

Father's Full Name(Required)

First Middle Last

Religion of Father(Required)

Family Address(Required)

Street Address City State / Province / Region Country

Mother's Full Maiden Name(Required)

First Middle Maiden

Religion of Mother(Required)

Were Parents Married by a Catholic Priest/Deacon?(Required)

In what church were you married?

Name of Church Address City State ZIP / Postal Code Country

Are parents/grandparents members of Mary Our Queen?(Required)

If no, permission from your Home Parish pastor must be obtained to do Baptism at MOQ

Name of Godfather

First Last

Religion of Godfather

Name of Godmother

First Last

Religion of Godmother

Is either Godparent represented by Proxy?

Name of Proxy

First Last

Was the Child Privately Baptized?

Was the Child Adopted?

Parent Signature(Required)

Primary Email for Correspondance(Required)

Upload copy of Child's Birth Certificate and Letters of Good Standing (if you have them)

Max. file size: 100 MB.

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Have Questions?

Contact the parish office for more information on baptism requirements, dates, and more.

office@maryourqueen.com
(770) 416-0002

Reconciliation

Sacrament of Reconciliation at Mary Our Queen

Saturday, 4 pm to 4:30 | Walk In | Sanctuary

Sunday, 4 pm to 4:30 | Walk In | Sanctuary

You may also schedule an appointment during the week by calling the office at 770-416-0002.

Lenten Penance Service will be Thursday, March 3 at 7pm in our Sanctuary. For more information, click here.

Examination of Conscience

Offer an Act of Contrition

When the Sacrament of Confession is not readily available, we are still called to examine our consciences before the Lord and ask His forgiveness for any sins. The Church teaches that among the penitent’s acts, contrition holds the first place. Perfect contrition—that arising from love of God or charity—can “obtain forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1452).

To learn more about the Church’s teaching on contrition, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Read Pope Francis’ remarks on the significance of making a perfect act of contrition during this time of COVID-19.
Read this article from National Catholic Reporter for additional information about how to make an Act of Contrition

If you are looking for information regarding First Eucharist and First Reconciliation, please see the First Eucharist page. Children will be prepared to receive this sacrament through their Faith Formation group.

First Eucharist

The Eucharist is a gift that is given to the child as they grow in their faith. Our Pflaum Gospel Weeklies “Together in Jesus” prepares the child to receive this gift through faith formation groups and retreats. First Reconciliation and First Communion normally happen in 2^nd grade. A child must have completed First grade faith formation or Catholic school with good attendance to be eligible for these sacraments.

To be eligible for the sacraments of First Reconciliation/First Holy Communion, please follow the below guidelines.

Each child registering for these Sacraments will need to:

1) Supply a copy of the Baptismal Certificate with registration for First Penance and First Holy Communion.

2) Be a registered, active family member of the parish

3) Be in 2nd grade or above having satisfactorily completed the previous year of Faith Formation.

4) Be registered to attend one of the following:

1) Mary Our Queen’s Faith Formation classes

2) Catholic School Religious Education classes

3) Accredited Home School Religious Education program

In addition, parents are expected to attend the following with their child:

1) First Reconciliation Prep will be made up of 3 classes plus a retreat.

First Reconciliation Classes (Student only) – November 7, 14 , 28 at 6:30 – 7:45pm

First Reconciliation Retreat (Student and parent) – January 21 at 9:30am – 12:30pm

First Reconciliation – Saturday, January 28 at 10:00am

2) First Communion Prep will be made up of 3 classes plus a retreat.

First Communion Classes (Student only) – March 6, 13, and 20, 6:30-7:45pm

First Communion Retreat (Student and parent) – April 22, 9:30am – 12:30pm

First Communion Rehearsal – Saturday, May 13, 9:30am

First Communion – Sunday , May 14, 11:00am Mass

Children who haven’t received the Sacrament of Baptism and/or are entering the church as an older candidate for First Penance and First Holy Communion will need to work directly with the DRE through our Christian Initiation program.

Register HERE for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist! If your child is in public school please check both Faith Formation AND First Eucharist on the registration form.

Click HERE for our 2022-2023 Sacramental Preparation Calendar

Have Questions?

Please contact Leigh Anne Butrum, Director of Religious Education, using the form below:

Contact MOQ Faith Formation

Name
First Last
Email
Phone
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.
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Confirmation

“Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. This outpouring impresses on the soul an indelible character and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. It roots the recipient more deeply in divine sonship, binds him more firmly to Christ and to the Church and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in his soul. It gives a special strength to witness to the Christian faith.”

From the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church #268

The Sacrament of Confirmation confers a permanent (indelible) mark on the soul of the recipient, gifting the recipient with the fullness of God’s seven-fold Gifts, which in turn produce great fruits in the soul of the believer (see below).

Normally in our diocese, children receive this Sacrament in or around 10th grade. In order to receive Confirmation, a child must attend two full years of religious instruction in our parish’s Youth Ministry program, attend Catholic school, or an approved homeschool program. All students seeking Confirmation should register for the Sacrament in their 10th grade year.

Catholic School/Homeschool:

Families registered at Mary Our Queen with teenagers in Catholic school or an approved homeschool program must register their child for Confirmation in 10^th grade. All 10^th graders will be required to complete the Confirmation program requirements for each year.

Adults who did not receive this Sacrament as a child and who would like to receive this most important gift of God may enroll in our RCIA program.

Click HERE for our 2022-2023 Confirmation Preparation Calendar

A complete list of requirements for candidates to complete can be found in this Confirmation Packet, which will be due no later than March 1, 2o23 for any candidate wishing to be Confirmed in April of 2023.

For 10th grade Students wishing to be confirmed at MOQ, CLICK HERE for Registration Form

Have Questions about our Confirmation Program?

Please contact Lindsey Martin, Youth Minister

Marriage

Congratulations on your engagement! The Bible describes God’s plan for marriage as a grace for a happy life and sign of Christ’s faithful and fruitful love for His Bride, the Church. We at Mary Our Queen are excited for you to grow in this love and understanding. This is one of the most exciting seasons in your life. Let us help you get ready for more than just the wedding day.

We request you submit your Wedding Reservation no fewer than 9 months prior to your desired wedding date allowing for the required sacrament of Marriage Preparation.

Questions? Please contact the office at office@maryourqueen.com or 770-416-0002

Please USE THIS LINK if you are ready to proceed with your Wedding Reservation at Mary Our Queen. After you have completed all the necessary steps for MOQ’s Wedding Reservation process, you will be connected with MOQ’s Wedding Coordinator to start the planning your wedding ceremony.

Anointing of the Sick

As Catholics, we believe that on Easter, Jesus Christ rose body and soul from the tomb as the Glorious Victor over sin and death. Christ’s triumph is also a cherished promise for all of us. It is our assurance that the bodies of all who were united to Christ in this life through Sacramental regeneration will one day rise to take their place with Him when He comes to bring a new heaven and a new earth. The experience of death inevitably brings deep sadness, because it separates us from our loved ones, but when we walk with Christ, it is also full of hope. His Church understands death, and she knows the resurrection. As they have throughout the centuries, the Church’s rites accompany our loved ones into the next world, and are a promise of hope for those of us who await our own encounter with the mystery of death.

PREPARATION FOR DEATH

We know that our earthly existence will come to an end. However, for most of our lives, we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called from this life. When the time of death seems to be drawing near, the Church has special rites to prepare us to come before the Lord. Whenever it appears that someone has a serious illness, it is appropriate to contact a priest to receive the anointing of the sick, by which the Church asks the Lord to grant healing of soul and body. This is often preceded by the sacrament of reconciliation, where Christ offers the forgiveness of sins. As an individual confronts illness, the Church assures them of Christ’s presence by providing opportunities to receive Holy Communion, so that their suffering might acquire meaning from the power of Christ’s cross. When the moment of death draws near, Holy Communion is given as viaticum, the “food for the journey,” so that Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament, might bring spiritual strength for the passage into new life. Finally, at the hour of death, a priest or deacon may accompany the dying and their family with prayers asking God’s grace for a person about to set foot into eternity.

THE CATHOLIC FUNERAL

As human beings, we have an intense need to say goodbye to our loved ones and to commend them to God. The Church’s rites reflect that need, as her prayers accompany the deceased beyond this life. There are three parts to a Catholic funeral. First, there is a vigil service, which typically takes place the night before the funeral. Here, family and friends gather to “be with” and “watch over” the body of the deceased. In addition to the formal liturgical rites of the Church, the vigil may be an opportunity to pray the rosary or to speak lovingly in memory of the departed. It also allows well-wishers to offer their condolences to the family. The vigil may take place in a funeral parlor, at the family’s home, or in the church.

The focus of the Church’s prayers for the departed is the funeral mass. Here, the body of the deceased is brought to the church, where the celebration of the Eucharist reveals the presence of Christ’s own passion, death, and resurrection. Just as the deceased was welcomed into Christ’s family through baptism and nourished in the Church through the sacraments, so now their body is brought to the church a final time as the Church prays for the gift of eternal life. If special circumstances require it, a funeral can also be celebrated outside of mass.

We believe that the body itself is sacred, the physical substance of a person that will rise on the last day when Christ comes with new heavens and a new earth. For this reason, in the Rite of Committal, the Church commends the body of the deceased to the earth, to keep it until the day of the resurrection.

REMEMBERING THE DEAD

After the burial, we do not forget our loved ones. Indeed, we need to remember and to pray for them. For this reason, it is customary to visit the graves of the deceased, frequently to remember them in prayer, and to request that masses be offered for the repose of their souls, especially on important anniversaries such as one month or one year from the date of their death or the anniversaries of their birth. In addition to special masses, the Church prays for all deceased Christians on All Souls’ Day.

WHAT ABOUT CREMATION?

Although cremation in the United States of America was in the past closely associated with opinions that rejected our faith in the resurrection of the body, the Church no longer prohibits it, so long as it is not used as a sign of disrespect for the dead or a denial of the bodily resurrection. If cremation is chosen, it should ordinarily take place following the funeral mass, and the cremated remains are then entombed or buried in the same dignified way that the body would be. Respect for the body requires that the cremated remains be treated with the same respect after cremation that the body deserves. The Church also permits the celebration of the funeral Mass in the presence of the cremated remains and that is possible here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Here again, the cremated remains must always be honored with the same reverence and respect that is their due as the residual elements of the human body that itself was sanctified and recognized through the sacraments.