“Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognizes the existence of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. They are the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist), the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and the Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Marriage and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.” USCCB website, Sacraments and Sacramentals, 2022, [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals]
Our team at Our Lady of the Lakes is here to help you and your family prepare for and receive the sacraments as they pertain to your state in life. For sacramental preparation for children please contact our religious education office or email Alyssa Retana, coordinator of religious education at 847-587-2301, ext. 132 or aretana@ourladylakesparish.org. If you are an adult seeking sacraments please contact either parish office and ask to speak to Fr. George or Deacon Mark Buckley about sacramental preparation.
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish Office 847- 587-2251
Below you can find more information regarding each sacrament.
Sacraments
Baptism
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 312).
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A class on the Sacrament of Baptism is required for parents and godparents, unless they have attended one in the last two years. The class takes place on the first Tuesday of the month, except during Lent, at 7 p.m. in the church basement (Coleman Hall). Registration is necessary, you can contact the parish office 847-587-2251. You may bring your baby if you wish or you may come before your child is born.
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Children 7 and older and adults wishing to be baptized should contact Fr. George or Deacon Mark Buckley to discuss RCIA.
Fr. George (847) 395-0274 ext. 310 gkoeune@ourladylakesparsh.org
Dcn. Mark 847-587-2251, ext. 153 mbuckley@ourladylakesparish.org
Reconciliation
"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and prayer labors for their conversion." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422).
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St. Bede Campus
Saturdays 11:30am-12:30pm
First Friday of the Month 6:30pm-7:30pmSt. Peter Campus
Saturdays 8:15am-9:00amOr by appointment by calling the parish office 847-587-2251.
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Preparation for a child’s first confession is done in religious education class. Please contact our religious education office for more information (847) 587-2301 or email Alyssa Retana at aretana@ourladylakesparish.org
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Adults seeking sacraments should contact the parish office and ask to speak to Fr. George or Deacon Mark Buckley.
Fr. George (847) 395-0274 ext. 310 gkoeune@ourladylakesparsh.org
Dcn. Mark 847-587-2251, ext. 153 mbuckley@ourladylakesparish.org
HOly Eucharist
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, the true presence of Jesus Christ. The “culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1325). In the Mass, the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus, their very form and substance is changed. Therefore, to receive this gift one must have prior formation.
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For a child to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion they must be baptized in the Catholic Church, or another Christian denomination recognized by the Catholic Church.
They must also have received at least one year of religious education instruction before second grade. Enrollment in St. Bede School or enrollment in our Religious Education Program is the norm.
To register your child for classes or if your child is older than second grade, please contact our Religious Education Office at (847) 587-2301.
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Adults seeking sacraments should contact the parish office and ask to speak to Fr. George or Deacon Mark Buckley.
Fr. George (847) 395-0274 ext. 310 gkoeune@ourladylakesparsh.org
Dcn. Mark 847-587-2251, ext. 153 mbuckley@ourladylakesparish.org
Confirmation
"Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which seal or 'confirm' the baptized in unison with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship and apostolic life of the Church" (The Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church).
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Formal programs are required before the sacrament can be administered. Our Lady of the Lakes Religious Education administers a two-year preparation program that includes spiritual preparation and service projects. For more information please contact the Religious Education office at (847) 587-2301.
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For adults who have never been baptized, the unity of these two sacraments is now restored when they are given together at the Easter Vigil.
Any baptized adult Catholic who has not yet been confirmed should participate in the Adult Education program and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Easter.
For more information please contact Fr. George or Dcn. Mark Buckley
Fr. George (847) 395-0274 ext. 310 gkoeune@ourladylakesparsh.org
Dcn. Mark 847-587-2251, ext. 153 mbuckley@ourladylakesparish.org
Holy orders
“Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1549)
“Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift.” "Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination."66 The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles,… The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1577, 1578)
If you have any questions or feel a calling to the Sacrament of Holy Orders please call the rectory and ask to speak to a priest or deacon (847) 587-2251. You may also get more information at www.ChicagoPriest.com
Or contact Fr. Timothy Monahan, Vocation Director
312-534-8298
tmonahan@archchicago.org
Marriage
“Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’ The woman, ‘flesh of his flesh,’ his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a ‘helpmate’; she thus represents God from whom comes our help. ‘Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.’ The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling what the plan of the Creator had been ‘in the beginning’: ‘So they are no longer two, but one flesh.’“ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1605)
We pledge to do everything we can to prepare you the best way possible for your life-long commitment. We, along with the Archdiocese of Chicago, have established guidelines of preparation that are part of the requirements for marriage here at Our Lady of the Lakes. These requirements are:
Initial Meeting with a priest or deacon
Liturgy Planning Workshop
Administration and follow-up of a premarital inventory
Attendance at an Archdiocese Marriage Preparation Program
Optional attendance at one or both of the seminars on Christian Sexuality and/or Introductory Natural Family Planning
Follow-up Meeting with priest or deacon
Rehearsal
Wedding
Post-Wedding Follow-up
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness. The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude.
Should you wish to request the sacrament to be administered for yourself or a family member, please contact the rectory, (847) 587-2251, and give your name, the name of the person you wish to have the sacrament administered to, your phone number and a priest will contact you to set up a time.
For an emergency Anointing of a loved one please call 224-323-2137.
Also, should you or someone you know be unable for health reasons to attend church services and would want one of our Ministers of Care to provide a weekly or other scheduled visit or for more information please contact us.