Sacramental Policies

​

  Baptisms:

• Baptism is the gateway into the Church and the life of Christ.  Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish follows all the policies of the Catholic Church regarding the celebration of this Sacrament.
  
  • Parents and Godparents are required to take a pre-baptismal class, normally offered once per month.  Parents or Godparents who have baptized 2 children or have taken the class 2 times do not have to repeat the class.  
    
    • Spanish classes are: 1st Sunday @ 2:00pm in the church basement.
      
    • English classes: 2nd Sunday @ 2:00pm in the church basement.
      
  • Parents are not required to be married, though they are strongly encouraged to live according to the Church's moral teachings.
    
  • Members of other parishes who want to baptize their children at Our Lady of Guadalupe should present a letter of permission from their own Pastor.  
    
  • There is no fee for baptism, though it is appropriate to make an offering for the Parish.  
    
  • Children should be baptized within 1 month after birth. Any children age 14 and over will require a special process.  
    

• Godparents:
  
• Godparents, (sometimes called sponsors) are required for Baptism and Confirmation, insofar as possible.  The godparents assist the baptized/confirmed person to live and persevere in a true Christian life (or supports the parents in the same).
  
  • Only ONE godparent is necessary, but TWO are allowed.  If two, they must be one man and one woman.
    
  • Parents of the child cannot also be the child’s godparents.  
    
  • Godparents should be at least 16 years old.
    
  • Godparents must be Catholics in good standing who have received Baptism, Confirmation and Communion.  
    
  • They must be true examples of faith, living according to the Church's moral teachings, such as.  
    
    • Going to Sunday Mass on a regular basis.
      
    • Going to Confession and receiving Communion yearly.
      
    • Avoiding sin and sincerely trying to live a prayerful life.
      
    • Living as a single person or a married person.
      
      • Note Well: cohabitation is a serious sin and is not in keeping with the Church's moral teaching. 
        
      • Catholics should also be married by the Church; please talk to the pastor to resolve this situation.  
        
    • ​A baptized, non-Catholic person may participate as a Christian Witness, but only together with a Catholic godparent.  
  • 'Godparents' for presentaciones, first Communion, quinceaneras and weddings: It is customary to have godparents for these events, but they are not required or regulated by the Catholic Church.  We encourage parents and couples to select persons who provide good example of Christian living.  

• Confession and Communion for Children and Adults:
  
• The training of children and young people in the faith begins at home.  Through family prayer and attendance at Sunday Mass, children learn about the love of God within the love of their family.  No class can substitute for what parents provide through their example.
  
• Sacramental preparation at the Church builds upon what children learn at home, and parents rightly send their children to classes at Our Lady of Guadalupe for specialized preparation to receive the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion.
  
  • The Sacramental Preparation Program at Our Lady of Guadalupe is a two-year program.  It is required that children be in classes for two years before they receive the sacraments of Confession and Communion.  
    
  • It is strongly suggested that children be enrolled in religious education classes each and every year from preschool until 11th grade.  Registration for classes is in late summer.
    
  • The normal age for children to receive Confession and first Communion is around age 7 (second grade).  
    
  • If parents enroll their children for sacraments at a later age than what is usual, the two-year policy still applies.  The child may have to join ‘make-up’ classes appropriate to their present age.   
    
• After first Confession and Communion, children (and adults) are required to confess their serious sins and receive Communion once every year.  Communion should be received between the first Sunday of Lent through Trinity Sunday.   
  
• Low-gluten Communion hosts: anyone with a gluten allergy simply needs permission before using low-gluten hosts. Please approach the Pastor for direction on this issue.  

• Confirmation for Youth:
  
  • The Sacramental Preparation Program at Our Lady of Guadalupe is a two-year program.  It is required that youth be in classes for two years before they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  
    
  • It is strongly suggested that children be enrolled in religious education classes each and every year from preschool until 11th grade.  Registration opens in late summer each year.
    
  • The normal age for confirmation in the Diocese of Grand Island is 17-18 (11th grade).  
    
  • The Diocese of Grand Island requires that candidates for Confirmation must make a retreat before being confirmed.  The parish will host a yearly retreat. Other diocesan retreats will fulfill this requirement, such as Teens Encounter Christ, Higher Ground, Going Bananas for Jesus,
    
  • Candidates for Confirmation must complete 40 hours of community service.  This can be for the parish, as part of parish-sponsored events or for any service organization.
    
  • Candidates must pass a catechism exam and must have memorized the following: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Act of Contrition, and the Ten Commandments.
    
  • Candidates must write a letter to the Bishop requesting the Sacrament, expressing their commitment to Jesus Christ, His Church, and to the building of the Reign of God.

• Quinceañeras:
  
• A quinceañera is a celebration of a young girl promising her dedication to God and to His Church.  To schedule a quinceañera:
  
  • The girl’s family must attend Sunday Mass regularly.  (The Pastor has final say in what ‘regularly’ means’);
    
  • The girl must have received her initial Sacraments (Baptism, Confession, Communion);
    
  • The girl must have been in Religious Education for one (1) year prior to the desired date.  (Registration for religious education is in late summer. There are no mid-year registrations);
    
  • The girl must attend and complete quinceañera classes;
    
  • Arrangements with the priest must be made at least six months in advance.  Please call the priest before you make other reservations, as not all dates are available.  
    
  • A $100 offering is required, made out to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and payable in the office before the ceremony. 
    
  • If these requirements are not fulfilled it is still possible to simply bless the girl in a regular weekend (or weekday) Mass, but without the damas and chambelanes. Please speak directly with the Pastor.  

• Marriage Preparation:
  
  • The Diocese of Grand Island requires a four-month time period to make preparations for every marriage.  Only the Bishop may dispense this requirement. 
    
  • The Diocese also requires that couples attend an introductory session in Natural Family Planning.  
    
  • Preparation begins with your first contact with your Pastor.  Please call him directly.
    
  • You must be 19 years of age to marry in the State of Nebraska.  Minors 17-18 years of age may possibly marry with parental consent and approval of the Bishop.  No wedding date may be set until all approvals are received.
    
  • Catholics are strongly suggested to marry another Catholic.  However, it is not required that non-Catholic spouses become Catholic.  
    
  • Catholics should receive all of their usual Sacraments before Marriage (Confession, Communion and Confirmation).  If a Catholic lacks these Sacraments, arrangements may be made to receive them.
    
  • Couples should provide the following documents: recently-issued baptismal certificate (within 6 months) and civil marriage license.  If a party was married before, additional documents will be required.
    
  • It is not necessary to marry in front of a judge before the Church wedding.  Please bring your civil license to the priest, who will perform both at the same time.  
    
    • Couples who are already civilly married may have their marriages validated in a short time and without a new wedding through the sanation process.  Contact the pastor for more information. 
  • Additional requirements and policy statements may be found at: http://www.gidiocese.org/marriage-preparation

• Weddings:
  
  • Only couples who have begun preparation for church marriage may schedule weddings.  
    
  • Weddings may be scheduled for any day except Sunday and days of obligation.  Please call the Pastor before making other reservations, as your preferred date may not be available.  
    
  • If one party was married previously, no wedding date may be set until both parties are shown to be free to marry.  
    
  • Simple weddings are strongly suggested.  Flowers, attendants, white dresses, tuxedos, extravagant parties, limos and other customary items are neither required nor recommended.  
    
  • Only sacred (church) music is permitted.  In general, no electronic music is permitted.  
    
  • If decorations are used, they should be simple.  No adhesive tape is to be used on the pews; rather, use a string to hand decorations over the pew end.
    
  • A $100 offering is requested, payable to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  

• Funerals:
  
  • The Catholic Church is pleased to pray for anyone, Catholic or not.  
    
  • Funeral Masses are strongly encouraged for all Catholics, and are held at the Church only.  
    
  • Other funeral services (outside of Mass) may be held for Catholics and even non-Catholics.  These may be in the Church or another appropriate place, as approved by the Pastor.
    
  • Cremation is permitted by the Catholic Church, though burial of the intact body is strongly preferred.  Cremains must be buried or entombed and may not be scattered or kept in private houses.
    
    • If there is no firm plan for burial, or a plan exists to scatter or divide the cremains, the Church may refuse all services, in accord with protocol from the Apostolic See.  
      
  • There is no charge for funerals, though it is appropriate to make an offering to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  
    
  • Memorials are suggested to the Parish Building Fund.  
    
  • Funeral services held at the Church may only use sacred (church) music.  In general, no electronic music is permitted.