Sacraments

At Holy Cross Old Catholic Church, the sacraments stand at the heart of our life in Christ. They are holy mysteries entrusted to the Church through the apostolic faith: visible signs of invisible grace, given for the sanctification, healing, strengthening, and nourishment of God’s people. In the Old Catholic tradition, the sacramental life of the Church is received not as a modern invention, but as part of the ancient faith of the undivided Church, handed down through apostolic continuity and celebrated with reverence, charity, and pastoral care.

We believe that in the sacraments Christ continues to meet His people: welcoming us into the Church, strengthening us by the Holy Spirit, feeding us with His life, forgiving sin, blessing Christian vocation, healing the sick, and sustaining the ministry of the Church in every generation. Our desire at Holy Cross is that each person who comes seeking grace may find in the sacramental life of the Church both truth and mercy, reverence and welcome. Holy Cross’s current parish ministry also emphasizes that the Church exists to make visible the Kingdom of God for all people through worship, pastoral presence, and care.

Old Catholic churches are recognized as sacramental churches that maintain apostolic succession and the seven sacraments, with the Eucharist understood as central to the life of the Church.

Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which we are reborn in Christ, cleansed from sin, and incorporated into His Body, the Church. Through water and the Holy Spirit, God claims us as His own and grants us new life in Christ. Baptism is not merely a symbol of belonging; it is a true sacramental beginning, the doorway into the Christian life and the foundation of a life of discipleship, prayer, and grace.

At Holy Cross, Baptism is celebrated with reverence and joy, whether for infants, children, or adults. In Baptism, the Church gives thanks that God’s grace goes before us, calling us into covenant, faith, and communion. Families presenting children for Baptism are invited to do so prayerfully and with the intention of raising them within the worship and life of the Church. Adults seeking Baptism are welcomed with pastoral care, instruction, and preparation.

In this sacrament we rejoice that no one comes to Christ by accident. Every Baptism is a sign of divine mercy, of incorporation into the household of faith, and of the beginning of a life lived under the sign of the Cross and in the hope of the resurrection.

Confirmation is the sacrament in which the baptized are strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit and confirmed more deeply in the life and witness of the Church. Through prayer and the laying on of hands by the bishop, the grace of Baptism is sealed and the Christian is equipped for mature discipleship, faithful service, and bold confession of the Gospel.

At Holy Cross, Confirmation is approached as a sacred moment of spiritual strengthening and ecclesial belonging. It is especially meaningful for those who have been baptized and are now ready to affirm the faith of the Church with deeper understanding, devotion, and commitment. It is also a beautiful occasion for those entering more fully into the sacramental life of the Church after a period of instruction and prayer.

Confirmation reminds us that the Christian life is not lived by human strength alone. The Holy Spirit sustains, guides, and sanctifies the faithful, granting the grace needed to persevere in prayer, holiness, charity, and witness.

The Holy Eucharist is the center of the Church’s worship and the sacrament of Christ’s abiding presence among His people. In the Eucharist, the faithful are gathered into thanksgiving and praise, hear the Word of God, and are nourished by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is not simply a memorial of Christ; it is a true participation in His sacrificial offering, His risen life, and His communion with the Church.

At Holy Cross, the Eucharist is celebrated reverently as the heart of parish life. Here the Church gives thanks for the saving work of Christ, receives heavenly nourishment, and is drawn more deeply into unity with Him and with one another. The Eucharist strengthens the faithful for lives of holiness, mercy, service, and mission.

For many visitors, the Eucharist is also where the beauty of the Catholic faith becomes most visible: prayer, Scripture, thanksgiving, sacrifice, communion, and grace brought together in the worship of the Church. Old Catholic sources likewise describe the Eucharist as the core of the Church’s life, and your encyclical emphasizes that the sacraments of this communion are received through an unbroken apostolic line rooted in the faith of the undivided Church.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

In the sacrament of Confession, also called Reconciliation, we come before God in humility, repentance, and hope, seeking the mercy that never fails. Through honest self-examination, confession of sins, prayer, and absolution, the faithful are restored, strengthened, and renewed in the grace of Christ.

Confession is not meant to inspire fear, but freedom. It is a sacrament of healing, truth, and peace, in which the burden of sin is brought into the light of God’s mercy. The priest hears confession not as a judge standing apart, but as a minister of Christ and of His reconciling grace, serving the healing of souls and the restoration of communion.

At Holy Cross, those seeking Confession are received with pastoral discretion, compassion, and reverence. Whether one comes after many years away or as part of a regular spiritual discipline, the sacrament offers a holy opportunity to return to God with sincerity and to hear again the word of forgiveness.

Holy Matrimony is the sacrament in which a man and woman are joined in a covenant of lifelong love, fidelity, and mutual self-giving under the blessing of God. Christian marriage is a vocation as well as a blessing: a sacred bond through which husband and wife are called to reflect the love of Christ, to support one another in holiness, and to build a household marked by prayer, charity, and steadfast devotion.

At Holy Cross, marriage is celebrated as a joyful and holy union entered into with prayerful preparation and pastoral guidance. Couples seeking marriage are invited into a period of conversation, discernment, and instruction so that the sacrament may be approached with reverence, maturity, and faith. The Church accompanies them not only on the day of their wedding, but throughout their shared life in Christ.

In every Christian marriage, the Church gives thanks that human love can become a sign of divine faithfulness. Matrimony is a sacrament of grace for daily life: for fidelity in trials, patience in growth, joy in companionship, and perseverance in love.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the Church sets apart deacons, priests, and bishops for sacred ministry through prayer and the laying on of hands. In this sacrament, the Holy Spirit strengthens those called to serve the people of God in preaching the Gospel, celebrating the sacraments, shepherding the faithful, and guarding the apostolic faith of the Church.

Because Holy Cross stands within the Old Catholic tradition of apostolic continuity, Holy Orders is understood not merely as a role or office, but as a sacramental participation in the Church’s apostolic ministry. Your encyclical speaks directly of “an unbroken chain of apostolic succession” and an episcopal line stretching back through Utrecht to Saint Willibrord and the undivided Church, offering the theological basis for Holy Orders and sacramental ministry in this communion.

At Holy Cross, we regard ordained ministry as a sacred trust. The ordained exist not for privilege, but for service: to teach the faith, celebrate the mysteries, care for souls, and build up the Body of Christ. Those discerning a vocation to ordained ministry are encouraged to seek the guidance of the Church in prayer, spiritual direction, study, and humble discernment.

Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of Christ’s healing presence for those who are ill, frail, preparing for surgery, burdened by serious infirmity, or approaching the end of earthly life. Through holy oil, prayer, and priestly ministry, the Church commends the sick to God’s mercy and asks for strength, peace, healing, and the sustaining grace of the Holy Spirit.

This sacrament is not only for the moment of death. It is a gift of grace for times of weakness, suffering, and vulnerability. In Anointing, the Church surrounds the sick with prayer and reminds them that they are never abandoned by Christ. Whether healing comes in body, soul, or spirit, this sacrament bears witness to the compassion of the Lord, who remains near to those who suffer.

Holy Cross’s current ministry already emphasizes hospital visits, nursing home visits, and emergency chaplaincy, making Anointing of the Sick a natural and deeply pastoral part of parish care.

The sacraments are not isolated ceremonies. They belong to the living rhythm of the Church: prayer, worship, repentance, thanksgiving, vocation, healing, and communion in Christ. At Holy Cross, the sacramental life is offered within the wider care of the Church, where reverent liturgy and pastoral welcome belong together.

We invite all who seek Christ to draw near in faith, to ask questions, and to speak with the parish about their spiritual needs. Whether you are preparing for Baptism, seeking Confirmation, returning to Confession, planning for Marriage, discerning a vocation, or requesting Anointing for yourself or a loved one, the Church is here to pray with you, guide you, and walk with you in grace.

Holy Cross’s present ministry describes the parish as a welcoming Church that is Catholic and Apostolic, committed to spiritual presence and service, while your encyclical grounds that ministry in a sacramental communion whose apostolic heritage reaches back to the ancient Church.

If you would like to inquire about receiving a sacrament, preparing for one, or speaking with clergy about your spiritual needs, we invite you to contact Holy Cross Old Catholic Church. We would be honored to assist you with prayer, guidance, and pastoral care.

Email:bishopben@myholycross.org

Location: The Woodlands, Texas 77380