Becoming a Member
Individuals or families moving into Sacred Heart are always welcome. Please register as soon as possible and participate in religious activities every week. Registration helps in determining that parishioners are active and supportive of the parish with their time, talent and treasure; that they are eligible for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, C.C.D. Classes and are able to be sponsors for Baptism and Confirmation.
Registration forms are available in the rectory office during the week or in the sacristy or click registration. If you move and do not notify us of the change, we can only determine that it is your wish to terminate membership in the parish. Please help keep our census current by advising us of any changes. All parishioners are asked to use their envelopes, even if unable to make a contribution, as a symbolic gesture of parish support.
Concerning Sponsors
Sponsors do you know your role? It is for the salvation and holiness of your godchildren; to stop the self-destruction of the world, and to build a civilization of love in place of a culture of death. Thank the Lord that you have been chosen to be a sponsor. Pray for your godchildren daily. Increase contact with them or renew contact with them no matter how long it may have been since you have seen them. Share with them your responsibilities according to the law of the Church. Share with them your love for Jesus and His Church. Pray with your godchildren if possible. Offer to serve them. Don't be discouraged if your godchildren are not immediately receptive, be faithful to your responsibilities as sponsor and persevere.
The Lord does not give us a job to do without giving us the grace to do it. No matter how bad the circumstances, sponsors can be catalysts for large numbers of people returning to the Lord and the Church. Sponsors can help the Church grow significantly in holiness and can prepare us for Christ's final coming. Sponsors, we need you now more than ever. You have special graces. Love your godchildren! Renew the Church! Change the world!
Sponsor Certificates
Often parishes require those who are asked to serve as godparents at Baptism or Confirmation to receive a certificate from their parish. Such certificates require that the Pastor certify that the proposed sponsor is not only a baptized, confirmed Catholic but also one who practices his/her faith. The practice of the faith assumes that a person is not only registered in the parish but also present at Mass each weekend, and if married, is married validly in the Church. Accepting the role of sponsor for the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation is a very serious matter, for in doing so, the sponsor is making a public commitment to assist in forming the child in the practice of the faith. Therefore, persons not registered and present at Mass regularly in this parish should not ask the parish priest to certify that this is the case.
Parents of children to be Baptized and candidates for Confirmation should take special care to invite only those who are eligible for this role to fulfill this responsibility. The practice of one’s faith is one’s own choice, but if a person chooses not to participate in the Eucharist each Sunday then he/she should not at the same time expect to be granted the privileges which are reserved for those who do.
Every time we send a mailing, it is always mentioned in the bulletin, that “all registered members of the parish” will be receiving by mail a parish letter. This is done so that those who might think they are registered, yet do not receive the mailing, can take the opportunity to register in the parish. More often than not, there are bulletins left over, which are tossed out during the week. The information is given, it is up to the individuals to make use of the information and stop placing the blame on the church for their own lack of action.