Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation, through which a person is freed from sin, reborn as a child of God, and incorporated into the Church. Instituted by Christ (cf. Matthew 28:19), it uses water and the Trinitarian formula to signify cleansing and new life. Through Baptism, the faithful share in Christ’s death and resurrection and begin their journey of discipleship within the Body of Christ.

First Reconciliation prepares children to encounter Christ’s mercy in the Sacrament of Penance, where sins committed after Baptism are forgiven and grace is restored. First Holy Communion follows as the reception of the Eucharist — the Body and Blood of Christ — which the Church calls the “source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). Together, these sacraments initiate young Catholics more deeply into sacramental life, strengthening their union with Christ and His Church.

Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by sealing the faithful with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Rooted in apostolic tradition (cf. Acts 8:14-17), it strengthens the baptized to witness to Christ boldly and publicly. Through the anointing with sacred chrism and the laying on of hands, the Church invokes the Spirit to deepen the candidate’s bond with Christ and equip them for mission in the world.

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life… has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (CCC 1601)

Marriage preparation forms couples to understand Christian marriage as a lifelong covenant ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. In the Sacrament of Matrimony, husband and wife become a visible sign of Christ’s faithful love for His Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-32). Proper preparation ensures that couples freely and knowingly enter into this sacred vocation with faith, responsibility, and grace.

RCIA is the Church’s official process for welcoming adults into full communion through Baptism (if needed), Confirmation, and Eucharist. Restored following the Second Vatican Council, it reflects the early Church’s catechumenate, guiding participants through stages of instruction, prayer, and liturgical rites. RCIA emphasizes gradual conversion, community support, and full initiation into the sacramental life of the Church.