![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2018\/04\/StMatt-icon-color.png\"){kind=icon}
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Sacraments<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>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 Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.<\/p>\n
According to the Second Vatican Council, \u201cThe purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called \u2018sacraments of faith.\u2019 They do indeed impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God duly, and to practice charity\u201d (Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy, 59).<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>The Sacraments of the Catholic Church were given to us by Jesus in order to give us the grace of God and to strengthen and enliven our faith, hope, and love of God and others. We invite everyone to come and join us in worshiping God through the Sacraments.These pages are to help you better understand and to help you participate in the Sacraments.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Jesus came and said to them \u2018all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\nMatthew 28:18-19<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>Baptism<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nSacrament of Baptism<\/h3>\n
\u201cDo you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.\u201d -Romans 6:3-4<\/strong><\/p>\nCelebrating Baptism<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2024\/04\/SMC-Fr-Raines-Baptism-600x400.png\")
Photo courtesy of parishioner James Banker<\/a> (2024)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\u201cHoly 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. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the church and made sharers in her mission.\u201d (CCC 1213)<\/p>\n
Baptism Preparation for Infants: In expressing a desire to have their child baptized, parents are accepting the responsibility of raising their child in the Catholic faith. To assist parents in their duty as Christian parents to raise their children in the ways of faith, the church requires all parents be registered members of the parish and to attend baptismal preparation classes prior to scheduling the baptism of their children. Please contact us at info@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> for more information about having your infant or young child baptized. Please complete the form below.<\/em><\/strong>
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\nBaptism Preparation for Children:\u00a0<\/strong> Unbaptized children who are of catechetical age are prepared for Baptism through the Religious Education program. Please contact reled@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> for more information about the baptizing your child.<\/p>\nAdults and older children who are seeking baptism will use the Religious Education program and the Roman Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA).<\/p>\n
Baptismal Certificates can be obtained by contacting Kelly Ott<\/strong> at 615-550-5141 or kott@stmatthewtn.org<\/a>.<\/p>\nIf you are going to serve as a Sponsor for Baptism<\/strong> at another church and need a letter, please have the child\u2019s full name and contact Kelly Ott<\/strong> at 615-550-5141 or kott@stmatthewtn.org<\/a>.
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\n<\/strong><\/p>\nBaptism Inquiry Form<\/span><\/a><\/div>\u00a0 \u00a0 GodParent Form<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>Confirmation to the Catholic Church<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nSacrament of Confirmation<\/h3>\n
\u201cNow when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.\u201d \u2013 Acts 8:14-17<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2021\/09\/IMG_3390-300x200.jpg\")
\u201cFor by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.\u201d (CCC 1285)
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\nConfirmation Preparation for Youth:<\/strong> As they reach 8th grade, all baptized students regularly attending Religious Education classes or a Catholic School are invited to celebrate their Sacrament of Confirmation.<\/p>\nConfirmation Preparation for Adults:<\/strong> The community of Saint Matthew welcomes and invites all baptized adults who were not confirmed as a youth to continue their journey of initiation into a deeper spiritual relationship with God through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Adults wishing to be confirmed are prepared through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Sessions are held from September until May each year on Tuesdays nights. Please contact us at 615-646-0378 or info@stmatthewt<\/a>n.org<\/a> for more information or click here to fill out an OCIA inquiry<\/a>.
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\nDress Code for Confirmation:<\/strong>
\nThe Bishop is the one who sets the rules for appropriate dress. Because of the special nature of the occasion, and the spirituality of the place, the dress for the Sacrament of Confirmation should reflect the importance of the moment.<\/p>\nFor Girls:<\/strong> Dresses which cover the shoulders and come down to a respectable length near the knee in white or pastel colors. Modest, simple clothing with no large jewelry. We interpret this to mean chests and shoulders should be covered.<\/p>\nFor Boys:<\/strong> Collared long-sleeved shirts, (white or pastel in color) with an appropriate tie (any color) and khaki or dress slacks with dress shoes; no tennis\/jogging shoes. We ask that the boys wear dark colored jackets. Sponsors should abide by this same dress code.<\/p>\nFor Sponsors:<\/strong>\u00a0Sponsors should abide by this same dress code.<\/p>\nCalendar of Events:<\/h4>\n
Confirmation:<\/strong>
\nApril 19, 2026 3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center<\/p>\nFor More Information:<\/strong>
\nTony Jesse
\ntjesse@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> or 615-550-5100<\/p>\nView the Confirmation Page<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>Eucharist (First Communion)<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\nSacrament of the Eucharist<\/h3>\n
\u201cJesus said to them, \u2018Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.\u201d \u2013 John 6:52-56<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2024\/05\/NEC-498-scaled.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of parishioner James Banker<\/a> (2024)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\nCelebrating Eucharist<\/h4>\n
\u201cAt the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet \u2018in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. The Eucharist is \u201cthe source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.\u201d (CCC 1323-24)<\/p>\n
Preparation for First Eucharist: <\/strong>This is a wonderful and special time for children and their families. The community of St. Matthew is pleased and blessed to partner with families and guide them through this process. Children are prepared through the Religious Education program.<\/p>\n
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 Anointing of the Sick), and the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.<\/p>\n
According to the Second Vatican Council, \u201cThe purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called \u2018sacraments of faith.\u2019 They do indeed impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God duly, and to practice charity\u201d (Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy, 59).<\/p>\n<\/div>
The Sacraments of the Catholic Church were given to us by Jesus in order to give us the grace of God and to strengthen and enliven our faith, hope, and love of God and others. We invite everyone to come and join us in worshiping God through the Sacraments.These pages are to help you better understand and to help you participate in the Sacraments.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Jesus came and said to them \u2018all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew 28:18-19<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cDo you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.\u201d -Romans 6:3-4<\/strong><\/p>\n Photo courtesy of parishioner James Banker<\/a> (2024)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cHoly 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. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the church and made sharers in her mission.\u201d (CCC 1213)<\/p>\n Baptism Preparation for Infants: In expressing a desire to have their child baptized, parents are accepting the responsibility of raising their child in the Catholic faith. To assist parents in their duty as Christian parents to raise their children in the ways of faith, the church requires all parents be registered members of the parish and to attend baptismal preparation classes prior to scheduling the baptism of their children. Please contact us at info@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> for more information about having your infant or young child baptized. Please complete the form below.<\/em><\/strong> Adults and older children who are seeking baptism will use the Religious Education program and the Roman Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA).<\/p>\n Baptismal Certificates can be obtained by contacting Kelly Ott<\/strong> at 615-550-5141 or kott@stmatthewtn.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you are going to serve as a Sponsor for Baptism<\/strong> at another church and need a letter, please have the child\u2019s full name and contact Kelly Ott<\/strong> at 615-550-5141 or kott@stmatthewtn.org<\/a>. \u201cNow when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.\u201d \u2013 Acts 8:14-17<\/strong><\/p>\n Confirmation Preparation for Adults:<\/strong> The community of Saint Matthew welcomes and invites all baptized adults who were not confirmed as a youth to continue their journey of initiation into a deeper spiritual relationship with God through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Adults wishing to be confirmed are prepared through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Sessions are held from September until May each year on Tuesdays nights. Please contact us at 615-646-0378 or info@stmatthewt<\/a>n.org<\/a> for more information or click here to fill out an OCIA inquiry<\/a>. For Girls:<\/strong> Dresses which cover the shoulders and come down to a respectable length near the knee in white or pastel colors. Modest, simple clothing with no large jewelry. We interpret this to mean chests and shoulders should be covered.<\/p>\n For Boys:<\/strong> Collared long-sleeved shirts, (white or pastel in color) with an appropriate tie (any color) and khaki or dress slacks with dress shoes; no tennis\/jogging shoes. We ask that the boys wear dark colored jackets. Sponsors should abide by this same dress code.<\/p>\n For Sponsors:<\/strong>\u00a0Sponsors should abide by this same dress code.<\/p>\n Confirmation:<\/strong> For More Information:<\/strong> \u201cJesus said to them, \u2018Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.\u201d \u2013 John 6:52-56<\/strong><\/p>\n Photo courtesy of parishioner James Banker<\/a> (2024)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cAt the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet \u2018in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. The Eucharist is \u201cthe source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.\u201d (CCC 1323-24)<\/p>\n Preparation for First Eucharist: <\/strong>This is a wonderful and special time for children and their families. The community of St. Matthew is pleased and blessed to partner with families and guide them through this process. Children are prepared through the Religious Education program.<\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>Baptism<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Sacrament of Baptism<\/h3>\n
Celebrating Baptism<\/h4>\n
\n
\nBaptism Preparation for Children:\u00a0<\/strong> Unbaptized children who are of catechetical age are prepared for Baptism through the Religious Education program. Please contact reled@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> for more information about the baptizing your child.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>Confirmation to the Catholic Church<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Sacrament of Confirmation<\/h3>\n
\u201cFor by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.\u201d (CCC 1285)
\n
\nConfirmation Preparation for Youth:<\/strong> As they reach 8th grade, all baptized students regularly attending Religious Education classes or a Catholic School are invited to celebrate their Sacrament of Confirmation.<\/p>\n
\n
\nDress Code for Confirmation:<\/strong>
\nThe Bishop is the one who sets the rules for appropriate dress. Because of the special nature of the occasion, and the spirituality of the place, the dress for the Sacrament of Confirmation should reflect the importance of the moment.<\/p>\nCalendar of Events:<\/h4>\n
\nApril 19, 2026 3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center<\/p>\n
\nTony Jesse
\ntjesse@stmatthewtn.org<\/a> or 615-550-5100<\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>Eucharist (First Communion)<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Sacrament of the Eucharist<\/h3>\n
Celebrating Eucharist<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2018\/06\/sacraments-wedding.jpg\")
Choosing to Marry<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2018\/06\/sacraments-reconciliation.jpg\")
Seeking Forgiveness – Reconciliation<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2018\/06\/sacraments-anointing.jpg\")
Need Anointing<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stmatthewtn.org\/church\/files\/2018\/06\/HolyOrders1.jpg\")
A Vocation to the Priesthood or Diaconate<\/h4>\n