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Sacramental Life

The seven sacraments are sacred gifts grounded in the foundations of our faith. Through the reception of the sacraments and the presence of the Holy Spirit, Jesus becomes present in us and His Church to welcome, forgive, heal, fortify, and strengthen us to live holy lives and continue His work. At St. Teresa, we baptize more than 50 babies each year, offer confession six days a week, prepare couples to celebrate and commit to sacramental marriage, and thoughtfully prepare young people for Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. When needed, we anoint the sick in their homes or in hospitals, and as a parish, we pray for and support vocations.

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“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
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“If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1 John:9-10
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“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.”
John 6:56-57
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“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Romans 5:5
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"A man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
Ephesians 5:31
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“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James 5:14
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“Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 21-22
“Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.”
Catechism (CCC) 1210
If you or a loved one is sick or homebound and would like to receive Holy Communion or a pastoral visit,
please call the parish office at 402-477-3979 or e-mail Theresa-Kottwitz@cdolinc.net

The Sacraments

Baptism
Baptism is our entrance into the Church and the beginning of the sacramental life. It “washes away sin” and pours upon us the divine life.
Baptism for Children
Baptizing your child requires thoughtful knowledge of the sacrament. Therefore, first-time parents are required to attend a baptism preparation class. Parents who have already taken the class for the baptism of another child are not required to take it again. Classes are offered multiple times throughout the year, and you do not need to wait for your child to be born before taking the class. Parents must be registered members of St. Teresa prior to baptism, and at least one godparent for the child must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. To register for baptism preparation class, contact Logan Burda at 402-217-2097. After completing the class, parents can contact the parish office to schedule the Sacrament of baptism for their child. Baptisms are normally performed after our Noon Mass on Sundays. Baptism for school-age children takes place through the St. Teresa School or CCD.
Baptism for Adults
Baptizing your child requires thoughtful knowledge of the sacrament. Therefore, first-time parents are required to attend a baptism preparation class. Baptism for adults takes place through the RCIA process. RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This process helps one learn more about the Catholic faith, meet new friends, and grow in faith. If and when a person feels called to be baptized as a Catholic, they can begin participation in the Rites of the RCIA with the help of a parish sponsor. Baptism is celebrated along with the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist – and all are celebrated at the Easter Vigil.

Individuals who wish to become Catholic who have already been baptized in another Christian faith are not Baptized again. The RCIA is their path to inquire into the Catholic Faith – and if Full Communion in the Catholic Church is desired – to prepare to make a Profession of Faith before being received into the full Communion of the Catholic Church.

For information about baptism or RCIA, contact the parish office at 402-477-3979.

The Sacraments

Baptism
Baptism is our entrance into the Church and the beginning of the sacramental life. It “washes away sin” and pours upon us the divine life.
Baptism for Children
Baptizing your child requires thoughtful knowledge of the sacrament. Therefore, first-time parents are required to attend a baptism preparation class. Parents who have already taken the class for the baptism of another child are not required to take it again. Classes are offered multiple times throughout the year, and you do not need to wait for your child to be born before taking the class. Parents must be registered members of St. Teresa prior to baptism, and at least one godparent for the child must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. To register for baptism preparation class, contact Logan Burda at 402-217-2097. After completing the class, parents can contact the parish office to schedule the Sacrament of baptism for their child. Baptisms are normally performed after our Noon Mass on Sundays. Baptism for school-age children takes place through the St. Teresa School or CCD.
Baptism for Adults
Baptizing your child requires thoughtful knowledge of the sacrament. Therefore, first-time parents are required to attend a baptism preparation class. Baptism for adults takes place through the RCIA process. RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This process helps one learn more about the Catholic faith, meet new friends, and grow in faith. If and when a person feels called to be baptized as a Catholic, they can begin participation in the Rites of the RCIA with the help of a parish sponsor. Baptism is celebrated along with the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist – and all are celebrated at the Easter Vigil.

Individuals who wish to become Catholic who have already been baptized in another Christian faith are not Baptized again. The RCIA is their path to inquire into the Catholic Faith – and if Full Communion in the Catholic Church is desired – to prepare to make a Profession of Faith before being received into the full Communion of the Catholic Church.

For information about baptism or RCIA, contact the parish office at 402-477-3979.
Reconciliation/ Holy Communion
St. Teresa School and CCD students are prepared for and receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion in Grade 2. Home school families should contact the school office to incorporate sacramental prep into their home school curriculum.
Reconciliation, often called Penance or Confession, offers God’s mercy and forgiveness. It also bestows graces which offer spiritual healing and help us to avoid sin so that we may remain in a healthy and holy relationship with God and our Church community. First Reconciliation is celebrated in late February.

First Holy Communion is the first occasion for new communicants to receive the Eucharist and fully participate in the Mass. First Holy Communion is celebrated in April.

Parents are required to attend informational meetings for preparation for the Sacraments. These meetings are coordinated by the St. Teresa School and CCD. Parents of children who have already entered the second grade, or that are in grades 3 through 8 but not yet had any formal religious education, should contact the CCD coordinator to be placed in a class that is right for them.

The Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion are occasions for joy – not just for the child and his family – but for the entire Church!
Confession Times at St. Teresa
Individual confessions are scheduled:

Saturday 3:00-4:00 pm and 5:00-5:30pm
Eve of First Fridays: 6:30-7:00 pm
Before daily Masses except Sundays and Holy Days

Confession is also available by appointment. Additional opportunities for Reconciliation are available during the Advent and Lenten seasons. Check the bulletin and listen for announcements for the schedule.

Communion to Sick - If you or a loved one is sick or homebound and would like to receive Holy Communion, call the parish office at 402-477-3979 or e-mail aubrey-potter@cdolinc.net
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation calls forth the fullness of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our relationship with Jesus and the Church. Through confirmation we affirm our identity as Catholic Christians and receive graces and special gifts to help spread and defend the Faith as true witnesses of Christ.

St. Teresa students begin preparation for Confirmation in the fall of 5th Grade for the celebration of the sacrament in spring. Students are required to attend all preparatory classes and a Confirmation Retreat.
Marriage
Through the sacrament of Marriage, Catholic spouses signify and partake of the mystery of the unity and fruitful love which exists between Christ and His Church. They help each other to attain holiness in their married life and in raising their children in the Catholic faith.

It is our expectation that engaged couples attend Holy Mass every Sunday and on Holy Day of Obligation. If this is not the currently the case, we are certain that through marriage preparation you will gain an understanding of the importance of attending Mass and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

Because we want all couples married in our parish to form strong, lasting marriages, couples who wish to marry at St. Teresa are asked to begin marriage preparation at least six months before their wedding date. The first step is make an appointment with a parish priest. After this initial meeting, you may contact the parish office to request a wedding date, and a marriage coordinator will be assigned to you.
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of Anointing is available upon request from one of our parish priests for those who are seriously ill or anticipating surgery. Our priests anoint parishioners in their homes or in hospitals. Contact the Parish Office to make arrangements.

Masses of Healing with the Sacrament of Anointing are held at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ for all parishioners of the Diocese of Lincoln. The Sacrament is open to anyone in need of healing – whether physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual. We try to include this information in our weekly bulletin, but you can also check the Diocese website at https://www.lincolndiocese.org/.
Holy Orders
Our parishioners are generous in their prayers for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We currently have four seminarians attending St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia and Mount St. Marin in Emmitsburg, MD. Three college seminarians attend St. Gregory the Great in Seward, NE. One religious sister from our parish is in formation for the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine in Kentucky.

Seven young men from the parish have become priests. They are Father Robert Wirth, C.S.S.R., Father Patrick Powers, Father Patrick Murphy, Father Paul Witt, Father Stephen A. Cooney, and Father Albert Pettinger. Lothar Gilde was ordained in 2006. Father Christopher Stoley was ordained in 2015.

Previously, three women from the parish professed vows to the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine. They are Sister Teresa Wolfe, Sister Clarellen McGinley, and Sister Karen Flaherty.