St. Francis & St. Ambrose​ Catholic Churches
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    • About Us
  • St. Francis , St. Paul
    • St. Francis History
    • St. Francis Cemetery
  • St. Ambrose, Erie
    • St. Ambrose History
  • Education
    • Parish School of Religion (PSR)
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    • RCIA Program
    • Bible Study Group
  • Organizations
    • Altar Society, St. Ambrose
    • Altar Society, St. Francis
    • Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM)
    • Parish-Specific Councils & Committees
    • Daughters of Isabella
    • Harvest House
    • Knights of Columbus
    • Stewardship Council
    • St. Francis Thrift Store
  • Church Life
    • Sacraments
    • Sacristan Team
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Stations of the Cross at St. Francis >
      • I - Jesus is Condemned to Death
      • II - Jesus Carries His Cross
      • III - Jesus Falls The First Time
      • IV — Jesus Meets His Mother
      • V — Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross
      • VI — Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
      • VII — Jesus Falls The Second Time
      • VIII — Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem
      • IX — Jesus Falls The Third Time
      • X — Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
      • XI — Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
      • XII — Jesus Dies On The Cross
      • XIII — Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
      • XIV — The Body Of Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
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The Sacraments

The Seven Sacraments.
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.  Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and valuable channels of the grace of God to all those who receive them with the proper disposition. The seven-fold list of sacraments is often organized into three groups:  1) the sacraments of initiation (into the Church, the body of Christ), consisting of Baptism, Confirmation, 2) and the Eucharist; the sacraments of healing, consisting of Penance and Anointing of the Sick; and 3) the sacraments of service: Holy Orders and Matrimony.

​The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence.

PictureSt. Francis Church (Click to enlarge).
Baptism.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment to the Catholic faith and way of life.  Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, the principal effects of Baptism are purification from sins and a new birth in the Holy Spirit.  Adolescents and adults are prepared for Baptism through a process called the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation). 

​Parents are required to meet with father for instruction for the baptism of their first child.  Baptisms are done by after 10:00 Sunday Mass or by appointment.  The mother and father who plan to have their child baptized are required to be registered and practicing their Catholic faith.  Godparents must both be Catholic and in full communion with the Catholic Church.   Adults will be prepared for baptism through the parish RCIA program.


PictureSt. Francis window detail (click).
Eucharist
Christ’s presence among us in the Eucharist has been a constant teaching of the Catholic Church that dates to the Last Supper.  The Holy Eucharist is one of the sacraments of the rite of initiation in the Church.  The Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Mass, is offered at least once daily in one of our two parishes. 
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The actual initiation of the Eucharist begins with the First Holy Communion.  Second grade students from both parishes are prepared for their First Communion through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program.  Adults are prepared through the ​RCIA program.    Homebound parishioners can make arrangements to receive weekly Communion in the home by calling the parish office.


PictureSt. Ambrose window (click).
Reconciliation.
The rite of reconciliation, often called "Confession "or “Penance” is the sacrament in which Christ forgives our sins and reconciles us to our fellow Christians. Its sign or ceremony is the sinner's showing his sorrow by acknowledging his sins and the priest's words of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ's name.
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Catholics are required to receive this sacrament at least once per year.  Anyone knowing they have committed a serious sin must make a good confession before receiving Holy Communion.  Reconciliation is offered several times during the week at our two parishes.  Click HERE for a schedule.


PictureSt. Ambrose window detail (click).
Confirmation.
Confirmation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation.  It is an essential rite that strengthens, or “confirms” the baptismal grace when a Catholic reaches an age of maturity.   It is often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and evidence of its importance is conveyed by the fact that confirmation is almost always performed by a bishop of the Catholic Church.
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The importance of Confirmation is also substantiated by a rigorous preparation and education process.   For youth who were baptized as infants, the training is done through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program on a regularly scheduled annual basis.  Adults might be prepared through coordination with the PSR and RCIA programs.


PictureClick to enlarge.
Marriage.
Marriage, or Matrimony, is a sacrament of service.  Marriage is the sacrament by with Christ joins a Christian man and woman in a grace-giving lifelong union.  Any Catholic young adult (18 years and older) may be married in the Catholic Church.  If a person is divorced and wants to marry or remarry in the Catholic Church they can petition to be free to marry.
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The bride or groom must be registered in the parish for a minimum of six months before preparation for Christian Marriage will begin.  The bride or groom registered in the parish is expected to be actively participating in the life of the Church by living the Stewardship Way of Life.  Preparation for Christian Marriage is 9 months.  Please contact Father for details.  

The annulment of a previous marriage my be sought by contacting the pastor. 


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Holy Orders.
Holy Orders is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest or a deacon and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ.   The three degrees are referred to as the episcopate, the presbyterate and the diaconate.  A bishop administers the sacrament.  Aspirants to the priesthood are required by canon law to go through a seminary program that includes that includes graduate level philosophical and theological studies as well as a formation program including spiritual direction, retreats, apostolate experience, etc.  The course of studies in preparation for ordination as a permanent deacon is decided by an episcopal conference.
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Young men considering a religious vocation should contact the pastor for counseling and suggestions for pursuit of that vocation.   Likewise, young women contemplating entry into a convent should also contact the pastor for encouragement and instruction.


PictureClick to enlarge.
Annointing of the Sick.
"The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age." 
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1527).
 
The Anointing of the Sick is appropriately requested by those who are not only ill or in danger of death, but also by those preparing for surgical procedures or coping with the stress of aging or physiological distress.  Anointing of the sick is also offered after Mass on every First Friday.
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Please contact the pastor or parish office to schedule a time to receive an Anointing.  In the event of sudden accident or illness requiring anointing, contact the parish office at 620-449-2783 .   Anointing of the sick is also offered after Mass on every First Friday.

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St. Francis de Hieronymo

St. Ambrose

Contacts
​
​About Us

​This is the community website for the St. Francis de Hieronymo and St. Ambrose Catholic Churches in Neosho County, Kansas.  Both churches are located in the center of the historic nine-county southeast Kansas area.  We share one of the richest Catholic Heritages in Southern Kansas and the Four-State Region.  For more information about our churches, history, organizations or programs browse our site including its links.
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​Copyright — 2016 - 2023.  All Rights Reserved
  • Home
    • Contacts
    • About Us
  • St. Francis , St. Paul
    • St. Francis History
    • St. Francis Cemetery
  • St. Ambrose, Erie
    • St. Ambrose History
  • Education
    • Parish School of Religion (PSR)
    • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
    • RCIA Program
    • Bible Study Group
  • Organizations
    • Altar Society, St. Ambrose
    • Altar Society, St. Francis
    • Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM)
    • Parish-Specific Councils & Committees
    • Daughters of Isabella
    • Harvest House
    • Knights of Columbus
    • Stewardship Council
    • St. Francis Thrift Store
  • Church Life
    • Sacraments
    • Sacristan Team
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    • Stations of the Cross at St. Francis >
      • I - Jesus is Condemned to Death
      • II - Jesus Carries His Cross
      • III - Jesus Falls The First Time
      • IV — Jesus Meets His Mother
      • V — Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross
      • VI — Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
      • VII — Jesus Falls The Second Time
      • VIII — Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem
      • IX — Jesus Falls The Third Time
      • X — Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
      • XI — Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
      • XII — Jesus Dies On The Cross
      • XIII — Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
      • XIV — The Body Of Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
  • News
  • Links