Sacraments and Funerals

At Sacred Heart, our process for preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is spread over 2 years. It usually begins in 9th grade, with students receiving the sacrament near the end of 10th grade — although we also confirm students in grades 11 and 12.

Students in Non-Catholic Schools
Students who are preparing for Confirmation should register for SOURCE (high school faith formation) for both their 1st and 2nd year.

Catholic School Students
If a student attends a Catholic high school, the SOURCE program is not a requirement for Confirmation preparation. However, we encourage Catholic school students to join us in SOURCE to build our community of those preparing for Confirmation!

Students are confirmed during their 2nd year of SOURCE (or in 10th grade and above for Catholic school students). During this year, students have additional requirements. Confirmation classes meet once a month on a separate Sunday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.

Most sessions are for students only, but there are also Parent/Student sessions and a Sponsor/Student Retreat. More details on the Confirmation program are provided in the Confirmation Packet that is sent separately to those who register for Confirmation.

We use Life Teen® PURPOSE for Confirmation prep.

Confirmation name form

Confirmation service hour reflection

Confirmation is a requirement to be a godparent or a sponsor for Confirmation.

If you are over 18 and have never been confirmed, please contact us:

Rev. Brendan Fitzgerald
Associate Pastor
410-833-1696
frbrendan@shgparish.org

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."  — John 3:16

In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the son of God, by His death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity. This saving mystery is at the center of the Church's life.

At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist. Christians celebrate these rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just.

"If one member suffers in the body of Christ which is the Church, all the members suffer with that member." — 1 Cor. 12:12

The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living as the Christian community affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great communion of saints. Though separated from the living, the dead are still at one with the community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession.

To begin the preparations for planning a funeral at Sacred Heart, please contact:

Kevin Callahan, Director of Music Ministry
410-833-1696 ext. 345
kcallahan@shgparish.org

You can also contact the Parish Office. Our planning guide is designed to help you and your family prepare the readings, hymns, and use of Christian symbols in the liturgy which best reflect your prayer to God at the time of the death of one whom you love.

Funeral Mass or Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Church:
$450 — Sacred Heart parishioners
$600 — non-parishioners

This fee includes:
$125 organist, $125 cantor, $100 celebrant, and $100 church or $50 church / $50 committal

Funeral Liturgy at a Funeral Home:
$200 — payable to the celebrant

Committal (if alone or separate from a Funeral Mass or Liturgy): $100