Queen of Angels Catholic Church exists to draw all closer to Jesus Christ, particularly through the Sacraments of the Church.
The Church affirms that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation. In them, Christ is truly at work, uniting us to Himself that we might have eternal communion with the Father through the loving power of the Holy Spirit.
It is our task to enter into them worthily and well, seeking after God with a pure and contrite heart!
In Scripture, we learn that God calls us each by name. Therefore, we are baptized by our own name, in the Name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
This divine adoption is the first Sacrament: it cleanses us from Original Sin, brings us from spiritual death to new life, marks us as a child of God, and initiates us as a member of the Christian community. This is the true identity you were created for, we are excited to welcome new members into our parish family!
Infant Baptism: We invite all expectant and new parents to call the parish office to schedule your child's baptism! If this is your first child to be baptized, you will need to complete our baptismal preparation classes beforehand.
Kindergarten through High School: We welcome all children under the age of 18 to be a part of our religious education classes. Contact our Director of Religious Education, Chris Lushis, for more information.
Adults: Adults interested in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism are invited to participate in our Becoming Catholic program. This is also known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). For information regarding becoming Catholic, please call the parish office.
Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross to free you personally from your sins! Through Him, you always have the opportunity to restore your relationship with God, which takes place through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Fr. Spenser is available to hear confessions before every daily Mass (Tues-Fri), on Saturdays from 2:30-3:45 pm, or by making an appointment.
Remember, to worthily receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, one must be a baptized Catholic who is following the teachings of the Church and living in a state of grace!
In preparation for Confession, first, examine your conscience:
REMEMBER: Thinking that you may fall again in the future does not negate your good intention here and now – the intention here and now to be done with the sin is sufficient for absolution.
The Mass is our central act of worship, in which the Eucharist is consecrated (changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus). Mass consists of two main parts: The Liturgy of the Word, in which the people hear the Scriptures read and then broken open in a short sermon, and The Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which we enter into the Paschal Mystery and the Last Supper of Jesus on the night before he died.
If you have been baptized but never received the Sacrament of First Communion or were not baptized in a Catholic Church, please contact the parish office to have a conversation about coming into full Communion with the Catholic Church!
Click the image below to watch a "behind the scenes" revelation of what takes place spiritually at Mass:
Our parish uses the Presence and Lectio: Eucharist program for First Communion classes and to teach others about the truth of the Blessed Sacrament. The videos are well made, with comprehensive content, visuals, and explanations. Click the images below to explore for yourself!
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”
- Luke 22:19
If you have questions about the Sacraments or the Church's teachings, feel free to call/text or email Chris, the Pastoral Associate, at 484-515-0965 or [email protected].
Baptism marked the start of your relationship with Christ when your soul changed permanently and you were filled with God's grace. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens these graces, gives you more of them, and seals them within you. This brings you closer to Christ and better prepares you to face the daily challenges of the Christian life.
When you receive the sacrament of Confirmation you accept a mission from God. After the Resurrection, Jesus tells His disciples to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon them and they receive the courage to take on this mission from Jesus. Confirmation is your own personal Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descends upon you and you accept the same challenge given by Jesus to the disciples.
To be Confirmed, you must select a sponsor to help guide you through the process. This person should be a good example of what it means to be a Catholic, someone who will commit to praying for you and providing a support system for your faith. You are not alone!
Also, at Confirmation, you will take the name of a particular Saint you have a devotion or attachment to. This saint will pray for you and help you on your mission of holiness, evangelization, and being a martyr (witness) for Jesus Christ!
Confirmation takes place in the 8th grade for Queen of Angels students. Children who do not attend Queen of Angels school and/or adults who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation and would like to, please call the church office or email our pastoral associate Chris Lushis at [email protected]. You can also text him at 484-515-0965.
Did you just get engaged? Congratulations! We’re delighted to help you prepare to receive the beautiful Sacrament of Matrimony from God who will soon join you and your fiancé in an indissoluble union for life.
To schedule a wedding at Queen of Angels, please contact the parish office before you book your reception venue. Please contact us at least six months in advance in order to allow enough time for the completion of your marriage preparation course. You may certainly contact us sooner than that. After we confirm the priest’s availability, will pencil in a date for you. Then, after meeting with the priest, and making sure you are free of any impediments to marriage, we will confirm your wedding day.
You and your fiancé will be guided by a mentor couple from our parish and our pastor as you prepare for marriage. You can anticipate nine or ten monthly meetings. Approximately four will be with your mentor couple, four with the priest, plus meetings with our Director of Music and Wedding Coordinator, and rehearsal the night before your wedding. The priest will also give you a list of documents to provide such as baptismal certificates, a marriage license, etc.
In addition, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend requires all engaged couples to complete three phases of preparatory formation:
1. A 5-week online Pre-Marriage Course, held live every other month via Zoom or available anytime with a self-paced option.
2. A 6-session Beloved program hosted by a parish mentor couple, or
offered through a weekend retreat.
3. A Natural Family Planning overview, held the 1st Wednesday evening of the month online.
The full extent of the diocesan marriage preparation website also presents a Marriage Course video series that can be accessed here: www.diocesefwsb.org/marriage-preparation.
These resources are also available in Spanish here: www.diocesefwsb.org/preparacion-matrimonial.
You and your fiancé are also encouraged to take the Five Love Languages Quiz, which can be accessed by clicking HERE.
"The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus." -St. John Vianney
If you’ve ever thought about serving the Church as a priest, you are welcome to speak with Fr. Spenser or to contact Fr. Andrew Budzinski, the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. They will be happy to assist you in your discernment!
You’re also encouraged to visit the diocesan Vocations website HERE to learn more and sign up to receive free books about discerning the Catholic priesthood.
Young men from our area are also invited to join The Melchizedek Project to help them discern a call to the priesthood.
Anointing of the Sick
Any baptized Catholic can receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for reasons of serious illness. Examples of appropriate times to receive Anointing of the Sick: a new diagnosis of a serious illness, a relapse in a serious illness, an elderly person whose frailty becomes more pronounced, before a serious operation, etc. NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT THE POINT OF DEATH.
Last Rites is the term for the combination of three sacraments given to those who are dying: Anointing of the Sick, Confession (where possible), and Communion (Viaticum). Viaticum means literally, 'food for the journey,' and is the term for Communion given to the dying.
If you or a loved one would like to receive Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites, please call the Parish Office.
Funerals
Do you need to plan a funeral? Contact the Church Office to make arrangements.
If you need immediate assistance outside regular office hours, please call our office and follow the prompts for the pastoral emergency line or call our Pastoral Associate, Chris Lushis, at 484-515-0965.