Sacraments at Mater Dei
For All Catholics
For Mater Dei Parishioners
For those who desire to Convert or who are Coming Back to Catholicism
For more information, contact the Parish Office at:
Main Office: (972) 438-7600
Email: secretary@materdeiparish.com
For All Catholics
Confession
The current confession schedule can be found here: https://materdeiparish.com/masses-devotions/
Confessional booths are located at the back of the chapel, and signs point to where the confessional line begins.
Extreme Unction
Contact the parish as needed. In case of emergency, call the sacramental emergency hotline: (972) 438-7600 – Press “*”.
For Mater Dei Parishioners
PLEASE NOTE: Fill out the corresponding registration forms below, and deliver to the office before the sacrament is conducted.
Baptisms
Infants – For Mater Dei Parishioners who have been registered for at least one year. Contact the parish office at least one month before the due date of a child to make arrangements.
Adults – Please visit the Adult Sacraments of Initiation section below.
Reception – If you wish to have a small reception at the parish immediately following the ceremony, please use this form.
Agreement for No-Charge Use of Space for Small Baptism or First Communion reception
First Confession
Children – First confessions are generally made a few weeks prior to First Communion. Children who are looking to make their first confession should present themselves in the confessional AFTER they have passed their testing with a priest for their First Communion. This pertains to children being catechized at home; children in the parish First Communion class will have a predetermined time for making their first confession.
When the child presents in the confessional, he/she should tell Father this is his/her first confession right after saying, “bless me Father, for I have sinned”.
Adults – If you are working with a priest to come into the Church, he will advise you about how and when to make your first confession.
First Communion
For Mater Dei Parishioners who have been registered for at least one year.
First Communion Registration Form
First Communions are as a group (usually once a year, around May or June), or individually (at any time by arrangement). Contact the parish office at least six weeks before to make arrangements. Those who are to receive their first communion will need to provide proof that they are prepared for the sacrament (an interview with one of the priests at Mater Dei), and a current baptismal certificate (issued from the place of baptism within six months of the date of first communion – mailed from the place of baptism directly to Mater Dei).
Reception – If you wish to have a small reception at the parish immediately following an individual First Communion, please use this form. There is a large reception coordinated by the parish for those participating in the annual group First Communion Mass.
Agreement for No-Charge Use of Space for Small Baptism or First Communion reception
Confirmation
For Mater Dei Parishioners who have been registered for at least one year.
Confirmation Registration Form
Confirmations are held once a year, preferably on the Vigil of Pentecost. All those to be confirmed will need to:
- Provide current baptismal certificate (issued directly from place of baptism)
- Choose a sponsor (a confirmed Catholic; letter of suitability may be required)
- Provide proof they are prepared for the sacrament (via interview with a MD priest)
- Attend four priest-led catechetical classes
More detailed information with dates and more can be found at the linked document below.
Also see: Confirmation at Mater Dei
Holy Matrimony
Contact the parish office to meet with one of the parish priests a minimum of six months prior to proposed date; preparation program required.
Please see these documents for more on facility use for weddings at Mater Dei:
Preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony and Making Arrangements for your Wedding at Mater Dei Parish
Mater Dei Wedding Fee Summary
Photography and Videography Policy Agreement
Sung/Solemn Mass Wedding Music
Low Mass Wedding Music
Funerals
For planning the actual funeral, you do not need to notify the parish office before the time of death since the parish cannot make any arrangements until that time. Do contact the Sacramental Emergency Line immediately if in need of Last Rites: (972) 438-7600 – Option *.
When a loved one dies, you should first contact the funeral home that will be handling your arrangements. The funeral home will contact the parish and will work closely with the family and the parish. The parish has worked with many funeral homes and has no preferences or recommendations.
Also see: Mater Dei Guide and Policy for Funerals
Coming Home and
Conversion to Catholicism
Adult Sacraments of Initiation
Coming Home to the Catholic Church
There’s an old saying that goes, “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.” Maybe you have been away from the Church for a little while or for quite some time, but now you feel a tug at your heart calling you back to the Catholic Church. Listen to that tug. It’s your Heavenly Father reaching his arms out to you, the Holy Spirit whispering in your ear, hoping to draw you home.
To begin your journey, simply speak to a priest in our confessionals, or make an appointment with a priest by contacting the parish office.
For answers to questions that many ask as they journey home to the Catholic Church, visit catholicscomehome.org.
Converting to Catholicism
If you have either been baptized in another Christian tradition or never baptized, and are seriously considering entering the Catholic Church, we welcome you!
Entering fully to Catholicism
If you were baptized in the Catholic faith and have not received all of the other Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation, Eucharist), we welcome you!
The process at Mater Dei
Taking into consideration that individuals seeking to enter, or more fully enter, the Church have varying degrees of knowledge about Catholicism, your preparation for coming into the Church is an individualized process at Mater Dei. A specific priest will work with you personally as you move towards full initiation into the Catholic Church; he will have books for you to read and will meet with you regularly to learn about and discuss Church teaching. He will work closely with you through this process and determine with you when you are ready to enter fully into the Church.
If a number of individuals are concurrently working towards fully entering the Church, it may be decided that an appropriate Adult Faith Formation class may be instituted for a season.
To start the process at Mater Dei parish of entering or more fully coming into the Church, contact the parish secretary at 972-438-7600 or secretary@materdeiparish.com.
Also see: Converting or Coming Back to Catholicism
