Sacraments
Our Community’s life
In the International Catholic Community of Zagreb we take the celebration of the church’s liturgy very seriously. In the tradition of the Second Vatican Council we encourage and strive for the “full, conscious and active participation” of all who gather to give thanks to God through the celebration of the Mass. We also provide sacraments for our community’s needs.
Sacraments
Liturgy
Confession
“God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” – Words of absolution – The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered any time by request.
Baptism
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213) This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptize in) means to “plunge” or “immerse”. The “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death from which he rises up by resurrection with Him, as “a new creature.”
Confirmation
This sacrament is administered in accordance with the need of the Community by the auxiliary bishop of Zagreb or an appointed priest.
Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be reminded to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285)
Sacraments
PREPARATION FOR THE SACRAMENT
Read one of the following Scripture texts and consider what the Lord is saying to you through the Good News. Then pray for the gift of a contrite heart. A sample prayer is included. Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his customs post. He said to him, “Follow me”. Leaving everything behind, Levi stood up and became His follower. After that Levi gave a great reception for Jesus in his house, where he was joined by a large crowd of tax collectors and others at dinner. The Pharisees and the Scribes of their party said to the disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and non-observers of the law?” Jesus said to them, “The healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have not come to invite the self-righteous to a change of heart, but sinners.” (Luke 5:2 7:32)
The Sacrament of Baptism
All Baptisms are by appointment only.
Prerequisites:
- Parents must be members of the International Catholic Community of Zagreb. The Godparents are required to be Catholic and must provide SPONSOR certificates.
- Baptisms are regularly held on Sunday; any other time must be scheduled with the priest.
Liturgy
In the International Catholic Community of Zagreb we take the celebration of the church’s liturgy very seriously. In the tradition of the Second Vatican Council we encourage and strive for the “full, conscious and active participation” of all who gather to give thanks to God through the celebration of the Mass.
The most important way to be involved is to be an active participant yourself:
- Joyfully join in the singing
- Attentively listen to the reading
- Reverently enter into the praying
- Wholeheartedly participate in the communing
But for those who feel called to an even deeper participation at Mass, there are many opportunities for you as well.
- Singing in the choir
- Readers
- Prepare the environment (decorate)
- Altar servers
- Mass facilitators or coordinators
- Fully, actively participating in prayer!