ANOINTING OF THE SICK
First Fridays after Morning Mass and upon request

RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3 - 4 PM. Wednesday and Friday 8:30 to 9:00 AM and upon request.

BAPTISM
Please schedule an interview at the Parish Office. Bring Child's birth certificate.

MATRIMONY
Six Months in Advance notice is required. Please call the Parish Office to schedule an initial interview.

Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Extreme Unction or “Last Rites”, is a Sacrament of Healing which provides spiritual strength and encouragement during times of illness. The administration of this Sacrament is reserved for the Priest. Call the Parish Office when a member of your family is ill, is in the hospital, homebound and is unable to attend Mass and is in need of the Sacraments and /or visitation . Eucharistic Ministers are available to bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated the First Friday of each month after the 8 am Mass.

Baptism
Baptisms are normally* celebrated on the last Sunday of the month at the 4 pm Family Mass. Parents who wish their child to be baptized must be practicing their Catholic Faith and registered in the Parish. Initial interviews with the parents are scheduled by appointment only through the Parish Office. The official Birth Certificate must be presented at the time of this interview for Church records. Parents and Godparents will be required to attend preparation classes in advance of the Baptism. This Baptismal Preparation Program furthers their understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism and prepares them more fully for their responsibility to be the first teachers of their faith in Jesus Christ for their children. It emphasizes why we strive to live our lives centered upon the love and forgiveness of God, and presents the godparents' moral obligation, including who should be selected for the role of godparents. A godparent is someone who should be an example to your child of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Godparents must also be practicing Catholics, fully initiated. This means they should be baptized, have been confirmed and received Holy Communion. They should be over 16 years old, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan Bishop. They should be members of the Catholic Church. Families are asked to consider a $25 gift to the parish on the occasion of the Baptism to cover the cost of the sacrament preparation materials and toward church support. If you wish additional information or wish to schedule an appointment call the Parish Office at 625-4536. * Baptisms are not celebrated during Advent or Lent and during the summer, June-August, Baptisms are celebrated at the 11:00 am Sunday Mass.

Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation requires a 2year period of preparation. This period of preparation begins in September of 2003 for those of High School age, grades 9-12. They will be confirmed in 2005. Requirements for Confirmation include a commitment to the faith, excellent attendance and service projects within the community. The importance of worshipping together as a faith community each Sunday and Holy Day cannot be emphasized enough. Candidates for Confirmation are welcome and encouraged to attend the Sunday 4:00 pm Mass and the Youth Group activities following that Mass.

Marriage
Marriage “ A Sacrament of Christian Vocation”, is a solemn celebration within the Church. Proper preparation for this sacrament is provided by the Parish Priest, Deacons and married couples. Six months notice in advance of the marriage is required by Our Lady of the Valley Parish. Marriages are not celebrated during the Liturgical Seasons of Advent and Lent . Catholic Marriages must take place in a church, not a backyard or garden or other venue. The detailed marriage regulations and guidelines are available from the Parish Office. The Diocese of Tucson sponsors Engaged Encounter or Seminar Toward Christian Marriage. One of these programs is a required part of the proper preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage. Engaged couples should not be living in cohabitation. They should regularly Practice their Catholic faith and offer church support. A $200.00 fee for marriages covers the church use and maintenance costs associated with the celebration.

Marriage Annulment Process
The Catholic Church believes in the sanctity and permanence of a valid marriage. In the annulment process, the Church evaluates the validity of a previous marriage to determine whether the relationship was a true marriage as taught and understood by the Church. Catholics who have been married, divorced, and remarried without benefit of the Church's annulment decree are not free to receive Eucharist or serve as Sponsors for the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. The same holds true for Catholics who are married by a Justice of the Peace or a Protestant minister without convalidation of their marriage in the Catholic Church before a priest or deacon. In the pastoral practice of the Church, there are primarily two kinds of annulments granted; Formal Case and Lack of Form. Formal Case Annulment: An annulment process for a valid Catholic marriage involving at least one Catholic which took place before a Catholic Priest or Deacon, OR a marriage between two non-Catholics or non-baptized persons through whatever means the marriage takes place. A Formal Case annulment process takes about 18 months to complete.

Lack of Form Annulment:
Canon Law requires that Catholics are to be married before a Catholic Priest or Deacon in a valid Catholic ceremony. When this does not take place, for whatever reasons, the marriage is invalid by virtue of defect or lack of proper form. A Lack of Form annulment process takes approximately 1 month to complete. The parish Priest, Deacon and other counselors are available to assist individuals with the annulment process. Contact the Parish Office for the proper forms and documentation needed. If you would like to have your marriage validated, contact the Parish Office to schedule and appointment. Although the parish does not charge a fee for assistance with the annulment process, the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal does charge a reasonable filing fee.