Jesus entrusted Seven Sacraments to the Church:
- Baptism
- The Eucharist (also called Holy Communion)
- Reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance)
- Confirmation
- Marriage (also called Matrimony)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (also called Ordination)
Each of these Sacraments is a sign of God's grace that is also
effective, which means it provides the grace it signifies. When we receive a sacrament, we receive the grace and divine life of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. Through the sacraments, especially Baptism and the Eucharist, Jesus fulfills his promise to us: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
Sacraments - Signs of God's grace in our lives (Read more on the USCCB.org website.)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Confession or Penance, is a Sacrament of Healing in which we confess our sins to a priest, who stands in the person of Christ to give us the Lord's forgiveness and absolution, as Jesus Himself instructed: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:23).
All baptized and practicing Catholics who have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation before are welcome to come to confession at the Church of Saint Andrew. Confessions are heard Saturday 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM (Church reconciliation room), After First Friday and First Saturday Masses, and after the Tuesday evening Mass or by appointment with Fr. Mark, call (763) 441-1483
Are you an adult who wants to go to Confession for the first time? Learn more here.
For more information about preparing for the Sacrament of Eucharist at the Church of Saint Andrew,
contact the parish office at at 763-441-1483.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third of the three sacraments of Christian Initiation (along with Baptism and Eucharist). In Confirmation, we receive a deepening of the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples received at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11). It perfects baptismal grace, and seals us with the gift of the Holy Spirit to root us more firmly in Christ, and strengthen our bond with the Church. Confirmation imprints a permanent spiritual mark on the soul, setting us apart as Christian disciples. It enriches us with a special strength of the Holy Spirit and obliges us to our role in the mission of the Church, which is to proclaim the Gospel, or “good news,” of salvation to the world. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are able to enter into this mission and are sent forth to “go make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). See CCC 1285 – 1321.
Baptized Catholics who are in 11th grade or older can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Church of Saint Andrew. Preparation generally begins in ninth grade.
Confirmation Resources and Dates/Times:
2025 Faith Formation Sessions for Grade 10 (Never Alone) - 6:30 PM in the Gym
February 19 (Wed.) or March 2 (Sun.) Session 1: The Basics
March 30 (Sun.) or April 9 (Wed.) Session 2: The Gifts
April 13 (Sun.) or April 30 (Wed.) Session 3: The Proof
May 4 (Sun.) or May 14 (Wed.) Session 4: The Mission
2025 Confirmation Sessions: 6:30 PM in the Church
January 19 - Introduction Night: Parents, Students, Small Group Leaders
March 26 - How Do We Serve God? - Parents, Sponsors, Students
(Confirmation Sponsor form turned in on this evening)
April 27 - How Do We Serve Each Other? - Students, Sponsors
2025 Ongoing - Students and Sponsors meet to discuss the
YDisciple
Bible Study
August 11, 2025 - Turn in completed Never Alone Bible Study for Student and Sponsor, Confirmation Saint Name Essay, and Letter to Fr. Mark Innocenti
Confirmation Retreat
August 23, 2025, 4:00-10:00 PM Students, Small Group Leaders
Confirmation Students - Attend Opening Faith Formation Mass and Class
September TBD
Confirmation Interviews with Fr. Mark in Gathering Area (Sign up at the Confirmation Retreat)
September 28, 2:30-5:00 PM
September 29, 2:30-5:00 PM
Confirmation will be celebrated at the 5:00 PM Mass on October 11, 2025.
Meet in the gym at 4:00 PM
Are you an adult who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation? Learn more here.
For more information about preparing for the sacrament of Eucharist at the Church of Saint Andrew, contact the Parish Office at at 763-441-1483.
The Sacrament of Marriage unites a man and woman in lifelong, loving communion with each other and with God: "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).
The following guidelines will aid your journey of preparation for Marriage at Saint Andrew:
- Contact the parish office 763-441-1483 at least six months prior to your anticipated date of marriage or sooner to arrange a meeting with Fr. Mark Innocenti (Pastor).
- Follow the steps outlined on the Diocese of Saint Cloud Marriage Preparation webpage as a guide and coordinate with Saint Andrew.
- After meeting with Fr. Mark Innocenti, arrange to meet with Randy Bayerl, 763-441-1483 x308 or randyb@saint-andrew.net, to complete the Fully Engaged Premarital Inventory assessment. This tool aids engaged couples in the process of considering and discussing issues and topics of foundational importance for their marriage.
- A married sponsor couple, trained in the Fully Engaged program will help the engaged couple discuss the inventory findings and aid them as disciples on the marriage journey. The engaged and sponsor couples will meet 2-4 times on average, or as needed, to complete the inventory discussions.
- Additional online resources are available on the US Council of Catholic Bishops website.
- See our Marriage page for more information.
For more information about preparing for Marriage at the Church of Saint Andrew, contact our pastor, Fr. Mark Innocenti, at 763-441-1483 x302.
