St. Jude the Apostle Parish

Sacraments

Baptism: Congratulations on the birth of your child and your preparation for your child's baptism. Parents and god-parents are required to attend a preparation class prior to the baptism of their child.

Please call 270-1477 to make an appointment to participate in this class. Parents must participate in this preparation class. Likewise, it is recommended and encouraged that the parents and godparents of the child to be baptized participate in this class prior to the birth of the child. Baptism is the first of the "initiation" sacraments into the membership and life of the church. It is the point at which your child is welcomed by the community of believers into the community of the church. With this in mind, Baptisms take place at either the Saturday evening Masses or the Sunday morning Masses at our parish churches.

For parents from parish communities outside our own the following documentation is necessary: (1) a letter of delegation from their pastor allowing the baptism to take place at the churches of St. Jude or St. Mary, Gate of Heaven. (2) a letter indicating that the parents and godparents have completed the baptism preparation program in their parish community. (3) a letter from their respective pastors indicating that the sponsors (godparents) are practicing Catholics able to serve as godparents for the sacrament of baptism. These letters must be sent by the respective pastors to the pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish no later than four weeks prior to the date of the intended baptism. Please note that, unless the child to be baptized is seriously ill or in danger of death, the sacrament of baptism is not celebrated during the season of Lent. Parents thinking about having their child baptized during this season of repentance and renewal are asked to consider having, more appropriately, their child baptized on Easter Sunday or on another Sunday during the Easter Season.

First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation: Guidelines for the preparation and reception of these sacraments can be found in the Faith Development section of this website.

Marriage: Our parish family extends its congratulations as you prepare for your upcoming wedding. The marriage preparation program in the Diocese of Raleigh takes a minimum of six months. Please make arrangements with the pastor for your wedding and preparation program at least one year prior to your planned wedding date. All preparation programs and documentation must be completed and verification presented to the pastor prior to the setting of a wedding date by the couple. Couples who are not active and supporting members of our parish are required to complete all the preparation and paperwork in their own parish and have their pastor write a letter of delegation to the pastor of St. Jude Parish (i.e. the church communities of St. Jude the Apostle - Hampstead and St. Mary Gate of Heaven - Surf City) as soon as possible after the couple completes its preparation work. No dates may be set until all this information is delivered to the pastor of St. Jude Parish.

Two items to understand are the following: When you decide to celebrate your wedding at our parish, the pastor will only converse with you concerning the procedures and plans. Parents, grandparents, friends, whoever, other than the bride and groom will not be part of the planning and preparation process. Also, if you have a relative or close friend who is a priest or deacon that you would like to receive the vows at your wedding, it is important that you make this fact known to the pastor on your first interview.
Once this information has been received, the couple must meet with the pastor of St. Jude Parish in order to set a date and discuss the ceremony and preparations. In planning, please consult our diocesan web page (www.dioceseofraleigh.org) for information about the planning and preparation process.
When planning your wedding at either of the two churches that comprise the parish, please note the following:

No weddings are permitted during the season of Lent.
No weddings are celebrated on Sundays.
Weddings celebrated on Saturday must take place no later than 1:30 p.m. due to the weekend Reconciliation and Mass Schedule.
Weekday weddings (Tuesday thru Friday) are encouraged. This is a suggestion based on economics: it is much easier to engage a caterer during the week and to find a place for a reception. Usually this is at a lower cost during the tourist season.
Floral arrangements are limited to two (2) in the sanctuary. Potted palms are not allowed.
Due to liability issues, aisle runners are not allowed.
Unity candles” are not part of the wedding ritual. We ask that they be used at the bride and groom’s table at the wedding reception.
Pew decorations are not permitted, nor are other decorations that need to be fastened by tape, nail, pin or glue.
Wedding planners or coordinators are not permitted unless they are members of the wedding planning committee at St. Jude Parish.
Music is the venue of our parish music ministry. If you plan to have someone other than our church music ministers play or sing at your wedding, our music ministers must be consulted to ensure that the selections are in conformity with Catholic worship.
Do you love your friends and guests who are sharing this day with you? If your answer is yes, we require the following:

Do not use confetti since it has a tendency to stain clothing that is damp in a hot and humid environment.
Do not use rice, birdseed, peas, etc. In our coastal environment the seagulls will go into a feeding frenzy possibly harming your guests. (Remember that, in such a case, you are liable for injuries.) Also, what goes in must come out. With seabirds this is a rather rapid process. Site and vesture cleaning bills could become quite interesting.