Liturgy and Sacraments
Mass Schedule
Saturday
8:30 am, 5:00 pm (Vigil Mass), 7:00 pm (Spanish Mass)
Sunday
7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:45 am, 12:30 pm, 5:00 pm
Monday – Friday
6:30 am & 8:30 am
Holy Days
7:00 pm Vigil (Spanish); 6:30 am, 8:30 am, 12:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Federal Holidays
6:30 am & 8:30 am
Confession Schedule
Wednesday
7:00 – 7:30 pm
Saturday
9:00 am & 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Sunday
30 minutes before every Mass
Regularly Scheduled Devotions
Rosary
The Rosary is a traditional devotional prayer based on scripture. Join us in praying the rosary Monday-Friday at 7:30 am.
Divine Mercy
“For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Monday – Friday following the 8:30 am Mass.
Divine Mercy Holy Hour
Friday 3:00 – 4:00 pm
“The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” Diary 699
Adoration Schedule
Wednesday
9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Benediction 8:00 pm
Children’s Holy Hour: 10:00 to 11:00 am
Miraculous Medal Holy Hour: 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am to Midnight
Friday
Midnight to Midnight
Divine Mercy Holy Hour: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Saturday
Midnight to 8:15 am
Benediction 8:15 am
Contact the Adoration Coordinator to Sign Up
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Sacraments
St. John's Baptismal Guidelines & Info
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, 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 in the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word. (CCC 1213)
Baptism Registration
Please complete this Baptism Registration form to register your child for baptism.
Once completed, you can mail, email to the Parish Secretary (our Baptismal Coordinator) at [email protected], or drop off the form to the parish office. She will contact you upon receiving your submission. Thank you!
Congratulations and we welcome your new addition! Baptisms take place the second and fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 pm.
Baptism preparation instruction is required for first-time parents or parents who have not previously attended a class. Parents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism by focusing on their role in bringing their child for initiation into the Church. The goal of our preparation is to deepen the parents’ understanding of and participation in the sacrament, thus enabling them to more fully accompany their child on his/her journey of faith.
Preparation class is the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Office. Parents are asked to register in advance. Please call the Parish Office at 540-347-2922 to begin the process of scheduling the baptism.
Original copies of the Godparents’ sponsor certificates must be signed and sealed by the pastor of the Catholic Church where they are currently registered. All forms must be turned into the Parish Office prior to the Baptism date being scheduled. Once the Parent Request for Baptism and the sponsor forms for the Godparents are received, the Parish Office will schedule your child’s Baptism.
Bautismos
Todos los padres están obligados a completar una clase de bautismo antes del bautismo de su primer hijo. Las clases pre-bautismal (en español) son típicamente el primer lunes de cada mes de 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Todas las clases se ofrecen en la escuela. Por favor, llame a la Oficina Parroquial para inscribirse en una clase o para registrar para el Bautismo.
Godparents
What are Sponsors (Godparents)?
Sponsors are witnesses to the Catholic faith who will pledge support of those who are to be baptized into the faith or who are seeking full membership into the Church through the sacrament of Confirmation. A sponsor helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations” of this new life. (Code of Canon Law, 872)
Canon law requires: 1 Godparent.
If two are chosen, one must be a man, one must be a woman.
One godparent MUST be a practicing Catholic, MUST be up-to-date on all his/her sacraments, MUST be at least 16 years of age, MUST attend Mass weekly, and if married, must be married in the Catholic Church.
If the other sponsor is not Catholic, he/she must be baptized Christian. They are recorded as a Christian witness in the baptismal records and on the certificate.
Non-Christians may NOT be sponsors (Mormon, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc).
Lapsed Catholics or a Catholic married outside the church may NOT be a sponsor for Baptism.
What do Sponsors (Godparents) do?
They are to see that the person baptized or confirmed in the faith of the Catholic Church acts as a true witness to Christ and faithfully fulfills the obligations connected with this membership.
Parents must provide sponsor certificates for each Catholic Godparent. At least one Godparent MUST be a practicing Catholic. The Godparent should contact the Church where he/she is currently registered to request a sponsor certificate.
What are proxies?
If the godparents cannot make it to the ceremony, a proxy may be selected. The proxy must be of the same form as the godparent or sponsor (i.e. male Catholic must be selected to stand in for a male Catholic godparent; female Christian witness must be selected to stand in for a female Christian witness, etc). No sponsor forms are required for the proxy.
Can I be my child's godparent?
No. According to the Code of Canon Law: “To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor [for baptism], a person must…not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized” (CIC 874). We may be able to help you find a suitable person to serve as a godparent.
Do godparents take on the role of guardians of a child in the event that both parents should die while they are minors?
Traditionally, godparents often filled this role in the event that both parents die while the child is a minor. However, this is not the case in modern society. Any legal needs to provide for your children should be taken care of in addition to your child’s baptism. While it may be the case that a godparent would make a very suitable candidate for this role, the Church does not make any connection between these unique roles in the care of children in this most difficult circumstance.
Other Information
Parents who were not married in the Church:
We will invite them to set up an appointment with the pastor to see about having their marriage convalidated. Their particular circumstances determine the level of complexity in having this done, but that is for the pastor to decide and discuss with them.
Baptism of Adults (and children age 7 and up):
Children who have reached age 7 and have not yet been baptized are considered “adults” with consideration for the reception of sacraments. This is because – at age 7 – they are able to take personal responsibility for their sins and are able to make a profession of faith on their own. The parents of a child age seven or older must schedule a meeting with the Director of Religious Education to determine the best course of action.
We accept sponsorship certificates (forms) from the godparents’ home parish. Please make sure they have had their pastor sign and seal the sponsor form. If the pastor’s signature or parish seal is missing, this could delay the Baptism. All forms should be mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to the parish office at least one week prior to Baptism.
The Sacrament of Confession
Even after we have received the great gift of salvation in the Sacrament of Baptism we still struggle with sin in our lives.
Due to this fact of Christian life we find great comfort in the Sacrament of Confession because we have an opportunity to be forgiven from the sins we commit after we are baptized.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Confession is also called the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. It is called the Sacrament of Penance to describe the restoration of our hearts through the expression of our sorrow and cooperation in our healing. Penance has two aspects; interior and exterior.
Interior Penance…
“is the movement of a ‘contrite heart’ (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy.” -Compendium of the Catechism, 300
Exterior Penance…
“Can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.” -Compendium of the Catechism, 301
It is also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation because it not only restores our relationship as sons and daughters of God, it also reconciles us with one another restoring our union with the Body of Christ, his Church. So, in addition to the forgiveness of sins, the penitent, through the priest, is reconciled to the Church itself.
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422)
Common Questions
Can a priest reveal the sins he hears in Confession?
No. Due to what is called the “seal of confession”, the priest cannot ever tell others about the sins he hears in the confessional or even imply through his speech any connection between a person and any sins they confess. Church law requires this of the priest and the penalty for revealing someone’s sins heard in confession is the permanent loss of faculties (they can no longer validly perform any sacraments).
What are the effects of this sacrament?
“The effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with God and therefore the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church; recovery, if it has been lost, of the state of grace; remission of the eternal punishment merited by mortal sins, and remission, at least in part, of the temporal punishment which is the consequence of sin; peace, serenity of conscience and spiritual consolation; and an increase of spiritual strength for the struggle of Christian living.” (Compendium of the Catechism, 310)
The Sacrament of the Eucharist
The Holy Mass is at the center of our Catholic life because the Holy Eucharist is “the source and summit” of our Faith.
Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper while celebrating the Passover meal with his apostles. The gift of the Holy Eucharist makes Jesus present to us today and every day. He did not abandon us, rather he gave us the Church in whose authority priests and bishops consecrate the unleavened bread and wine at the Mass by which it becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. Through this miracle the same Jesus who was crucified and rose from the dead may be received by Catholics today. The grace of this sacrament provides supernatural food for the soul to strengthen and nourish the faithful as they seek greater union with Christ in their daily life.
Common Questions
Do I need to receive the Eucharist under both forms (host and chalice) to receive both Jesus' body and blood?
Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are fully present in the smallest drop from the chalice (what appears and tastes like wine) or the smallest crumb from a host (what appears and tastes like bread). Therefore, you don’t have to receive the Eucharist under both forms to “completely” receive Jesus.
Why can't non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?
For Catholics, receiving our Lord Jesus requires the proper disposition. The basic requirements are that one be baptized, be free of any serious (mortal) sin, and to observe the minimum one-hour fast. Additionally, reception of Holy Communion serves as a sign that the believer both believes all that the Church teaches as revealed by God and that they are in visible unity with the Church.
St. Paul speaks of this unity in his first letter to the Corinthians: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
Communion in the Church represents the assent of the faithful to all that the Church teaches. Therefore, non-Catholics cannot participate in Holy Communion, because they do not accept all that the Church teaches and are not united as a member to His Body, the Church. Allowing non-Catholics to receive Communion would falsely demonstrate a unity that does not exist. Catholics desire that our unity be restored, but not at the expense of the truth of the situation.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation compliments baptism by sealing and strengthening the believer to live as a child of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The ordinary minister of the sacrament is a bishop who – through the “laying on of hands” and “anointing with chrism oil” – invokes the presence of the Holy Spirit on the baptized person. In this powerful encounter with God, we experience again the grace of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles.
This sacrament has two primary signs: the laying on of hands by the bishop and the anointing with perfumed oil called chrism. Since the earliest days of the Church, the apostles conferred this sacrament upon the newly baptized. For example:
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama’ria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized…” -Acts 8:14-16
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the sacrament is ordinarily administered by the Bishop sometime after the age of reason. When children are baptized as infants they receive confirmation at a later time. Adults who participate in the “Right of Christian Initiation of Adults” always receive confirmation immediately following baptism. This sacrament provides an increase and deepening of the grace of Baptism which increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism.
Common Questions
What is the role of a sponsor?
The role of the Sponsor is to bring the Confirmation Candidate along in his/her preparation to receive the Sacrament. A Sponsor presents the Candidate to the Bishop or the anointing and the Sponsor supports the Candidate in a continued living-out of his/her Baptismal promises.
What are the qualifications to be a Confirmation sponsor?
- Be at least sixteen (16) years of age
- Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the sacrament of Holy Eucharist
- If married, must be married in the Catholic Church
- Be leading a life in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken
- Not be bound by any canonical penalty
- Not be the mother or father of the one to be baptized. (Canon 874.2)
And, because of the close connection between Baptism and Confirmation, the Church encourages a Sponsor at Confirmation to be the same as the one for Baptism. This emphasizes the ongoing nurturing and continued relationship that is so important between an individual and his/her Sponsor. A Sponsor need not be the same sex as the Candidate.
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
“The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament.” (CCC 1660)
Congratulations!
Congratulations! The St. John parish community rejoices with couples called to the Vocation of Marriage and Family.
The entire marriage process requires a minimum of seven months to a year. Part of this process, in accordance with Arlington Diocese policies, couples must begin marriage preparation this requires face to face meetings with a priest, and this process should start official preparation at least six months prior to a planned wedding date.
A minimum of three months of parish registration is required. Please contact our Business Manager, Kandace Leypoldt at [email protected] or 540.347.2922 to start the marriage preparation process. Guidelines will be provided when the Marriage Preparation is scheduled.
Parishioners: Any Catholic not otherwise impeded by Divine law or Church law, who lives within the territorial boundaries of St. John the Evangelist, is a registered parishioner, may be married at St. John the Evangelist. Only one of the newly engaged needs to be a St. John’s parishioner. A person who is registered to St. John’s but does not actually live within the parish boundaries still needs the permission of the pastor of the parish, of that boundary, in which he/she resides to qualify as a registered parishioner to St. John’s. That pastor’s written permission needs to be submitted prior to any arrangements being made. At this time, we cannot accommodate non-parishioner weddings.
Children of St. John’s parishioners: any Catholic, whose parents are actively participating members of St. John the Evangelist, may be married here if the pastor of the parish in which they reside will give his written permission prior to any wedding arrangements being made.
Parishioners Only:
Please contact Fr. Charles Smith to discuss the preparation process for a wedding to be held at another location.
Additional Resources for Marriage Preparation from the USCCB
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La preparación para Matrimonio incluye unas reuniones con un sacerdote y también participación en seis (6) charlas pre-matrimoniales.
Las charlas se ofrecen dos veces por año (normalmente en marzo y septiembre), son seis jueves consecutivos de 6:30 a 8:00 pm.
Contacte a la oficina (540-347-2922) para más información.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders describes the sacrament which has three degrees: bishop, priest, and deacon. The fullness of Holy Orders rests in the office of bishop. Consecration as a bishop makes him a real and legitimate successor of the apostles. Priests are ordained to serve the entire Church and like the bishop exercise this ministry through the forgiveness of sins. Deacons are ordained either transitionally (as part of the path to priestly ordination) or permanently to serve at the altar and exercise the ministry of the word (preaching and teaching). They also take on specific efforts of charity, service to the sick, and pastoral care. Deacons are not ordained to forgive sins (except in the administration of Baptism) and so they cannot confect the Eucharist, hear confessions, or anoint the sick.
For information and resources from our Vocation Office, visit their website through the link below.
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
If you would like to receive the Anointing of the Sick, please call the Parish Office at (540) 347-2922.
The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of the Church in which the priest prays for, lays hands on and anoints the sick person with blessed oil. It may be preceded by the Sacrament of Reconciliation and followed by Eucharist. Anointing of the Sick is for Catholics who are sick or facing life threatening situations (like major surgery or a serious medical emergency), as well as those who may be facing imminent death.
The sacrament may be repeated if the recipient suffers from a different illness or injury or if the same illness or condition becomes more serious. Elderly people may be anointed if they have become weakened even though no serious illness is present.
The principle grace is a strengthening of the virtue of hope to help the sick person not to despair and to strengthen them against any fear of death. It also helps them to endure whatever suffering is caused by their illness or injuries and unites them to the suffering Christ who draws close to them and provides spiritual comfort. For those who are not able to make an oral confession of their sins, it also provides forgiveness of sins. This is a great gift because it allows the ordinary grace of sacramental forgiveness to be given even in this extreme circumstance.
The elements of this sacrament include:
Penitential Prayer
Liturgy of the Word or a short reading from Scripture
The priest laying hands on the sick person
Anointing with the oil of the sick on the hands, and forehead with the words,
“Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”
When possible those near death are given viaticum (Holy Eucharist).
“Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of ‘passing over’ to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord: ‘He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1524, quoting John 6:54)
When administered at (or potentially near) the moment of death in addition to viaticum it may also include:
Common Questions
Is this sacrament the same thing as Extreme Unction or Last Rites?
Yes and no. The Anointing of the Sick has also gone by the name Extreme Unction which, as a name, emphasizes the anointing (unction) and the notion that this sacrament is for those who are dying. However, there are many other circumstances of illness and disease in which this sacrament should be received. It should not be neglected as only for the moments immediately prior to death. The Last Rites involve the administration of Anointing of the Sick as well as Confession (if possible), Viaticum (final Holy Communion) and the prayers of commendation.
Why is it necessary for a priest (or bishop) to administer this sacrament?
Because forgiveness of sins is among the effects of the Anointing of the Sick, it is necessary that a priest (or bishop) administer the sacrament. Deacons and laity can pray for the sick and dying, but not to the same effect as this sacrament.
To arrange a funeral at St. John's, please call the Parish Office.
During this difficult time, we are honored to help with the planning of your loved one’s funeral. Our Church, priests, and office staff are ready to assist you in any way possible. Your loved one will also be remembered at the annual Memorial Mass every November.
Please call us at (540) 347-2922.
Sacramental Records Request
For Godparents & Sponsors:
Please Note – We require three weeks’ notice for a Sacramental Record to be issued.
Parish Registration is required before the parish can issue a sponsorship certificate for those asked to be sacramental sponsors or godparents.
- You must be a registered, contributing member for at least six months before a certificate is provided.
- We require three week’s notice for a Certificate of Eligibility to be issued.
- Canon law requires:
- A Godparent/Sponsor MUST be a practicing Catholic, up-to-date on all his/her sacraments, at least 16 years of age, attend Mass weekly, and if married, must be married in the Catholic Church.
- Lapsed Catholics or a Catholic married outside the church may NOT be a sponsor for Baptism.
Request Records
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