PROCEDURE ON RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued some new directives on the reception of Holy Communion. We share them with you today.

• The Bishops state that the correct posture for receiving communion in the U.S. is standing.
   

• There should be some act of reverence or a bow before receiving. This new procedure will require some adjustment on the part of the people.
   

• Practically speaking, from now on you should bow when the person in front of you is receiving the host. The bow before receiving is an added sign of respect and reverence for the sacrament.
   

• The decision to receive in the hand or on the tongue is up to the individual.
   

• If communion is received in the hand, the hands should be first of all clean. You should never have gloves on or have anything else in your hands.
   

• If one is right handed, the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will be placed on the palm of the left hand and taken by the right hand to the mouth.
   

• If one is left handed this is reversed.
   

• It is never appropriate to reach out with fingers and take the host from the person distributing.
   

• The communicant should respond audibly “Amen” when receiving the host indicating their belief in the realty of Jesus Christ present in Communion.
   

BAPTISM PREPARATION
Before attending the monthly instruction class, both parents of the child need to make an appointment with one of the priests of the parish to arrange a meeting with him. It is at this meeting that parents will arrange to attend the monthly class. Parents who already have had a child baptized here still need to make an appointment with a priest. Parents can arrange to make an appointment with one of the parish priests either by coming to the rectory office or by telephoning the parish secretary at 718-792-5500. We hope that this policy will enable our parish priests to get to know our families better and to provide an opportunity for parents to discuss with our priests their own spiritual journeys.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal  Click here to download
The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council have enjoyed great success in bringing many Catholics closer to the perfect sacrifice of praise that Christ the Lord offered from the wood of the Cross. Perhaps most of all, the reforms of the Missale Romanum, which regulates the celebration of the Eucharist as the "source and summit of the Christian life" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 47), have been the cause and witness of this great work.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation is a process where one who is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith enters a journey of faith.  As the process progresses, those who feel the call to conversion and have a desire to become a Catholic Christian complete the process of initiation into Catholic Church.  The RCIA is a warm, inviting experience for adults, which can lead up to the Sacrament of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

RICA (Rito de Iniciacion Cristiana para Adultos)
Clases de Formacion para Adultos que no tienen algun Sacramento: Bautismo, Primera Comunion o Confirmacion registracion disponible ahora por cita (solamente).  Contacte a la Oficina de religion di la Parroquia al tel: 718-792-5500, ext. 14.

Sacrament of Marriage
Couples planning to celebrate their marriage at St. Frances should make an appointment with a priest at least six months before their planned wedding date in order to begin their marriage preparation and reserve a date for the wedding. 

The Sacraments as Signs of His Presence
The seven sacraments are signs of God's grace-filled presence to us through Jesus. They are part of the journey of faith formation, providing the grace to grow through a life in Christ.  Adults, Adolescents, Children, Special Needs.