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 and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church.
Classes are held for parents and godparents.
Requirements for parents:
Parents who wish to have their child baptized are required to:
Canon Law requires that at least one parent, consent, also that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic faith. 
After your interview, you must attend the Baptism class which we offer here at OMPH. Parents may attend a class at another parish - but a certificate must be provided to OMPH that the class was completed in another parish.
Please note that the parent information that will be listed for the Baptism will be taken from the child's Birth Certificate. 
Requirements for Godparents
Godparents must fulfill the following criteria:
  a) be properly designated by the parent or person who takes that place. 
  b) be at least 16 years old;
  c) be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation and be living a life of faith, for example, a person who regularly participates in the Eucharist;
  d) be a person who has no canonical penalties, for example, persons who are in marriages or relationships not recognized by the Church (a cohabiting couple or a couple who is civilly married) may not be qualified to be godparents;
  e) not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
1. Only one godparent is needed. However, it is customary to have two godparents. If two godparents are chosen, one must be male and one female.
2. Godparents are strongly encouraged to attend a baptism class which may benefit them as a faith growth experience and assist them in understanding and fulfilling their roles as godparents. However, godparents are not required to attend a baptism class.
OMPH BAPTISM PROCESS: 
The Baptism Coordinators and Baptism Companions (members of OMPH parish) guide the parents through a three step process. Parents contact the Baptism Coordinator to schedule the Sacrament of Baptism for their child at a Mass during the 1st or 3rd weekends of the month.
(1) The parents receive a visit from a Baptism Companion. The visit serves these purposes: 

• To have a contact person for the parents 
• To register the child's Baptism in the parish records
• To become a prayer partner towards a successful sacramental experience

Our sacramental preparation program for First Reconciliation and First Communion begins in the fall. The first semester is geared toward preparing our participants to receive the sacrament of First Reconciliation and the second semester is geared toward preparing them to receive to the sacrament of First Communion. Parents have the unique responsibility for the education of their children; they are the first educators or catechists. They teach by their witness of the faith, through their values and attitudes, by their Christian example of love for Christ and his church. When children are baptized, parents accept the responsibility to raise their children in the practice of their faith…(National Directory for Catechesis 234-235)

Fr. Jim Szobonya
Fatih Nikolaus
717-738-4517

Confirmation is usually received as a teenager, several years after making First Communion, and is considered as the second of the three Sacraments of Initiation.

Confirmation is regarded as the perfection of Baptism.

As the introduction to the Rite of Confirmation states:

by the sacrament of Confirmation, are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.

Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.

Fr. Jim Szobonya
Faith Nikolaus
717-733-9641

You must call the Church Office at 717-733-9641 and make an appointment with a priest nine months prior to your anticipated wedding date. A firm wedding date should not be made prior to speaking with a priest. Pre-Cana program is required for all couples in preparation for the sacrament.

Marriage Preparation

 A wedding is a special and joyful time for a bride & groom, for their families and friends and for the entire parish community.   Great care is taken to see that the Wedding Ceremony is reverent, graceful, beautiful and open to the movement of God’s spirit among us.

Please call the parish office for more information - 
717-733-9641.

Who should be anointed?

The sacrament of Anointing is intended for those in danger of death or are seriously ill. It is also for those who are awaiting or recovering from critical surgery; the elderly who are notably weakened and dealing with the debilitating effects of aging, even if no serious illness exists; those failing with major chronic ailment like cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis; those with serious mental illness; or sick children who have achieved sufficient maturity to understand the nature of the sacrament and desire to receive it.

Call the parish office for more information - 
717-733-9641.