The Sacraments
Sacred signs of grace — ancient in origin, inclusive in spirit, and central to how we live and share the life of Christ.
Grace you can touch
What Are the Sacraments?
The sacraments of the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission are sacred signs that make God’s grace tangible. They are not performances or empty rituals, but real encounters with Christ — rooted in the life of the early Church and received with reverence, trust, and hope.
Each sacrament marks a threshold: a beginning, a deepening, a healing, a call. Whether in joy or in need, we meet Christ through the sacraments — and he meets us not because we are perfect, but because we are loved.
We celebrate all seven sacraments of the Catholic tradition: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders — each a doorway into the mystery of faith, lived out in real life.
Grace for the journey
The Seven Sacraments
Seven sacred acts. One continuous invitation into the life of Christ.
Baptism
Entrance into the life of Christ and the Church. In Baptism, we are washed, sealed, and welcomed as members of God’s family.
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” – Ephesians 4:5
Confirmation
The strengthening of baptismal grace through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A call to maturity, mission, and deeper faith.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” – Acts 1:8
Eucharist
The real presence of Christ in bread and wine — the heart of Christian life and worship. We are fed not only spiritually, but sacramentally.
“Take and eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26
Reconciliation
Confession and forgiveness that restores us to wholeness and grace. A sacrament of honesty, mercy, and healing.
“Your sins are forgiven; go in peace.” – Luke 7:48–50
Anointing of the Sick
A sacred act of prayer, healing, and comfort for those who are ill, suffering, or near death.
“Let them pray over the sick, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” – James 5:14
Marriage
A covenant of love, fidelity, and shared life. This sacrament blesses the union of two people who commit to one another before God.
“What God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Mark 10:9
Holy Orders
Ordination into apostolic ministry — a sacrament of service, sacramental authority, and pastoral care.
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.” – 2 Timothy 1:6
Reverent, inclusive, and rooted in tradition
How We Celebrate the Sacraments
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission celebrates the sacraments with beauty, reverence, and pastoral care. We honour the traditional forms, but we do not use them to exclude. No sacrament is withheld on the basis of gender, sexuality, marital status, or doctrinal testing.
Our sacraments are valid — offered in continuity with apostolic tradition through properly ordained clergy — yet they are always personal and pastoral, never mechanical. We believe the sacraments are for those who are seeking Christ, not for those who have already “arrived.”
Though we are not Roman Catholic, the Roman Church affirms that churches which preserve apostolic succession and proper Eucharistic intent have valid sacraments. In its 2000 declaration Dominus Iesus, the Vatican states that such communities “have true sacraments” and are considered “particular Churches.” While we are not part of the Union of Utrecht, our apostolic lineage and sacramental life flow from the same historic continuity. The grace we offer is the same: Christ truly present, truly given, and always received in faith.
Whether received online through spiritual communion and prayer, or in-person during an arranged pastoral visit or Eucharistic gathering, the sacraments are signs of Christ’s living presence. They are not a reward for holiness, but nourishment for the journey.
We are not Protestant, though we affirm the need for reform. And we are not Anglican, though we share much in common — a love of liturgy, a commitment to pastoral care, and the valuing of both Scripture and tradition.
As Old Catholics, we seek to live the ancient faith with freedom of conscience and openness of heart. Ours is a Church of invitation, not imposition — where unity does not require uniformity, and the Table is set for all who seek Christ.
Ministry shaped by real lives
Sacraments in Practice
As a small and growing mission, we offer the sacraments with flexibility and care. Some are celebrated online through prayer, reflection, or spiritual communion. Others are offered in person through pastoral visits, arranged gatherings, or house-based Eucharistic celebrations.
We honour the rhythm of the Church, but we also recognise the needs of those who live at a distance, cannot travel, or feel excluded elsewhere. Whether quietly in a hospital room, across a shared table, or through a prayer screen online, the sacraments remain real, reverent, and inclusive.
All who sincerely seek Christ are welcome to receive. No performance. No prerequisites. Just grace.
Scripture, creed, and grace in harmony
Christ Meets Us in the Sacraments
The sacraments are more than rituals. They are moments of divine encounter — signs that God’s grace reaches into the real, the ordinary, and the imperfect. In water, oil, bread, words, vows, and hands laid in prayer, Christ becomes present to his people.
Through every sacrament, we are reminded that God meets us where we are and invites us into something deeper. It is not our perfection that prepares us, but God’s mercy that welcomes us.
Here, grace is not withheld. It is given — freely, faithfully, and forever.
