Frequently Asked Faith Questions (FAFQ)
Updated 17 July 2008

If you have a question that you would like to see added to our FAFQ page, please email Webmaster. While we cannot promise to add every suggested question, we will consider all requests.

Baptism

• I would like to have my child baptized. What do I need to do?
  
  In order to have your child baptized in one of our parishes, either or both of the parents must be Catholic and live within our canonical boundaries or be a registered member of one of our parishes. The parents and sponsors must usually complete a preparation program prior to the baptism. With permission of the proper pastor of the child, a non-parishioner may also be baptized in one of our churches. The Baptism Application & Inquiry Form identifies most of the required information.
  

• Someone in my family has passed away. What is the process for planning a funeral at Sacred Heart or St. Pius X Parish?
  
  Please call the parish office at 973-2211 BEFORE finilizing arrangements with the mortuary. For further information and help in planning services please consult our Funeral Planning Form (revision 5/29/03). The priests and staff of the parish will help you every step of the way.
  

• We would like to get married at either Sacred Heart Parish or St. Pius X Parish. What is the process and what guidelines do we need to follow?
  
  The steps for getting married in one of the churches of the MPCC are outlined in Marriage Requirements and Guidelines (updated 07/17/08). This document also includes the donation/fee schedule. It is important that this process be started at least four months before the wedding. In preparation for your phone call to the parish you may want to review our Wedding Inquiry Form (updated 12/08/06).
  
  
• Where can I learn about what "Engaged Encounter" is? Also, where can I obtain their weekend schedule? How do register for a weekend?
  
  All your questions about "Engaged Encounter" can be answered via their local website, Hawaii Catholic Engaged Encounter.
  
  
• We are Catholics who don't live in Hawaii, but we'd love to get married there. Is this possible? If so, what's the process for making it happen?
  
  Yes it is possible. There are special procedures which must be followed. These can be found at Marriage Information of our diocesan website.
  
  
• What is the process for obtaining a marriage license in Hawaii?
  
  Please visit the Hawaii Department of Health's link, About Marriage Licenses, for detailed information on the process, including the application form.
  
  
  
• I wish to have my marriage annulled. Where can I go to find more information?
  
  The procedures for this are found on the Diocesan Tribunal and Canonical affairs website located here

• How do I become a member of the parish?
  
  Please complete a New Parishioner Registration Form and mail it into the parish office or place it in the collection basket. As always, if you have any questions, please call one of our parish offices at 973-2211 or 988-3308.
  
  

• How do I enroll my child in the parish religious education program?
  
  Please call the parish office at 973-2211 for enrollment information. In addition, the registration form for the all programs of the MPCC is available online now. Click here for the MPCC Religious Education Registration Form (revised 3/31/04).

• I'm a parishioner of the MPCC and would like to use the hall for a party. Is this possible? If so, what steps must I take to reserve a date? What if I'm not a parishioner of the MPCC?
  
  In general, parishioners (includes past and current students/faculty of Maryknoll School) and non-parishioners may schedule use of the parish facilities. There are strict guidelines and procedures which must be followed in order to schedule the facilities. Please read our Facilities Use and Guidelines policy (revised 10/23/03) for detailed information. To schedule a facility, please contact Ms. Charmaine Bernard by email or at 973-2211, x23.

• What is the sacrament of reconciliation and why should I go?
  
  As one of the seven Sacraments, Reconciliation is a process of recovery that allows our sins committed after Baptism to be forgiven. As Catholics, reconciliation should be practiced on a regular basis. Three important reasons for celebrating this Sacrament, are for those who have distance in their relationship with God through their actions or sins, those that have not received this Sacrament for many years, and those that want to continue to grow spiritually, in faith with God. The first part of Confession is to examine our conscience, admit that we have committed sins, and believe that we are truly sorry. When examining our conscience, here are some questions to consider. Did I deny or doubt God's existence? Did I deny that I was Catholic? Did I leave the Catholic faith? Did I miss Mass on Sunday or on a Holy day of Obligation? Did I neglect my duties to my wife, husband, children, or parents? Was I impatient, angry, envious, unkind, proud, jealous, revengeful, or hateful toward others? Was I lazy? Once we have made that effort to recall those sins we have committed since our last Confession, we must be prepared to resolve ourselves to avoid them in the future. Finally, we must confess our sins to the priest and accept the penance. Celebrating the Sacrament of Confession shouldn't be a chore but a way for us to strengthen our relationship with God and allow us a place to obtain relief and absolution.
  
  
• What is Anointing of the Sick?
  
  Anointing of the Sick was once known as “extreme unction” or the “last anointing.” During some centuries there was a tendency to reserve this sacrament only for those quite near death, thus the sacrament then became known as “extreme unction.” The Church has made it clear that it wishes this sacrament for the sick to be more generally available. According to St. James there should be special care and concern that those who are dangerously ill due to sickness or old age receive this sacrament. The sacrament may be repeated if a sick person recovers after anointing or if during the same illness the danger becomes more serious. A sick person should be anointed before surgery if an illness is the reason for the surgery. Elderly people may be anointed if in a weak condition, even if no dangerous illness is present. Anointing of the Sick calls down the Grace of the Holy Spirit. In a special way Christ charges his priests to anoint the sick while praying over them in a sacramental gesture that would more properly represent a deed of His own personal care. (cf James 5.14). In the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the Church extends the healing hand of Christ to one who is dangerously ill or weakened by age. - information taken from “The Teaching of Christ – a Catholic Catechism for Adults – 4th edition”
  
  
• Why might there be a little piece of the Sacred Host in the chalice when i receive Holy Communion?
  
  The priest celebrant intentionally places a piece of the Sacred Body of the Lord in the chalice during the Agnus Dei (Lamb or God). The accompaning private prayer of the priest is, “May the mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.” This ritual action is an ancient sign of the unity of the universal Church. We who celebrate at a particular Mass are one with the worshiping Catholic Church throughout the world.
  

For more information or for assistance, please contact us at general@mp-cc.net.