What is a Sacrament?

A sacrament is an action in which we, the faith community, gather to celebrate our lived experience and call to mind our common story. This action is a symbol of God's care for us in Christ. Enacting the symbol brings us closer to one another in the Church and to the Lord who is there for us.

• The sacraments, therefore, are the signs which express our faith in the reality hidden underneath them.

• They are the signs through which we worship and encounter God intimately.

• They are the signs of the unity of the Church, because they express what the whole Church believes, not just our private devotions.

• They are the signs of Christ being present in his Body, the Church.

• They provide opportunities for celebrating the presence of God in the significant times of our life and in the life of the Church.