The first sacrament that Christians receive is Baptism, a welcoming into the family of Christ. This sacrament involves the pouring of water to symbolize both the washing away of sin and also the living water which Christ promises to deliver to those who follow him.

For Infants:

How blest are you and your family to be able to experience the love of God in such a special way.  We hope that through the Sacrament of Baptism you and your loved ones will grow in the Faith of the Church and be open to receive all the graces that are so freely given by the Holy Spirit at this time. God's blessing be upon you and all your family.  We are so happy to welcome this special child into the Church.
The Sacrament of Baptism is usually celebrated several Saturdays a month at 10:00 a.m. in Church. To assure that parents have a full understanding of what it means to have their child Baptized into the Catholic faith they will be asked to attend one learning and faith-sharing gathering.  They will meet with Rev. Sr. or the parish Priest along with other parents who are preparing to have their children baptized as well. 

Godparents:

Canon Law requires only one godparent, who must be a practicing Catholic and active in their parish. If there are to be 2 Godparents, one must be male, and the other must be female. If one of the godparents  is not Catholic, but is a baptized Christian, they may serve as a Christian witness to the baptism along with the Catholic godparent.
Parents are asked to call the parish office at 02) 793-2070 and arrange to participate in the Baptism program.
If a child is seven years or older, generally considered the age of reason, there should be a period of formation prior to the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism for more information click on the C.C.D / sub menu of Faith Formation page.

Adults:  Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

It is the process in which a person who is not baptized or baptized in another faith denomination, has not received instruction, first communion, or confirmation is been instrructed and ready to receive the sacrament. The parish community, through its prayers, witness, worship, service, and catechesis, offers the invitation and support for the men and women to be accepted into the Catholic Church.  Weekly classes are held beginning in September and ending in May.  Contact Rev Sr. Cecilia for more information.

• Baptismal Sponsor Form

Eucharrist

In Holy Communion we take second step, after Baptism, into full initiation into the Church. We receive the bread and wine at Mass and fully participate at the Table of the Lord. Preparation for First Eucharist is also family based, parents are welcomed into the classrooms and the retreat.

A feature of our program is that First Eucharist is celebrated with the family at 11am Mass. The child making First Communion participates in the Mass, and is especially recognized and honored at the Mass.

Children should be age 7 or older to prepare for the sacrament. Parents discern when their child is ready. Preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion ordinarily include at least two years of family or classroom based religious education.

We encourage families with several young children to have siblings of close age to go through the program together in the same year. When siblings prepare at the same time, they often prepare better. Parents are involved in the classes and retreats. Having multiple children in the program enables the parents to really concentrate on the preparation process in one year.

Registration is in August and September. First Eucharist is after Easter.

Click here to download the CCD Registration Form, fill it and return it to the parish office through Rev. Sr. Cecilia or the Chief Catechist Ms. Regina with a token of 20,000won. You can call the office or mail the parish office for an enquiry.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Many Catholics treasure the sacrament of Reconciliation.

The peace of mind and soul which this sacrament imparts to us is one for which there is no substitute. It is a peace that flows from a certainty, rather than from an unsure hope, that our sins have been forgiven and that we are right with God.

Although many converts to the Catholic Church initially fear it, they quickly come to love the sacrament of Reconciliation once they get over their nameless fears—fears which come from a misconception of what the sacrament really is.

Confession, Penance & Reconciliation

The sacrament of Reconciliation is also known as Penance and Confession, among other names. (There is an explanation of some of these names in the Catechism's section on the sacrament of Reconciliation.)

Although often called Reconciliation in common usage, the term "penance" best describes the essential interior disposition required for this sacrament.

In fact, there is a virtue of penance. This is a supernatural virtue by which we are moved to detest our sins from a motive made known by faith, and with an accompanying purpose of offending God no more and of making satisfaction for our sins. In this sense the word "penance" is synonymous with "penitence" or "repentance."

<>Before the time of Christ the virtue of penance was the only means by which people's sins could be forgiven. Even today, for those outside the Church in good faith, not possessing the sacrament of Penance, it is the only means for forgiveness of sins.

• Guide for Confession
• Examination of Conscience

Confirmation

Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. The bishop is the minister of Confirmation. The sacrament is conferred by the laying on of hands and anointing with the Oil of Sacred Chrism.

The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace…By the sacrament of Confirmation the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. --Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1285.

Registration starts in August through September while the class proper starts in the third or fourth week of September.

Download the attached registration form, fill it and return it to the parish with the sum of 20,000won

• Registration Form
  
• Sponsor Form
  
• Gift of the Holy Spirit
• Confirmation Flyer

Marriage

"My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me,
'Come then, my love, my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock.
In the coverts of the cliff, show me your face,
let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.'
My beloved is mine and I am his. This is the word of the Lord."
--From the Song of Songs

We are delighted that you are considering celebrating your wedding in our parish. Marriage and family are counted among the most precious of human goods. Families are the basic cells of human society. The love between man and wife is an image of the unconditional love of God for every human person.

The sacramental sign of matrimony is the free personal act be which the partners surrender themselves to each other. The priest who assists the wedding receives the consent of the spouses in the name of the church and blesses them.

International Parish of St. Francis, Seoul allows wedding rehearsals, all couples must participate in a church-sponsored marriage preparation program. Preparation for marriage should begin at least three months prior to the desired wedding date so couples may participate in pre-marriage preparation and counseling. There is no fix day/date for Rehearsals, it is between you and the priest. Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays, at 10:00am or any arranged time between you and the officiating priest. To request further information regarding the Sacrament of Matrimony contact Rev Sr. Cecilia 010- 5479-9478 who will act as your Parish Marriage Coordinator.

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A book to help your relationship:-
He Made them Male and Female
Marriage and Sexuality for Engaged and Married Couples
by Institute of the Incarnate Wor | Source: IVE Press
Click here to go to document

Holy Order

Holy Orders Is God Calling You to the Holy Order?

God wishes all people to be happy and the way of true happiness is following the call God places in our hearts.
Some people are called to marriage, others to the single life, and some to deeper relationship with God and His church through the vocation of Religious Consecration (Sisters and Brothers) or Priesthood.

How do we know what path God is calling us to follow? The simple answer is listen to God's voice. The hard part is hearing God's voice in this world of MP3 players, cell phones, and text messaging. The first thing that is required to discern God's voice is of course Prayer. You can't follow where God is leading if you don't know the sound of His voice. Spend time daily in personal prayer and reading scripture.

"Speak, Lord for your servant is listening" ( I Samuel 3:9)

Spiritual Guidance... Make an appointment to meet with a priest by contacting the parish office or Rev Sr. Cecilia. You can't live a lifestyle you don't know about. Meet with a priest, sister and see what their daily life is like; even our parish is a congregation "Franciscan Order". Remember to take one step at a time and know that God is with you as you seek His will for you.

Anoiting of the Sick

The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases'" (Matt. 8:17). St. Mark refers to the sacrament when he recounts how Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they cast our many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13).

Who can be anointed? The elderly can be anointed because of the aging process; those with serious illness, either physical or mental, and those who will undergo surgery soon. A person does not have to be in great danger of eminent death, but because we all should be ready to die when our Lord calls us home, those people who fit into any of these three categories should not postpone requesting the reception of this Sacrament. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for the living.

How does anointing take place? The priest will come to you at the hospital, in your home or even at the church for those who are not seriously ill, that can move around. He will anoint your forehead, your pams and even your feet with a prayer. In case of dangerous illness or accident, call the Parish Office at 02-793-2027, request for any available priest.