Baptisms at St John Paul II Catholic Church usually take place on Sundays after the 12:00pm Mass. Due to facility scheduling, not every Sunday is available. Please call the office after you complete your paperwork and the baptism seminar to ask about available Sundays.

To schedule a baptism, please complete the Baptism Packet by clicking here.

To schedule a Baptism Seminar please complete the form by clicking here.

Are you being asked to be a Godparent?

To fill out a godparent/sponsor eligibility form, click here.
Once completed, email this form to baptism@nocateecatholic.com.

Why do we get baptized?

Baptism, the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church, celebrates the welcoming of a new soul into the Catholic faith and conforms them to the mystery of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Through the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead we are redeemed and freed from original sin passed down to us as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus’ redeeming action was set into motion on top of the mountain before His Ascension in the Great Commission  (MT 28:16-20). Jesus sent out His Apostles to go out to every nation and Baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. Today this Sacramental action is still in motion in the Church as clergy fullfill the command of Christ.

Baptisms ought to occur during Mass in the presence of the congregation so that the Church Community can witness and share in the joy of the gift of new life. It is the responsibility of the parishioners to assist the parents and godparents in raising the children in the practice of the Catholic faith.

We do allow Baptisms to occur after Mass if requested but it is expected that the children would be presented at the preceding Mass so that the Christian community can share in the joy of those being joined to Christ in the midst of the Church.

Following Baptism, the other two Sacraments of Initiation are First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

To prepare for a Baptism, you will need:

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate
• At least 1 godparent who is a practicing Catholic and will need to provide a Letter of Good Standing from their home parish.
• Attend the Baptism seminar, which will be scheduled by the church office.

Once the church office has your completed paperwork, we can schedule your child’s Baptism.

If you would like to have your child baptized, please call the church office at
904-330-0153.

Saturdays from 2:30p.m. – 3:45 p.m. or by appointment.

If you are nervous or worried about going to Reconciliation, the priest will be happy to walk you through the beautiful experience of celebrating Gods mercy.

Why do we have Reconciliation?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Those who approach the sacrament of penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer, labors for their conversion” (CCC, 1422).

The sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful sacrament of mercy. This sacrament is available for all baptized Catholics. There are often questions about confession:

-What if I forget how to confess? The priest will help you and give you guidance to make a good confession.

-What if I can’t remember the Act of Contrition? There is a printed version in the confessional and the priest will be helpful to you if you need to be guided.

-What if the priest knows who I am? There is a screen in the confessional chapel that you have the option of kneeling behind to provide you anonymity. The priest is bound by the Seal of Confession and will never repeat your sins to anyone. The priest is there to extend the mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ not to judge you but help unburden your heart.

-What if I am too embarrassed to confess certain sins?  There is nothing a priest hasn’t heard before, and beyond that when you manifest your sin and confess it there is a true catharsis that happens in the heart. We can not carry the weight of sin without it detrimentally affecting us, Jesus bears this weight, the sins of us all and He commissions priests out into the world to go and forgive sins. Check out the Scripture from (John 20:19-23) where Jesus extends this authority to his Disciples.

The sacrament of reconciliation is God’s gift of mercy to his beloved children. As St. Pope John Paul ll said, “Confession is an act of honesty and courage- an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God”.

Remember, BE NOT AFRAID! 

Confirmation at St John Paul II parish is usually received [by eighth graders]. To learn about preparing for Confirmation at St John Paul II parish, please call the church office at 904-330-0153 and ask to speak with our Family Life Coordinator, Dominic Salamida.

What does Confirmation actually do?

The final Sacrament of Initiation, Confirmation, mirrors the Sacrament of Baptism and provides a young adult the opportunity to commit to their Catholic faith by professing their faith in the presence of the Bishop, the priest, and the congregation. Similar to the parents choosing a Godparent in Baptism, the Confirmandi (the person receiving their Confirmation) chooses a Sponsor, who will walk the faith journey and assist the Confirmandi with their continual faith formation. The sacrament of Confirmation also is celebrated as part of the Mass in the presence of the parishioners so that these young people may be witnesses to Christ to the Church Community and so that the Church Community may show their love and support for these young people as they continue to encounter Christ in their lives. Confirmation is not an end to faith formation, but rather a beginning. This final sacrament of Initiation establishes the person fully in the Catholic faith. From here, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the hope is for the person to engage in the Community through service to Jesus and the Church, and to continue their faith formation through programs that enrich their understanding of their faith.

The age at which a person receives Confirmation may vary depending on the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese where the church is located. In the Diocese of St. Augustine, children begin their Confirmation preparation in seventh grade, continue it in eighth grade, and receive Confirmation in May of their eighth grade year.

If you have a child who has been baptized and has received First Holy Communion, please call the church office at 904-330-0153 and ask to speak with our Family Life Coordinator, Dominic Salamida.

Click here to see when we celebrate Holy Mass at St John Paul II parish.

What should you know about receiving Communion?

The holiness of God is present to us in a unique way in the Eucharist.
At every Mass, by the power of Christ through the words of the priest, the substance of the wheat bread and grape wine becomes the flesh and blood of Christ. Only the appearance of bread and wine remains.

Christ is really present in the Holy Eucharist. This sacrament nourishes the soul, increases grace, and remits venial sin and punishment. By the very act of participating in the Eucharist, we are made holy.

Even when the Eucharist is not being received in Communion, Christ remains truly present. Therefore, the Eucharist is to be honored and adored. If you are not Catholic, you are invited to place your arms across your chest, and the deacon or priest will give you a blessing. If you are Catholic, but have not been to confession in over a year, or are aware of any mortal sin on your soul, please refrain from receiving. You may go forward for a blessing. Please continue to respect the Blessed Sacrament by not consuming any food or drinks (medicine and water are permitted), an hour before receiving Jesus at Mass.

If you would like to have a priest to come anoint someone, complete the request form by clicking here for non-urgent requests. If this is an urgent request, please call the Church office 904-330-0153.

Who receives the Anointing of the Sick?

Anointing of the Sick, the second of the Sacraments of Mercy, absolves all of the person’s sins that they were not able to confess in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is the reason a bishop or priest, but not a deacon can do the anointing. Similar to Baptism and Confirmation, during the anointing the priest uses holy oil on the person’s head and hands. A person may receive the Anointing of the Sick if they are dying but also people who need healing may receive this Sacrament. People may receive the Anointing of the Sick multiple times in their lives.

If you or someone you know would like to receive Anointing of the Sick, please call the church office at 904-330-0153.

Couples who plan to celebrate their marriage at St John Paul II will meet with the pastor / one of our priests and do a marriage-prep retreat. For information about scheduling a wedding and preparing for marriage at St John Paul II parish, please complete the Marriage Request Form by clicking Here.

What’s so Catholic about marriage?

From the time of Creation God made and intended for man and woman to join together in an unbreakable covenant in which two become one. In the sacrament of marriage this covenant between man and woman is made with God in the presence of witnesses as a sign of the couple’s commitment to live as husband and wife as God intended; to love one another as Christ loves the Church; to bear children and raise them up in the Catholic faith; and to bear witness, through their love, to the love of God for all of us.

Marriage, one of two Sacraments of Community, is an eternal commitment to one another and therefore, requires a deep understanding of each other and a thorough time of preparation prior to the wedding. We recommend that you contact the church office to begin marriage preparation a minimum of 8 months prior to when you would like to get married. Through some individual and couple’s preparation and several meetings with the priest, the couple will have time to discuss topics that should be addressed prior to marriage to help build the foundation for a successful marriage.

To begin marriage preparation please complete the Marriage Form by clicking here.

What does “Holy Orders” mean?

Through the second sacrament of Community, Holy Orders, a Catholic man becomes a spiritual minister to the Community. His formal preparation begins with discerning his call by God to the priesthood through spiritual direction and participation in church operations and activities. During the four years in seminary, his studies include philosophy, liturgy, ministry, biblical studies, and theology. At the completion of his theology studies, he is ordained as a transitional deacon, which is different than being a permanent deacon. Prospective priests serve for approximately a year as a transitional deacon and make promises of celibacy and obedience to his Bishop at this stage. At the culmination of his journey, the man experiences the rite of ordainment. At his ordination the Bishop confers on him the dignity of the sacrament through the laying of hands on the man’s head and the anointing of the man’s hands, among other prayers and rituals. As a priest he vows to obey the Pope and serve God’s people.

Priests have the authority to celebrate five of the seven Sacraments – Baptism, reconciliation, holy Communion, matrimony, and anointing of the sick. Bishops can celebrate all seven Sacraments and can give priests the authority to celebrate Confirmation in their absence. Deacons can celebrate Baptism and Matrimony.

If you feel God is calling you to the priesthood and you would like to speak with a priest, please contact Father Clay Ludwig, vocationdirector@dosafl.com or call (904) 262-3200, ext. 101.

Are you someone or do you know someone who…

• Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic,
  but was never baptized?
• Was baptized in another faith and might like to
  become Catholic?
• Was baptized Catholic, but missed the Sacraments
  of Eucharist and/or Confirmation?

What Is It? OCIA, The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, offers the opportunity to come together in a group setting to learn more about the Catholic Faith.

Together with catechists and sponsors, candidates explore elements of the Catholic faith as sessions focus on the teachings, traditions and experiences of the Catholic Church.

When & Where? OCIA meets weekly each Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30pm at St. John Paul II Catholic Church. Candidates will attend other special activities and retreats throughout the year, as well.

To begin the process, please complete the OCIA Interest Form HERE.

Once the Interest Form is submitted, an OCIA team member will contact you.

For additional information, you can e-mail ocia@nocateecatholic.com, or call our Faith Formation Director, Dominic Salamida, at 904-330-0153.

“It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as presented in pictures. In the catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever.”

– St. Therese of Lisieux

If you have recently lost a loved one, please complete the form listed below and a member of the Church team will contact you on arrangements.

Please complete the funeral information form:

Funeral Information Form