Preface

Section A: Divine Worship

Section B: Diocesan Curial Offices and Departments

Section C: Apostolates in the Diocese

Section D: Persons in Ministry

Section E: Safe Environment and Security

Section F: Parish Administration

Section G: Miscellaneous

Section H: Diocesan Deaneries, Parish Boundaries, and Maps

ABBREVIATIONS

SECTION A. DIVINE WORSHIP

THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL

THE INDIVIDUAL SACRAMENTS

PART I. THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Infant Baptism

I. Baptism

II. Infant Baptism

III. Deferred Baptism

IV. Parents "Not Registered"

V. Cases of Necessity

VI. Day of Celebration of Baptism

VII. Place of Celebration of Baptism

VIII. The Rite of Baptism

IX. Preparation Class(es)

X. Baptismal Sponsors/Godparents

XI. Sample Pastor's Permission Letter

XII. Baptismal Register

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA, now: OCIA)

I. Revised Rite

II. Pastor's Responsibility

III. RCIA Part I: Unbaptized Adults

IV. Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation

V. Marriage Cases of RCIA Candidates and Catechumens

VI. RCIA Part II: Exceptional Circumstances

VII. RCIA: Related Issues 

VIII. Sample RCIA Information Sheet 

Triduum Notes

General Triduum Notes

Holy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter Sunday

Affidavit of Baptism

Baptism / Confirmation Sponsor Covenant

PART II. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

I. Gift of the Holy Spirit

II. The Minister of Confirmation

III. Consent to Administer the Sacrament to a Minor

IV. Candidates for Confirmation

V. Diocesan Guidelines for Preparation of the Sacrament of Confirmation

VI. Qualifications of Candidates

VII. Confirmation Sponsors

VIII. Adults

IX. Celebration

X. Special Circumstances

XI. Sacramental Recording of Confirmation

PART III. THE SACRAMENT OF THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

I. Liturgical Year and the Calendar

II. Offices and Ministries in the Mass

III. Place of Celebration

IV. Mass Offerings

V. Responsibilities of Priests

VI. Bread

VII. Wine

VIII. Water

IX. Alcoholic Priests

X. Sacred Vessels

XI. Scheduling of Masses

XII. Communion Outside of Mass

XIII. Paschal Precept (Easter Duty)

XIV. Preparation of Masses with the Bishop

XV. Care of Holy Oils

XVI. Copyright Laws

XVII. Reception of First Holy Communion

XVIII.Candidates for First Holy Communion

XIX(1). The Deacon at Mass (with one deacon)

A. Purpose

B. General Principles

C. Preparation Before Mass

D. Introductory Rites

E. Liturgy of the Word

F. Liturgy of the Eucharist

G. Concluding Rite

H. Recessional

XIX(2). The Deacon at Mass (with a bishop or multiple deacons and priests)

A. Purpose

B. General Principles

C. Preparation before Mass

D. Introductory Rites

E. Liturgy of the Word

F. Liturgy of the Eucharist

G. Concluding Rite

H. Recessional

XX. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers

A. Introduction

B. Qualifications of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

C. Request Form for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

D. Qualifications for Readers

E. Blessing of Readers

F. Guidelines for Readers

G. Exceptional Circumstances for Readers in Diocese of San Angelo

XXI Guidelines for Perpetual Exposition of the Holy Eucharist

PART IV. THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE

Marriage Preparation

1. Welcoming the Engaged Couple

I. Introduction

II. Hospitality

III. Place of Wedding

IV. Notification of the Parish

V. Responsibility of the Clergy

2. Discernment

I. Introduction

II. Initial Interview 

III. Refusal of Sacramental Marriage 

IV. Areas of Special Concern

V. Decision to Proceed or Delay 

VI. Appeals (See PART IV, 6: Appeals)

3. Formation

I. Content of Formation

II. Elements of Marriage Preparation

III. Participation of Married Couples in Marriage Preparation

4. Additional Sessions

I. Follow-up to Formational Programs

II. Preparing the Liturgy

III. Witnesses

IV. Wedding Rehearsal

5. Special Circumstances

I. Introduction

II. Marriage of Teenagers

III. Pregnancy

IV. Cohabitation

V. Previous Marriage

VI. Interreligious Marriages

VII. Convalidations

VIII. Additional Pastoral Concerns 

6. Appeals 

Appendix I: Delegation

I. Delegated Faculty for Marriage

II. Sub-delegation

Appendix II: Dispensations and Impediments

I. Dispensations

II. In Danger of Death

III. Impediments in Particular (Definitions of Impediment)

Appendix III: Form of the Celebration of Marriage

I. Canon 1108

II. Couple's Request

III. Successive Celebrations Not Permitted

IV. Canon 1127

V. Delegation Required to Witness

Appendix IV: Conditions Required for a Mixed Marriage

I. Canon 1118

II. Marriage Outside of a Catholic Church

III. Related Considerations for marriage to non-Catholics

Appendix V: Inter-Ritual Marriage

I. Eastern Church and Latin Rite Catholics

II. Latin Rite Catholic and Orthodox

III. Eastern Catholics and Non-Catholics

IV. Jurisdiction

Appendix VI: Civil Law Requirements

I. Civil License Required

II. Prohibition Against Civil Effects Alone

III. Witness and Signature

IV. Blood Test

V. Waiting Period

VI. Minimum Age

VII. Undocumented Unmarried Immigrants

Appendix VII: Guidelines for Marriage of Persons with Disabilities

Appendix VIII: About Annulments for Persons Seeking Remarriage

I. Meaning of Union

II. Previous Marriage

III. Absence of Canonical Form (Lack of Form)

IV. Defect of Form

V. Prior Bond or Ligamen Petition

VI. All Other Marriages

VII. The Abbreviated Process

VIII. Privilege Cases

Part II MARRIAGE and MARRIAGE LITURGY

I. Introduction

II. Goals

III. General Guidelines

IV. Ministries of the Liturgy

V. The Rite

VI. Additional Notes

Part III The Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Questions & Answers

Part IV Guidelines for Music in the Wedding Liturgy

I. Introduction

II. General Guidelines

III. Norms for Selecting Music

IV. Music for the Celebration of the Rite of Marriage

PART V. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

I. Times

II. Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance

III. Place

IV. Language

V. Penitents with Special Needs

VI. Vesture of the Priest

VII. General Absolution

VIII. Faculties

IX. Confidentiality

X. First Penance

PART VI. THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

I. Seriously Ill

II. Minister of the Anointing

III. Non-Baptized Persons

IV. Sacrament of the Anointing

V. Suitability of a Candidate

VI. After Death

VII. Matter for the Sacrament

VIII. Anointing and Penance

IX. Catechesis

X. Communal Celebrations

XI. Pastoral Questions on the Anointing of the Sick

PART VII. THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL RITES

I. Right to an Ecclesiastical Funeral

II. Presiding at Funerals

III. Vigil Service

IV. Funeral Mass

V. Death Register

VI. Place of Burial

VII. Christian Symbols

VIII. Flowers, Photos, and Decorations

IX. Funeral Liturgy

X. Funeral Rites

XI. Cremation

XII. Suicide

XIII. Compassion at Time of a Death

XIV. Clergy Funeral Instructions Form

XV. Information for my Obituary

PART VIII. CONCERTS IN CHURCHES 

I. Musical Performances Outside of the Celebration of the Liturgy 

II. Sacred and Religious Concerts 

III. Secular Concerts

IV. Norms for all Concerts in Churches

PART IX. POLICY ON THE CELEBRATION OF QUINCE AÑOS

I. Celebration

II. Recommended Guidelines

III. The Liturgical Ritual to be Followed

IV. Blessings Outside the Church

PART X. ECUMENICAL GUIDELINES FOR DIOCESES OF TEXAS 

Preface 

Worship Services 

Ecumenical Services 

Interfaith Services

Pulpit Sharing

The Sacraments 

Baptism

Confirmation 

Eucharist 

Penance

Anointing of the Sick 

Sharing the Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick

Roman Catholics

Orthodox Christians

Other Christians

Matrimony

Ecumenical Wedding

Interfaith Marriage

Holy Orders

Funerals and Special Areas of Concern

Funerals and Burial

Health Facilities

Schools

Civic Observances

Conclusion

Footnotes 

PART XI. THE DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL 

I: Tribunal and its Services

Administrative Canonical Concerns 

Prosecution of Canonical Trial as Required by Law

Determination of the Validity of Marriage Cases 

Oversight of the Marriage Process, Dispensations, and Permissions 

Other Canonical Matters 

Marriage Law 

II: Annulments 

Part XII: THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE

MARRIAGE PREPARATION PAPERWORK 

A. The Marriage Packet

Form III Dispensations & Permissions

Baptism Certificate

Delegation

B. The Marriage License 

PART XIII. THE PARISH CHURCH REGISTERS

I. Baptism Register

II. Recording Adopted Children in the Baptismal Register

III. Inscription of Notifications Received

1. Sex Change Operations

2. Confirmation Register

3. First Communion Register

4. Marriage Register

5. Death Register

6. Mass Intentions Book

7. Review of Registers

8. Correction of Errors in Permanent Records

9. Custody of Church Records

PART XIV. LITURGY AND DISEASE

PART XV. PARISH TITULAR BECOMES A SOLEMNITY

PART XVI. PARISH LITURGY COMMITTEE

PART XVII. THE MILITARY ORDINARIATE

I. The Christian Faithful

II. Article XV (of the Archdiocese’s Statutes)