Sacraments

 

Infant Baptism

Please contact the Parish Office for information about Infant Baptism.

The following are the guidelines for Baptisms in Our Lady of the Mountains Parish:

  • Only the parent/legal guardian may make arrangements/registration for the Baptismal Program.
  • Families must be registered parishioners of Our Lady of the Mountains. If a baptism is desired here in our parish by a family that lives outside our parish we must receive a letter from their home parish granting us permission to baptize one of their parishioners and that the parents have completed the preparation program of their home parish.
  • The classes are for the parents of the child. If one of the parents is not Catholic they are encouraged to also take the class but it is not required. Godparents are invited to take the class with the child’s parents. We only require parents to take a class if they have not previously taken a class for an older child.
  • Godparents must be fully initiated Catholics who are practicing the faith. If the Godparent is from another parish we will require a letter of good standing from their parish. A non-Catholic baptized Christian may serve as a Christian Witness if that is desired as long on there is a Catholic Godparent and the non-Catholic is an active member of their own church.
  • We encourage baptisms to take place in a Saturday or Sunday Mass. Baptisms may also be scheduled on a Saturday or Sunday outside of mass if that is desired. Baptisms may be celebrated at either St. Mary Church or St. Patrick Church.
  • Parents may request a particular priest or deacon of our parish to preside at the baptism and we will do all we can to accommodate your desire.

O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

Is the O.C.I.A for you?
~ Interested in learning more about what it means to be a Catholic Christian?
~ Are you seeking to receive the rest of your sacraments within the Catholic Church?

We welcome you!

What is O.C.I.A.?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults introduces adults to the Catholic faith and tradition and provides preparation for Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. The O.C.I.A process is one of exploration, prayer, faith formation and study.

Who is invited? 

~ Adults (18 and older) baptized or non-baptized who are seeking to receive certain sacraments or full conversion into the Catholic Church                                                                                               

~ Practicing and non-practicing Catholics.

~ Civilly married couples that want to have their marriages blessed in the Catholic Church

There is also a process for Children (age 7 and older).

O.C.I.A is a great way to learn about the Catholic Faith for the first time or learn more about the faith!

Please contact one of our priests or Jamie Imes, 301-777-1750, ext. 112, if interested.

Let us walk with you on your faith journey as you encounter Christ!

If you are interested in learning about Catholic Christian Initiation, receiving a missed sacrament, or Marriage Convalidation (Blessing), please contact Jamie Imes at 301-777-1750, ext. 112, or jamie.imes@archbalt.org, to set up a meeting.

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist

Children who have reached the age of reason (typically around seven years old) are invited along with their parents to participate in preparation for First Reconciliation in the fall of each year. These children must have been participating in Faith Formation classes in the parish or Bishop Walsh School for a minimum of one year prior to acceptance into the program. The program includes an information session for parents, home instruction by parents with provided text material, and a mini-retreat morning for a parent and child. First Reconciliation is celebrated during the Advent Season in a communal ritual with individual confession. Parents are encouraged to also celebrate the Sacrament at that time.

Preparation for First Eucharist takes place following First Reconciliation. Those children who have celebrated First Reconciliation are invited to then begin preparation for First Eucharist. The structure of the program is similar to that of First Reconciliation with an information session for parents, home instruction by parents with provided text material, and a mini-retreat morning for a parent and child. First Eucharist is celebrated on the first Sunday of May.

First Reconciliation/First Eucharist Calendar:  FirstReconComcal20252026

Confirmation

For the 2025/2026 school year, tenth and ninth grade are invited to begin preparation for the celebration of Confirmation.  The invitation is extended to those youth who are participating in the life of the parish, have been participating in Faith Formation classes in the parish or at Bishop Walsh School for a minimum of one year prior to acceptance into the program. The program consists of seven one hour and fifteen-minute sessions, a session with parents, a session with sponsors, a social, an overnight retreat, service experiences, and an interview with a member of the Confirmation Team.

Sunday, March 15th – Confirmation Sponsor/Candidate Session – 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in St. Mary Social Hall – this includes lunch.

Confirmation Handbook Information and Forms:  

Confirmation Calendar: Confirmation Calendar 20252026

Confirmation Goals and Principles:  goalsforhandbook

Choosing Your Sponsor:  handbookchoosingsponsor

 

FORMS:

Confirmation registration form: SPregformC

Permission Form for Activities:  Waiver for OLM FF 20252026  

Confirmation Name:  handbookconfname

Sponsor Contact Form:  handbooksponsorform

Candidate Covenant:  Covenant

 

Weddings

Our Lady of the Mountains

Planning Your Church Wedding

No less than 8 months prior:

  1. Appointment with priest to fill out Pre Marriage Questionnaire: Bring your Baptismal & other Sacramental Records. These must be issued no earlier than 6 months prior to the marriage and may be obtained from your church of baptism.
  2. Reserve church site, celebrant and time
  3. Contact Music Department to discuss hymns
  4. Pre-Cana workshop
  5. Meet to discuss FOCCUS results
  6. Dispensation from canonical form if applicable
  7. Meet to discuss final prep to wedding (ceremony & readings)
  8. Obtain State Marriage License (bring this to wedding rehearsal)
  9. Wedding Rehearsal

Wedding Fees:
• Celebrant – $250.00

• Church use – $200.00

• Organist – $125.00

• Cantor – $75.00

Wedding fees are due 30 days prior to your wedding date. Please make check payable to
Our Lady of the Mountains.

There is more detailed information sheet available on the OLM Wedding Policy Information Sheet. Also, before you call please look at the Our Lady of the Mountains Marriage Preparation Page .