The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.
Because of the important community nature of the celebrations of baptism and marriage in the church, interested parties are expected to make advanced arrangements with the pastor to allow for appropriate preparation programs to be completed. At least two months notice is required for baptism; six months notice is required for marriage.