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Sacraments & Ministries

The Seven Sacraments

Fully inclusive, pastoral, contemplative Benedictine approach.

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What Is a Sacrament?


A sacrament is a sacred action, instituted by Christ, in which God’s grace becomes visible and tangible. Through simple earthly signs- water, oil, bread, wine, touch, words- God communicates divine life, healing, forgiveness, and strength. Sacraments are moments where heaven and earth meet, drawing us deeper into the life of Christ and the community of the Church.


St Augustine of Hippo’s Understanding of a Sacrament


St Augustine taught that a sacrament is “a visible sign of an invisible grace.” In other words, a sacrament is something we can see and touch- water, oil, bread, wine, words, gestures- through which God communicates divine grace that we cannot see. For St. Augustine:

  • A sacrament is a holy sign that points beyond itself.
  • It does not only symbolise grace—it actually transmits the grace it signifies.
  • The power behind every sacrament is Christ Himself, who is the perfect sign of God’s love
  • Through the sacraments, Augustine believed, God uses ordinary, physical things to do extraordinary and spiritual work in the soul.


The Seven Sacraments (Brief Overview)


1. Baptism

Our entry into the Christian life. Through water and the Spirit, we are washed clean, welcomed into God’s family, and begin our journey as followers of Christ.


2. Confirmation

A strengthening by the Holy Spirit. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life, empowering us to live our faith boldly and to serve with courage.


3. Holy Eucharist

The heart of Christian worship. In the Eucharist, we receive the Body and Blood of Christ—nourishment for our souls and union with the whole Church.


4. Reconciliation (Confession)

A sacrament of healing and mercy. Through honest confession and forgiveness, we are restored to peace with God, others, and ourselves.


5. Holy Matrimony (Marriage)

A covenant of love between spouses. Marriage blesses a couple’s union, calling them to reflect God’s faithful love through their life together.


6. Holy Orders

A sacrament of service. Through ordination, deacons, priests, and bishops are entrusted with ministry in the Church for teaching, sacrament, and pastoral care.


7. Anointing of the Sick (Holy Unction)

A sacrament of comfort and healing. Through prayer and anointing with oil, Christ offers strength, peace, and hope in times of illness or frailty.



Baptism

Holy Baptism is offered to infants, children, youth, and adults. It is performed simply, reverently, and beautifully, affirming God’s unconditional love. Private baptisms, small family gatherings, and chapel liturgies are also available.

A Gate to the Kingdom and Our Self

Christ is the sacrament of our encounter with God. It is through Baptism that we solemnly enter the Kingdom of Light and formally wash away our darkness, entering solemnly the Light. We recognize that which we always have been and are: Light. Through holy baptism we are made members of the one Body of Christ. As members of that Body, we are intimately related, members of one another in his Mystical Body. (Eph 4:1ff; 4:25). Such formal solemnity on the surface requires a conscious understanding and appreciation of one’s own human hood.

Infant Baptism, The People of God Speaks for the Infant

Regarding infant baptism: an infant surely cannot engage any rational act. The Church, the collective whole, The People of God, maintains and awakens faith in the name of the infant. Moreover, the Church requests, as condition for permitting the baptism, an assurance that the parents will raise the child to appreciate his or her own humanity in Love and Compassion.


Christ in the Church calls the child to the response of Love and Compassion. The Church in her own solemn and sacred formulas pronounces Love and Compassion in the name of the infant. The Church, specifically parents and Godparents, assume the responsibility in appropriate moments, for making the child aware of the graces and duties committed to him or her in the sacraments, Baptism, specifically. The child consciously awakens to itself as Love and Compassion, as a child of light, as Light.

A Brief History of Baptism

From Catholicism by Fr. Richard P. McBrien (San Francisco: Harper, 1994. ISBN 0-06-065405-8, pp. 802-822) we find the following:

Baptism: Pre-Christian Ablutions and Baptism

There were already many distinct kinds of ritual acts in Judaism, including those practiced by the Qumran sect, or Essenes. There were purification rites associated with food preparation and diet, and there were initiatory rites associated with water. This practice of “proselyte baptism (by which Gentiles became Jews) seems to have developed with the expansion of Judaism outside Palestine.


It had three phrases: instruction concerning Judaism’s persecuted condition and the commandments of the Law, circumcision for males, and a water bath for all. The central element of its ritual process was circumcision, by which solidarity was established with the holy nation of kings and priests (Ex 19:6).


Gradually, the water bath began to absorb the initiatory aspects of circumcision, and finally displaced it altogether. By the Christian era, therefore, proselyte baptism had assumed an increasingly initiatory rather than purification character.


This is not to suggest that Christian baptism was derived from proselyte baptism. What evidence there is leads us to conclude, on the contrary, that Christian baptism was patterned after the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptism in the Jordan river.


There is no hint of a death-resurrection theme, no initiatory motif, no notion of admission to a new community. The emphasis is instead upon repentance as a preparation for messianic work.


John’s baptism was also a baptism in water. It would give way to another baptism in water and the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16).

John himself regarded his baptism as a temporary rite. In submitting to it, Jesus established his solidarity with those who were objects of John’s preaching, the faithful remnant of Israel.

What is the Fee for charge for Sacramental Services?

We do not, on principle, maintain fees for our sacramental services (Baptism, Marriage, etc.) Financial donations may be offered to assist in sustaining and furthering our ministry. Money is never an issue as we do not deny the sacraments to anyone.


Whatever donation is offered will be gratefully accepted. If a priest/deacon is required to travel great distances to celebrate the sacrament with you, we would appreciate having those traveling costs covered. Donations permit The White Robed Monks of St. Benedict to carry out sacramental, charitable, and educational missions and activities.


For more information, please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418



Confirmation

Holy Confirmation is the sacrament in which a baptized person is strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live out their faith with deeper conviction and maturity. Through the anointing with chrism and the laying on of hands by the bishop (or delegated priest), the candidate receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a fuller way. It completes baptismal grace, roots the person more firmly in the Church, and empowers them to witness to Christ in their daily life.


Preparation for Confirmation is gentle and personalised. Rooted in the Holy Spirit, openness, and spiritual maturity- not rigid requirements. Have you been Baptized and not Confirmed and now wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation?


Please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton to chat about the possibility of Confirmation:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418



Holy Eucharist (Mass)

The heart of our chapel, the centre of our life, the place where Christ meets us in love.

The Holy Eucharist-often called Holy Mass- is the quiet centre of our spiritual life at the Chapel of St. Patrick. Here, in bread and wine blessed and broken, we encounter Christ’s living presence: gentle, humble, and profoundly real. The Eucharist is not only a ritual, but a meeting—an intimate communion between God and the human heart.


  • In this sacred mystery, heaven touches earth.
  • God becomes food for the journey.
  • Our lives, with all their joys and sorrows, are gathered into Christ’s own offering.
  • We leave renewed, strengthened, and held by grace.

The Mass is the summit of our faith and the wellspring of our Christian life. Everything flows from this moment- and everything leads us back to it again. 

A Quiet, Contemplative Celebration

At the Chapel of St. Patrick, Mass is celebrated in a spirit of stillness and simplicity, shaped by the gentle rhythm of Benedictine spirituality and the deep, earthy reverence of Celtic Christianity. Our celebrations are:

  • Intimate and unhurried.
  • Rooted in Scripture and prayer.
  • Marked by silence and sacred presence.
  • Welcoming of individuals, families, and small groups.
  • Centred on Christ’s hospitality, not institutional formality.

Whether celebrated in the chapel, in a home, in a hospital room, or at a bedside, the Eucharist becomes a beacon of peace and strength for all who join in prayer.

Christ Truly Present

In the Holy Eucharist, we believe and proclaim that Christ is truly present:

  • in the consecrated Bread and Wine.
  • in the Word proclaimed.
  • in the gathered community.
  • and in the quiet depths of the heart.


This presence is not symbolic only- it is real, healing, and transformative. When we receive the Eucharist, we receive Christ’s very life. We are nourished by His love. We are sustained by His strength. We become what we receive: the Body of Christ for the world.

A Table Open to Seekers

In the inclusive spirit of St. Patrick and the compassionate hospitality of St. Benedict, our chapel welcomes all who sincerely seek Christ’s presence. Many who join us come with wounded histories, questions, or long absences from the Church. The Eucharist is given freely, without interrogation or judgment. Here, the table of the Lord is a place of healing, reconciliation, and belonging.

Mass Times & Special Intentions

Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated in the quiet rhythm of our chapel life. Private Masses, intentions, and home celebrations are also available upon request.

Mass may be offered:

  • for a loved one.
  • for healing
  • for comfort in times of sorrow.
  • for gratitude.
  • for those who have died.
  • or for any intention held within your heart.


Every Mass intention is carried with reverence into the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and love.

A Moment of Deep Union

To receive the Eucharist is to enter a moment where:

  • burdens become lighter.
  • hearts find rest
  • forgiveness is offered.
  • strength is renewed.
  • and grace is poured out like living water.


In this sacrament, Christ whispers again the truth that shapes our faith:

“I am with you always.”

Mass Times for the Chapel of St. Patrick

Monday to Saturday: 09:00

Sundays: 10:00

Mass is celebrated at each of our Community’s private chapels on a daily basis. All are welcome to join our community for Mass.

Holy Mass also celebrated in private homes, in hospitals, hospices and old age homes, upon request.

To Attend or Request a Mass

If you would like to join us for Mass, request a Mass intention, or arrange a private celebration, please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418

You will always find welcome at the table of the Lord.



Reconciliation (Confession)

A sacrament of healing, truth, and gentle restoration.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation-often called Confession- is a profound moment of healing in the life of the Christian. It is where we bring our burdens, wounds, failures, and longings before God and discover, not judgment, but mercy. At the Chapel of St. Patrick, Reconciliation is offered in a deeply pastoral, compassionate, and non-judgmental spirit, shaped by the gentle wisdom of St. Benedict and the courageous honesty of St. Patrick.


  • Reconciliation is not an exam.
  • It is not an interrogation.
  • It is an encounter with grace.


In Confession, we return to the truth of who we are: beloved, human, imperfect, and carried always in the mercy of God. It is a place where we lay down what is heavy and walk forward renewed.

A Safe and Sacred Space

In our chapel, Reconciliation is always offered with:

  • Deep respect for your dignity.
  • Total confidentiality.
  • No pressure, no fear.
  • A gentle listening heart.
  • A healing, non-judgmental spirit.


You may choose a simple private confession, a reflective pastoral conversation, or a quiet moment of prayer and release. All are welcome—those returning after many years, those unsure where to begin, those carrying sorrow or shame, and those simply seeking clarity and peace.

A Sacrament of Mercy, Not Punishment

St. Benedict teaches that the monastery should be “a school for the Lord’s service,” where souls are met with patience and held with compassion. St. Patrick teaches us courage- to face our own truth without fear.


In this sacrament, the priest does not stand as a judge but as a companion who witnesses your story and speaks Christ’s healing words: “Your sins are forgiven. Be at peace.”


  • There is no formula you must memorise.
  • No script you must follow.
  • The heart’s honesty is enough.

Healing for the Journey

Confession is an invitation:

  • to let go of what burdens the heart.
  • to receive forgiveness and inner renewal.
  • to restore peace with oneself, God, and others.
  • to rediscover the quiet joy of being loved.
  • to walk forward with fresh lightness.

Many find in this sacrament a reset- a deep breath of the soul.

How to Receive This Sacrament

Reconciliation is available:

  • Before or after Mass.
  • By personal appointment.
  • As part of a pastoral counselling session.
  • At home, hospital, hospice, or bedside if needed.

Whether spoken quietly, prayed silently, or shared in conversation, God’s mercy meets you exactly where you are. To arrange the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418


Anointing of the Sick (Holy Unction)

A sacrament of healing, comfort, and grace for every season of life.

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The Sacrament of Anointing- often called Holy Unction- is one of the Church’s most tender and compassionate acts. It is a moment where Christ meets us in our weakness, illness, grief, or anxiety, and pours out healing, peace, and strength. At the Chapel of St. Patrick, this sacrament is celebrated gently, reverently, and with deep pastoral care, rooted in the compassionate love of Christ and the quiet wisdom of the Benedictine tradition.


Anointing is not only for the dying. It is for the living- for anyone who carries pain in body, mind, or soul, for those who are weary, afraid, grieving, or facing uncertainty, and for those seeking God’s comforting presence before surgery, treatment, or a difficult season of life.

A Sacrament of Presence and Peace

In Holy Unction, the priest places blessed oil upon the forehead and hands, praying for:

  • Healing where healing is possible
  • Peace where peace is needed.
  • Strength where strength is lacking.
  • Courage for what lies ahead.
  • A sense of God’s nearness in every breath.


This sacrament is not magic. It is deeper than that. It is God’s tenderness becoming tangible.

It reminds us that Christ walks with us in sickness, fear, and fragility- just as He walked with the suffering during His earthly ministry.

A Gentle and Inclusive Ministry

The Anointing of the Sick may be celebrated:

  • In the chapel.
  • At home.
  • In hospital or hospice
  • At the bedside of someone who is struggling.
  • In times of emotional, mental, or spiritual distress.
  • With family gathered, or quietly, one-on-one.


It may also be offered more than once, especially during long treatment journeys or seasons of ongoing hardship.

In the spirit of St. Benedict’s hospitality and St. Patrick’s pastoral courage, this sacrament is offered freely and without condition. All who seek comfort are welcome.

Healing in Body, Mind, and Spirit

Holy Unction does not promise a cure- but it always brings healing.

  • Sometimes that healing is physical.
  • Sometimes emotional.
  • Sometimes spiritual.
  • Sometimes it is simply the grace of knowing you are not alone.


This sacrament places your whole being—your fears, hopes, pain, and strength—into the compassionate heart of Christ. It is a moment when heaven leans close.

When to Request Anointing

You may request this sacrament whenever you or a loved one experiences:

  • Illness.
  • Injury.
  • Emotional or mental distress.
  • Anxiety or depression.
  • Grief and deep sorrow.
  • A new diagnosis.
  • Surgery or medical procedures.
  • Chronic conditions.
  • Times of fear or overwhelm.
  • The end of life.


There is no “wrong” moment to ask for God’s healing touch. To arrange Anointing of the Sick, please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton, you will be met with warmth, confidentiality, and gentle pastoral care.


✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418



Holy Matrimony (Marriage)

A covenant of love, blessing, and shared vocation.

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Holy Matrimony is the sacrament in which two people pledge their lives to one another in a bond of love, fidelity, and mutual support. At the Chapel of St. Patrick, we celebrate marriage with tenderness, reverence, and deep respect for the sacredness of your commitment. Marriage is more than a ceremony. It is a lifelong journey of grace. It is the daily choosing of love, the gentle work of forgiveness, the weaving together of two stories into one shared path.


In this sacrament, the couple becomes a living icon of Christ’s love- self-giving, faithful, and creative.

A Chapel of Welcome and Hospitality

In the spirit of St. Patrick and St. Benedict, we welcome couples of diverse backgrounds, including those who may feel excluded elsewhere. 
We offer the following:

  • Chapel/church weddings (simple, intimate, prayerful).
  • Outdoor weddings in nature
    Home, garden, or venue weddings.
  • Marriage Blessings.
  • Renewal of Vows.

No Barriers, No Judgment

We do not turn anyone away: e.g. divorced individuals, interfaith couples, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from varied backgrounds are welcome. All our Marriage Officers are registered under the Civil Union Act.


Donations are accepted and will be used to fund our mission, ministry, as well as helping to fund our community engagement activities (e.g. monthly soup kitchen). Please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton to begin the first steps towards your journey to marriage:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418


Holy Orders

A sacrament of service, dedication, and spiritual vocation.

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Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the Church ordains deacons, priests, and bishops for the service of God’s people. Within the White Robed Monks of St. Benedict South Africa, Holy Orders is approached contemplatively- rooted in humility, prayer, and the willingness to offer one’s life in ministry.


A Vocation of Compassionate Presence

Ordained ministry is a call to be a servant of the Sacraments, a companion to the wounded and searching, a witness to Christ’s healing. It also a call towards becoming and being compassionate presence, and a bearer of Benedictine hospitality.

A Path for the Called

We recognise that God calls people from many diverse backgrounds. Formation is gentle, personal, and rooted in ancient Catholic tradition, enriched by the contemplative spirit of St. Benedict.


Discernment
If you feel called to explore vocation to the diaconate or priesthood, speak with Father Eugene‑Joshua Mouton, regarding the first steps required:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418


You may also contact our Bishop through the White Robed Monks of St. Benedict South Africa, clicking on the following link Holy Orders


Ceremonies & Life Rites

Naming Ceremonies

Conducted at your request. A gentle rite welcoming a child into the family and into God’s loving care. Suitable for families seeking a spiritual, non-baptismal blessing.

Please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton to chat and make a booking:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418


Funerals & Memorial Services

Rooted in comfort, Scripture, hope, and compassion, we include the following support when it comes to funerals and memorial services:

  • Funeral liturgies.
  • Graveside services.
  • Memorial prayers.
  • Committal of ashes.
  • Home blessings after loss.
  • Support for grieving families.
  • Prayers for the Dying & Departed.
  • Funerals/Memorial services for beloved pets.

Please contact Father Eugene-Joshua Mouton for more information, or assistance:

✉️ ejmouton@stpatrick.co.za

📞 068 947 0418

Devotions & Prayers


Praying the Holy Rosary

A traditional devotion, prayed contemplatively and gently. Available individually, in small groups, or for special intentions.


Prayers after End of Relationship, Friendship or Divorce

The ending of a relationship-whether a marriage, partnership, or long-standing friendship- can shake the foundations of the heart. It leaves behind not only memories, but questions, grief, disappointment, and the need to rediscover one’s own centre. At the Chapel of St. Patrick, we hold sacred these tender thresholds of life.


These prayers are offered as gentle companions for anyone facing loss, transition, or the unravelling of a bond once cherished.


Rooted in the contemplative spirit of the White Robed Monks of St. Benedict South Africa, these prayers create a space where sorrow may be acknowledged without judgment, where anger and confusion may be placed before God without fear, and where hope can begin- quietly- to be born again. They invite you to breathe, to rest, and to reconnect with the inner stillness where God continues to dwell, even when life feels broken open.


Here you will find prayers for healing, forgiveness, release, and new beginnings. Prayers for courage, for the mending of self-worth, for the strengthening of one’s spirit, and for the blessing of all involved- even when reconciliation is not possible.


These prayers do not rush the journey, nor do they deny the depth of pain. Instead, they gently accompany you as you grieve, reflect, and slowly reclaim the wholeness that is already within you.


Whether you are seeking closure, peace, or a way forward, these prayers offer a compassionate guide toward renewal. May they help you stand again in the truth of your dignity, reconnect with your purpose, and discover the quiet assurance that love- God’s love-remains steadfast, trustworthy, and ever-present.


Lectio Divina

Sacred reading of Scripture in the Benedictine way- slow, reflective, prayerful.



Celtic Devotions

Prayers drawn from Celtic sources, including the Carmina Gadelica.

Simple, poetic, rooted in nature and daily blessing.


Stations of the Cross

Traditional or Celtic-infused versions.


Seasonal Devotions

Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Saints’ days.


Pastoral Care


Spiritual Coaching

Monthly or occasional one-on-one session. Rooted in Benedictine listening- “listening with the ear of the heart.”


Companionship & Listening Ministry

For those wounded by life or church. A safe, gentle space without judgment.


Home & Hospital Visits

Communion, prayer, anointing, confession, or simply presence.


Grief Support and Coaching

Walk with individuals or families after loss. Includes prayer, Scripture, grief coaching sessions, and spiritual companionship.