St. Sebastian offers three paths to Baptism, based on the age of the person being baptized.

• For infants, parents take a special Baptism class.
• Children seeking Baptism may participate in special classes to help prepare them for the sacrament.
• Adults may participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Some adults may not be completely ready for Baptism but have important questions about the church and about God. We are happy to talk with you about your spiritual journey.

There has been a change to our Baptism policy, effective January of 2020. Click here to download our Baptism policy along with an additional sponsor form. To schedule a Baptism contact  414-453-1061  and /or send the baptism registration form to baptisms@saintsebs.org.  To schedule a class contact Jessica Quintanilla at jquintanilla@saintsebs.org.  

Second and fourth Sunday of the month from 5:20 pm to 5:50 pm

Individual Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment by contacting Fr. Peter Patrick Kimani at 414-453-1061 x112 or by emailing ppkimani@saintsebs.org.

Adoration is an hour of prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament typically held:

• The second Wednesday of the month from 5:30-6:30pm at St. Sebastian
• Saturdays (along with Reconciliation) from 9am-10am, alternating between St. Sebastian (1st/3rd/5th Saturdays) and St. Catherine (2nd/4th Saturdays)

All are welcome!

First Reconciliation—also called First Confession or the Sacrament of Penance—is a child’s first celebration of God’s forgiveness through the ministry of the Church. Properly prepared, it is an opportunity for children to encounter God’s mercy, healing, and love.

The Church teaches that children should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. This teaches that receiving the Eucharist requires a sincere relationship with Christ and a willingness to turn away from sin.

First Eucharist, often called First Holy Communion, is the first time a baptized Catholic receives the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. It is an important step in Christian initiation and marks a child’s fuller participation in the Church’s Eucharistic worship. As children reach the age of reason, generally around age seven, the Church extends to them an invitation to celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist. The initiation into the Christian community that took place at Baptism is further extended by inviting children to enter fully into the heart of Christian faith through participation in the Eucharist. Children will be formed to receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion with faith, understanding, reverence, and proper disposition.

The Code of Canon Law places the primary responsibility for preparing children on parents, catechists are tasked to guide and assist parents in this process. Parental involvement is essential. For proper preparation of each sacrament, we ask parents to attend an orientation, formation sessions and a retreat for the proper preparation of their child(ren). The details and schedule are in this packet. 

Margaret Lee, our Director of Faith Formation, will guide you and your child, step by step towards the celebration of First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Eucharist (First Communion). Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are an extension of the life of faith. With that in mind, students must have completed at least one year of Faith Formation, either through Catholic school or a faith formation program, to begin the formal process of preparation for any sacrament. While preparation usually happens in second grade, please know, this prerequisite is mandatory for all families. Contact Fr. Peter Patrick if you have questions. 

Questions? Contact Margaret Lee, Director of Faith Formation, at 414-453-7150 x123 or mlee@saintsebs.org.

Sacramental Prep Schedule

Registration Instructions

There are multiple steps on the registration form. You will need to complete registration for a parent or guardian first, then add each child. You may register for all Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep programs at once, on the same form.

The fee for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist sacramental preparation together is $100. That includes the purchase of two books and a lunch at our spring retreat. You will be prompted to pay this fee when registering your child(ren). We do not want any family, who is unable to pay the fee, not to register. Please speak with Fr. Peter Patrick or any member of the formation team, if your family needs options regarding the fee. 

If you need assistance with registration, please contact Patrick Schley at pschley@saintsebs.org or 414-453-1061 x149.

Click here to register

Confirmation is an important milestone in the sacramental and spiritual life of a Catholic. It is a sacrament in which the Holy Spirit strengthens baptismal grace, unites a person more firmly to Christ, and equips them to live and share the Catholic faith. It allows young people to learn more deeply about their Catholic faith, as we explore and reflect upon our beliefs in scripture and tradition, examine morality, enhance prayer practices and foster a consistent obligation to mass participation. The journey guides them through a mature examination of their faith, hoping to help them make a willful and intentional commitment to live and serve in the Spirit of Christ. 

The intention of Confirmation preparation is to help youth grow closer to Jesus.

Confirmation is therefore not simply something to “complete.” It is an opportunity to discover who Jesus is and to decide personally to follow him. Preparation helps young people develop a more personal relationship with Christ through Scripture, prayer, the Eucharist, and the life of the Church. The Church teaches that preparation should lead to “a more intimate union with Christ” and a deeper familiarity with the Holy Spirit and his work. 

The mission of preparation is to journey with youth for the reception of the Holy Spirit.

The Christian life can be difficult. Young people face pressure from friends, confusion about right and wrong, anxiety, loneliness, and many competing messages about happiness and identity. Confirmation gives a special strength of the Holy Spirit to live faithfully, resist sin, and remain courageous in following Christ. 

The Holy Spirit gives gifts such as wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, and fear of the Lord. These gifts help a Christian make good decisions and recognize how God is calling them to live. This will be the focus of our journey of faith within this process. 

Many of us were baptized as babies, with our parents and godparents choosing to raise us in the Catholic tradition. At Confirmation, we say YES to our baptism, YES to following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ and Yes to honoring God within the Catholic faith.

There are several components to a complete and successful Confirmation program. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee mandates a retreat, liturgical worship, sponsor involvement, community service, an interview, and a letter of intent. All of these are meant to enhance the preparation process and a young person’s capacity to say YES. These components will be explained at the orientation session. Please plan to attend this important session WITH your young person. There are two options for attending the orientation this year. 

Parents and candidates must attend ONE of either session to register for the confirmation program: 

• Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 9:00 am in the Adult Formation Room

• Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the Adult Formation Room

Regular attendance, as well as participation, in Mass and during our catechetical sessions

are required for successful completion of this sacramental preparation.

Questions? Contact Margaret Lee, Director of Faith Formation, at 414-453-7150 x123 or mlee@saintsebs.org.

Confirmation Prep Schedule

Registration Instructions

There are multiple steps on the registration form. You will need to complete registration for a parent or guardian first, then add each child. You may register for all Faith Formation & Sacramental Prep programs at once, on the same form.

The fee for Confirmation is $225. You will be prompted to pay this fee when registering your child(ren). We do not want any family, who is unable to pay the fee, not to register. Please speak with Fr. Peter Patrick or any member of the formation team, if your family needs options regarding the fee. 

If you need assistance with registration, please contact Patrick Schley at pschley@saintsebs.org or 414-453-1061 x149.

Click here to register

Are you a Catholic adult who has never celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation? Are you a baptized Christian who is well founded in faith and is interested in the Catholic Church? Are you an adult Catholic who would like to review the basic teachings and practices of the Church?  If you are interested in participating or have questions about Confirmation or Becoming Catholic, please contact Jessica Quintanilla at 414-453-1061 x125 or email jquin@saintsebs.org.

Because of its beautiful setting, spiritual significance and welcoming presence, St. Sebastian parish is often the site of weddings.
The sacrament of marriage in the Catholic Church may be between:

• Two baptized Roman Catholics or;
• A baptized Catholic and a person either practicing a particular faith tradition or not.

Couples should plan for a minimum of six months’ preparation for this sacrament, either at St. Sebastian or elsewhere, if the person lives outside of the Milwaukee area.

If this is a second marriage, an annulment from the church may be required in addition to the civil divorce. Please contact the Liturgy office of St. Sebastian to speak with someone to determine your specific needs.

If you’re legally married but not married in the church, you can request a “validation.” This grants the couple sacramental marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Contact: Julia Galligan at 414-453-1061, ext 117 or email jgalligan@saintsebs.org.

Anyone experiencing serious illness or serious imminent medical procedures is encouraged to experience the church’s second sacrament of healing: Anointing of the Sick. It is not reserved for persons close to death. Rather, it is intended to provide comfort and healing for anyone with serious physical, mental or spiritual concerns. This sacrament may be experienced in two ways:

• Individually – At your home, the hospital, nursing home or other location. It may also include Reconciliation.
• Communally – At Mass, either when such a service is scheduled for the community, or when someone requests it during a Sunday or weekday Mass.

Although some people may receive the sacrament more than once in their lives, it is not recommended to receive the sacrament more than once within twelve months.

Contact: Julia Galligan at 414-453-1061, ext 117 or jgalligan@saintsebs.org.

Understandably, funerals often happen suddenly and offer little preparation time.  St. Sebastian is prepared for this and is committed to supporting and consoling those grieving the loss of a loved one. Many liturgical options exist to provide spiritual healing in the family’s time of need.

A memorial Mass is also common, especially when the deceased lived in another State and had a funeral in their place of residence. A memorial Mass would not have the casket or ashes present since the funeral already occurred, and could be done at most any time – even several weeks or months later.

If you or a loved one would like to pre-plan a funeral, materials and staff are available to assist you.

Contact: Julia Galligan at 414-453-1061, ext. 117 or jgalligan@saintsebs.org

Mass Intentions can be requested to honor a special occasion or in memory of a loved one. The requested stipend is $20.00. Please click the button below to request an intention. Contact MassIntentions@saintsebs.org with any questions.

Mass Intention Request Form