BAPTISM
Baptism is a joyous community celebration in which one is ‘adopted’ into the family of Jesus-followers around the world. In the Episcopal Church, people of any age may be baptized, and once baptized, a person becomes a full member of Christ’s body.

Baptisms usually take place on these four feast days:
the Eve of Easter,
the Feast of Pentecost,
All Saints’ Day at the beginning of November,
and the Feast of Our Lord’s Baptism in early January.
Other times may be considered in response to pastoral schedule.

Anyone may request baptism for an infant or child or for themself. No theological or membership preconditions need to be met. There are informational classes and service walkthroughs to attend and all baptisms are scheduled in advance.

Click | To download the Baptismal Form

To Learn More about Celebrating Baptism at Trinity, contact:
Associate for Community Life
The Reverend Omar Rodríguez de la O | [email protected]

EPISCOPAL SERVICES – led by our Bishop on an annual basis
Confirmation
If baptism is the initiation into the Christian life within the Church, then confirmation is the adult affirmation of baptism. It is not necessary for full inclusion in the church, but is a meaningful way to ‘select in’ to the Christian body, particularly if one was baptized as an infant. Confirmation is done by the Bishop at a service that usually happens once per year. Confirmation is also the entry point into formally being part of the Episcopal Church for persons who were baptized in another tradition, but now would like to be part of the Episcopal Church.

Reception
Is similar to confirmation and is the service for formal entry into the Episcopal Church for persons who were already confirmed in another tradition.

Those interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church must attend a series of classes about the Episcopal church, its worship practices, and doctrines which is led by the clergy at Trinity. 

Reaffirmation
From time to time, we feel a sense of our faith and commitment renewed, and we want to celebrate it publicly. That’s what the service of reaffirmation is for. The bishop will bless your recommitment and your Trinity clergy will work with you to find ways for you to express your faith in the community.

FESTIVALS AND OTHER SPECIAL TIMES OF YEAR

Advent | The start of the church year, this season includes the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas.
Christmas | the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth on the 25^th of December (Christmas Eve is celebrated the night before)
Lent | the 40 days before Easter when we are asked to engage special spiritual practices to draw closer to God
Easter | the celebration of Christ’s triumph over death by his resurrection. Date varies according to the lunar calendar
Pentecost | the celebration of the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God. Occurs 50 days after Easter
Trinity Sunday | After the Holy Spirit has arrived, we have an annual celebration of the Trinity being made whole. This happens one week after Pentecost
All Saints and All Souls (Dia de los Muertos) | an annual remembrance of those who have died and who have gone on to eternal life. On the 1^st and 2^nd of November

Other Festivals | Celebrations of Apostles; Mary, Mother of God, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; and other major saint days.

Click | To view three-year ecumenical lectionary (prescribed readings for all the calendar observances)

PASTORAL OFFICES
Funeral Services
The Book of Common Prayer says of the funeral liturgy:

“The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.”

The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.”

Trinity Cathedral clergy will be glad to meet with you in advance of need to plan your funeral liturgy with your family. We have prepared a document to guide your conversations that you may find helpful.

Click | To download the Funeral Service guide

Weddings
Many couples request information about holding their wedding ceremony at Trinity Cathedral. As the Cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, we would be delighted to host your services and celebrate them according to the rites of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church celebrates same-sex marriage services. We welcome all to inquire about getting married at Trinity Cathedral!

For additional information please contact:

Wedding Contact
Clarissa Ortiz | [email protected]

Confession: Reconciliation of a Penitent
While Episcopalians collectively confess and are absolved nearly every week during worship, sometimes one wishes to make a more personal confession and receive absolution.  The theology of Reconciliation of the Penitent in the Episcopal Church can best be summed up as: “all may, some should, none must” make their individual confession. Some people find reconciliation to be a valuable part of their spiritual formation. To arrange the sacrament of reconciliation, please make contact with one of the cathedral’s priests.

Anointing and the Laying-On of Hands
This is the service of healing for the sick and is available following each service on Sunday or by request.

Blessings
These are ad hoc services, which celebrate God’s blessing on a wide variety of occasions in our lives from individual and family occasions to community-wide celebrations. They may be given during any service or in private, as the case requires.

Confession/Anointing/Blessing Contact
The Clergy | [email protected]