Occasional Services – Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

BAPTISM
This is the service of Christian Initiation through which infants, children, and adults enter into membership of the saving community of the church which is Christ’s body on earth. Once baptized, a person becomes a full member of Christ’s body and commences life within the Christian community.

Baptisms usually take place on four occasions in the year within the context of the Sunday Eucharist: 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 him or herself. No theological or membership preconditions need to be met other than meeting to talk with a member of the clergy.

Click | To download the Baptismal Form

Baptism Contact / English
Priest-in-Charge
The Reverend Canon Erika von Haaren | [email protected]

Baptism Contact / Spanish
Associate for Community Life
The Reverend Omar Rodríguez de la O | [email protected]

EPISCOPAL SERVICES
Confirmation
If baptism is the initiation into the Christian life within the Church, then confirmation is the service for adult affirmation of baptismal promises marking the passage from childhood and adolescence to adult life. Confirmation is also the formal entry into adult membership of the Episcopal Church for persons from Protestant and Reformed Christian traditions.

Reception
Is similar to confirmation and is the service for entry into the Episcopal Church for persons from other Catholic traditions of Christianity.

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.

Ordination
This is a service performed only by a bishop or bishops for the ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons.

Festivals and Holy Day Celebrations
These are usually elaborate services marking the key points of the Church Year

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

Click | To view three-year ecumenical lectionary

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 where the state recognizes these as legal marriages. We welcome all to inquire about getting married at Trinity Cathedral!

Please note that our calendar is full and we are no longer accepting bookings for weddings in the spring of 2024. For additional information please contact:

Wedding Contact
Clarissa Ortiz | [email protected]

Reconciliation of a Penitent
Individuals may request to make a personal confession to a priest in order to receive counsel and absolution of sin. 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 listed priests.

Anointing and the Laying-On of Hands
This is the service of healing for the sick and is available following each Eucharist on Sunday and at the weekly Thursday evening healing Eucharist.

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.