Sacramental Policies

Sanibel is a beautiful place, and St. Isabel is a lively parish.  Because of this, we often receive requests from people who are not registered members of our parish community to celebrate baptisms or "destination weddings" here on Sanibel.  Sacraments are intended to be celebrated in the context of a faith community if they are to be protected from the taint of superstition.  Furthermore, the celebration of any sacrament presumes the practice of the faith, which, in the case of baptism, gives the church every assurance that the child to be baptized will be raised Catholic.  It does a disservice to the sacrament when it is celebrated without the serious intention of practicing one’s faith.  Parish registration helps to insure that individuals are an active part of a faith community, and affords them the opportunity to be a support to that faith community, not only through their financial contributions but also through their active participation.  It is because of this broader theological understanding of the sacraments that St. Isabel only accepts requests for baptisms and weddings from registered and active parishioners.