About Us

“As Disciples of Jesus, we live our faith through Word, Sacrament, and Service.”

All Are Welcome

The Church of Corpus Christi (consisting of more than 2,400 households) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Bismarck which is located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The parish has an active liturgical schedule and is involved in many social programs in and around Bismarck. For more information on the parish and its programs, continue to explore our site.

Word

Corpus Christi has a long-standing, joyful, energetic program of faith formation for all ages.
 
For children: In 2021-22, 600 children from age 3 through 9th grade participated in Corpus Christi's formal faith formation program. Vacation Bible school, held the first week after school is out for the summer, also attracts more than 220 children. In 2012, we began using the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which we now offer from age 3 through 5th grade. This Montessori-based approach to religious formation is based on scripture, liturgy, and children’s naturally rich relationship with God.
 
For youth: Our active youth ministry program helps form teens and young adults who are serious about their faith and about sharing it through fun, fellowship, good works, and cheerfulness.
 
For adults: Ongoing opportunities for adult faith formation include Bible study groups, prayer groups, classes, and missions. For adults who are interested in becoming Catholic, or who want to refresh their knowledge of the Catholic faith, we offer RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes each year.

Sacrament

The word “sacrament” comes from the Latin sacramentum, which means “a sign of the sacred.” The Catholic Church offers seven sacramental ceremonies that are signs of God’s loving plan for us.
 
Baptism: Whether it takes place in infancy or adulthood, baptism is the first of three “sacraments of initiation” that are necessary in order to become a member of the Catholic Church. (The other two sacraments of initiation are Eucharist and Confirmation.) Baptism is the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship. Those who witness and participate in the baptism are promising to help lead the child toward goodness and away from evil.
 
Eucharist: The Catholic Church believes that the Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus. The bread is transubstantiated during the Mass at the moment of the Eucharistic prayer by the priest. At that moment, the accident of the bread is unchanged—that is, it still looks and tastes like bread—but its substance—its essence—becomes Jesus. This sacrament of initiation is the high point of the Mass, nourishing us spiritually as nothing else can. 
 
Reconciliation: This sacrament is also sometimes called Penance or Confession. It has three parts. In conversion, we turn our hearts toward God. In confession, we ask Him to forgive specific and general sins we have committed. And in celebration, we know that God forgives us unconditionally, just as we are called to forgive others.
 
Confirmation: This sacrament calls upon the Holy Spirit to help Christians deepen the gifts they received at baptism and mature as disciples of Christ.
 
Marriage: A sacramental marriage, also known as Holy Matrimony, is a public sign of the union of a man, a woman, and God. Those who witness the marriage are promising to do everything they can to help strengthen the bond.
 
Holy Orders: In the Sacrament of Holy Orders (also called Ordination), the priest being ordained promises to be a spiritual leader for others by offering the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), proclaiming the Gospel, and providing other ways and means to become holier.
 
Anointing of the Sick: In the past, the Catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was called Last Rites or Extreme Unction. It can heal physical, mental, and spiritual illnesses.

Service

For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
 
Matthew 25: 35-46
 
Corpus Christi parishioners try to live their faith.

• We operate a food pantry for people in need.
• Our parishioners are active participants in other local church and public food charities for marginalized people. 
• Over the years, our parish has supported missions in Haiti, Kenya, and Ft. Yates. Many parishioners have visited and still visit these missions. A number of parishioners have even given years of their lives to live and serve as missionaries in parish-supported missions.
• We have provided ongoing sponsorship of refugees from countries such as Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan, and Vietnam.
• Our service ministries have changed with the needs of our parish and community—but the ministries have always been too many to count. Currently, we host Neighbor Network get-togethers, offer hospitality at funerals, provide a Knights of Columbus council and host quilting groups and support groups. When we learn of a need, we find a way to fill it.