Regarding the Vatican’s Note on Baptism - August 6, 2020

In its clarification issued in August 2020, the Vatican referenced the Second Vatican Council's affirmation that “when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes" (Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7).

It is not the community that baptizes a person and incorporates them into the Church of Christ; rather, it is Christ, and Christ alone, who presides at all sacraments; therefore, it is Christ who baptizes. The Baptismal Formula (the words used in the Rite) has always been guarded for this reason: so it is clear that we receive our baptism through Jesus and not the community.

Deacon Springer used the invalid formula at times while he was assigned at St. Anastasia from 1986 to 1999. After a check of baptismal records, the Archdiocese of Detroit initially identified 782 baptisms as “presumed" invalid without evidence to the contrary. The Archdiocese and parish made efforts to directly contact these individuals.

Many of these baptisms were subsequently verified as valid when individuals reviewed video footage showing that the correct formula was used. Other individuals have come forward to have their situations remedied with valid Sacraments of Initiation. The Archdiocese and St. Anastasia Parish remain committed to serving those impacted and are still actively addressing any remaining cases that come forward.

The Archdiocese made Deacon Springer's identity and parish known in an attempt to alert people who the parish may not have found a way to contact.

Since they generally cannot be validly received in the soul without valid baptism, some other sacraments are invalid, like was the case with Father Hood in August 2020 (see below). Anyone with concerns about their baptism should speak to their pastor about steps that can be taken to remedy the situation.

Deacon Mark Springer, who had performed the invalid baptism was approached by Archdiocesan officials in 1999 when they had learned that he was using the pronoun “We” instead of “I” during baptisms. He was forbidden to continue using the improper formula at that time and has stated that he has abided by that directive ever since. At the time, after careful study and canonical counsel, those entrusted with this situation believed the baptisms to be valid. It was only on August 6, 2020 that the Vatican issued its note confirming the invalidity of the words used by Deacon Springer.

Deacon Springer is retired and no longer in active ministry.

Beginning in August 2020, the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Anastasia Parish launched outreach efforts including letters mailed directly to those impacted, parish and archdiocesan announcements, and widespread media coverage.

Many of Deacon Springer's baptisms were subsequently verified as valid when individuals reviewed video footage showing that the correct formula was used. Other individuals have come forward to have their situations remedied with valid Sacraments of Initiation. The Archdiocese and St. Anastasia Parish remain committed to serving those impacted and are still actively addressing any remaining cases that come forward.

The Archdiocese made Deacon Springer's identity and parish known in an attempt to alert people who the parish may not have found a way to contact.

Beginning in August 2020, the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Anastasia Parish launched outreach efforts including letters mailed directly to those impacted. If you did not receive this notification but remain concerned about your baptism, you may contact the parish or submit questions using this online form.

NOTE: For those who have specific concerns about their sacraments and wish to discuss those concerns with a priest, please check the "Yes, I wish to speak with a priest" box and provide a phone number where you can be reached.

By watching a family video taken at the time of his baptism as an infant and then reading the doctrinal note issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Father Hood realized that Deacon Mark Springer had used “We baptize” as opposed to “I baptize.” Father Hood immediately contacted the Archdiocese and the proper steps were taken to remedy his situation. He received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (i.e. baptism, Holy Eucharist, and confirmation). After spending time on retreat, he received the Sacraments of Holy Orders, being ordained a transitional deacon and then receiving priestly ordination the evening of Monday, August 17, 2020.

A few days after Father Hood came to this realization (August 6, 2020) and informed the Archdiocese of the matter, he received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (i.e. baptism, Holy Eucharist, and confirmation). After spending time on retreat, he received the Sacraments of Holy Orders, being ordained a transitional deacon and then receiving priestly ordination.

Baptism in particular can be administered by anyone who a.) has the intention to baptize according to the mind of Christ and His Church; b.) uses pure water; and c.) uses the proper form. Since Father Hood is, and has been, very diligent always to follow the liturgical directives of the Church in his ministry, any baptisms he administered prior to being ordained are valid.

No, an individual must be validly ordained to the priesthood in order to administer confirmation. If you have not been contacted already, you should contact your pastor to arrange to receive validly the sacrament of confirmation.

Sacramental absolution is the act of a priest during confession through which God grants the penitent pardon and peace. Since Father Hood was not validly ordained, he was unable to provide sacramental absolution.

If you went to Father Hood for confession prior to August of 2020, you can reflect on the fact that you attempted to do as Jesus instructed us in the Gospel when he gave priests the power to absolve sins (Jn. 20:22–23). You can always be comforted in the fact that God knows that you made every effort to follow His plan exactly for the forgiveness of your sins. The Church, following St. Thomas Aquinas, maintains that God has bound Himself to the sacraments, but He is not bound by the sacraments (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1257 and St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiaeIII, q. 64 a. 7 and III q. 68 a. 2). This means that while we can have certainty that God always works through the sacraments when they are properly conferred by the minister, God is not bound by the sacraments in that He can and does extend His grace in a sovereign way. We can be assured that all those who approached Father Hood, in good faith, to make a confession did not walk away without some measure of grace and forgiveness from God.

That said, if you recall any grave (mortal) sins that you would have confessed to Father Hood before he was validly ordained and you have not yet been to a subsequent confession, you must bring them to your next confession explaining to any priest what has happened. If you cannot remember if you confessed any grave sins, you should bring that fact to your next confession as well. A subsequent absolution will include those sins and will give you peace of mind.

Due to the many different situations that the engaged couple may have been in, this answer may be different for each individual couple. You should speak to your pastor as soon as possible so any steps can be taken to remedy your marital status in the Church, if necessary.

It is important to note that if it is determined that your marriage is sacramentally invalid, you are not guilty of any sin – grave or otherwise – by living as husband and wife in the time since your ceremony. You can be comforted in the fact that God knows that you made every effort to follow His plan exactly for the Sacrament of Marriage.

The Church teaches that to be guilty of a sin, the act must be one that is known, deliberate, and voluntary, which would not have been possible while a couple was completely unaware of the possible sacramental invalidity of their marriage.

• A.) Yes. Although the Mass itself was invalid, attendees were unaware of this and made every effort to follow God’s plan exactly for satisfying their grave duty to meet the Sunday obligation.

• B.) No, the Mass intentions were not fulfilled when Father Hood unknowingly celebrated Mass without valid ordination. However, Masses have since been offered for those same intentions in order to fulfill them.

• C.) Father Hood was unable to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist while invalidly ordained to the priesthood. As mentioned in question above about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Church believes that while God has bound Himself to the sacraments, he is not bound by the sacraments. While it is possible that God intervened to miraculously give people the Body and Blood of Christ – as all things are possible with God – attendees can consider their presence at Mass and intention to receive the Eucharist as entering into a spiritual communion with our Lord. We can be confident that the Lord supplied some measure of grace in proportion to the measure of their disposition to receive Him. God is drawn to hearts that are open to Him in love.

No, an individual must be validly ordained to the priesthood in order to administer anointing of the sick. However, as mentioned above (in the FAQ regarding confession with Father Hood), the Church believes that God has bound Himself to the sacraments, but God is not bound by the sacraments. While the sacrament was not conferred, we can be confident God was very aware of the desire to receive anointing of the sick and supplied grace in some measure.

As mentioned above (in the FAQ regarding confession with Father Hood), the Church believes that God has bound Himself to the sacraments, but God is not bound by the sacraments. This is another opportunity to reflect on the fact that this individual (or their parents, in the case of an infant’s baptism) attempted to do as Jesus instructed us in the Gospel when he gave priests the power to baptize and absolve sins. We can be comforted in the fact that it is deeply pleasing to God when an individual makes every effort to follow His plan exactly for baptism and the forgiveness of sins. We can be assured that anyone who has died after seeking, in good faith, to receive baptism from Deacon Springer or confession from Father Hood did not leave this life without some measure of grace and forgiveness from God.