Baptism

• Congratulations! Thank you for deciding to have your child baptized as a member of our parish family. This page will help you to prepare for this special day in the life of your child, family and friends. 
  
  In the session for baptism preparation and formation, parents will review the elements of the Catholic Faith, including the precepts and sacraments of the Church. Parents will review with the facilitator the Rites and Responsibilities of parents and godparents who will be the primary teachers of the faith.
  
  Dates for preparation and baptism are to be scheduled and confirmed no less than two months before the scheduled celebration of the sacrament. The sacrament of baptism will not be celebrated if information needed for the baptism is incomplete and the session with parents is not completed before the scheduled baptism.

What is Baptism?

• In his dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus taught that Baptism was necessary for salvation. "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit" (John 3:5). After his Resurrection, Jesus met with the eleven Apostles and gave them the commission to preach the Gospel and baptize, telling them, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). 
• The word baptism in its origins is Greek and means "immersion" and "bath." Immersion in water is a sign of death and emersion out of the water means new life. To bathe in water is also to undergo cleansing. St. Paul sums up this truth when he says, "You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Col 2:12).
• The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. "He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake ... to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water" (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Liturgy of the Hours, I, 634). 
• Jesus' immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God's will. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. 
• By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin—Original and actual—and begin to live a new life with God.
• ©2016 United States Conference of Catholic Bishop

How does my child receive this sacrament?

• "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is a sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.” (Catechism 1213) Through baptism, we become part of the royal, priestly people of God, called to holy lives of prayer and service.
• Baptism for infants and children are customarily celebrated at the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, at the Anticipated Vigil Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, except on certain holy days. It is important to understand that Baptism celebrates the initiation of the child into the parish community. Public baptisms ensure that the community is present at the baptismal celebration.
• Please contact the parish office two months before you desire your child to be baptized. Since parents are required to attend Baptism Formation Class prior to the baptism of their children, you will need to have enough time to complete this before the baptism of your child. We welcome your call even prior to the birth of your child.
  
  It is suggested that prior to the birth of your child you call the parish office to complete the Baptism Registration Form. Once the Baptism Registration Form has been completed, a date and time will be scheduled for parents to complete their Baptism Formation Class and a date and time for the sacrament to be celebrated will be finalized with the priest or deacon.
  
  The minimal requirements are as follows:

1. One of the parents must be a baptized and practicing Catholic.
2. One of the godparents must be a baptized, confirmed and practicing Catholic.
3. Both parents are to attend the baptism preparation classes prior to baptism.

• Godparents are to be approved by the pastor and are to be faithful individuals ready to accept the responsibility of cultivating the spiritual life of the godchild for the rest of their life. Godparents must have a written letter of good standing from their pastor that they visibly practice their faith, lead a life "in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken," are not bound by any imposed or declared penalty under Church Law, and that they attend Mass and celebrate sacraments regularly. 
• On the day of the child's baptism, parents and godparents, along with the child, are to arrive and be seated in the pews marked as reserved for the baptism.  The priest will introduce the child at the end of the mass right after the parish announcements.
  
  The Rite of Baptism continues approximately 10 minutes following the conclusion of Mass, as the family and their honored guests gather at the baptismal font.