Baptism
Dear Parent(s),
Congratulations on your child’s upcoming baptism! Baptism is a once‐in‐a‐lifetime event. It is a time of birth, the moment of new life, a beginning of a destiny that can only be fulfilled in eternity. The day of your child's Baptism is a day of hope, a day of promise, and a day of joy. It is a day of joy, not only for you and your family, but for the entire Christian community. Through Baptism your child begins to share the life of Christ with all other Christians.
Infant Baptism
Congratulations on the birth of your child!
Baptisms and baptismal preparation are generally done individually
and personally for each couple. The first step is for the parents to
introduce themselves in person to the priest after attending any one of
our parish Masses. Once this personal introduction has taken place, they
should call the parish office and request an appointment for baptismal
preparation. The date for baptism may be set during, or anytime after,
the preparation session. Every effort is made to accommodate your
preferred date and time for the baptismal celebration.
Child baptism after infancy
Once a child is past infancy, the form of preparation changes, depending on the age and maturity of the child. If the child is old enough, baptismal preparation may be included in preparation for First Communion, which we offer to youth of all ages. Each situation is considered individually-- in consultation with parents, our Coordinator of Religious Education, and the pastor—so that a personalized approach can be found for each child or youth.
Adult Baptism
Adult baptism is generally done at Easter, at the conclusion of the Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.). Contact: Patti England.
For Spanish speaking parents, we offer a once a month a Baptism Preparation Class in Spanish. The class takes place on the second Monday of the month at 7PM in the church.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is there a baptismal preparation class, can’t we just show up and have our child
baptized?
Baptism is a major event and thus careful preparation is needed. Baptism places serious responsibilities and demands upon parents and godparents. You have a right to know about these responsibilities and the baptismal preparation program will provide you with the answers.
What can we expect to learn from the baptismal preparation program?
Parents and godparents will be given practical guidance in introducing their small children into our Catholic Faith as well as discussing the lifelong commitments of Christian parenting. You will also learn about the elements of baptism, as well as the ritual, signs, and symbols of the sacrament.
GODPARENTS
A godparent must:
Be a baptized Catholic
Be a least 16 years of age
Have already received First Eucharist
Have received the Sacrament of Confirmation
Parents should make certain that the person being considered to be a godparent meets the above conditions before asking them. The role of the godparent presumes a significant influence in the future life of the child. It is fitting that this person may eventually be chosen for Confirmation sponsor.