Baptism
Preparation
In order to share their faith with their children, parents need to take time to evaluate their own adult faith. The pastor will visit you at home and suggest ways to make that assessment.The parish also provides a group experience for parents. It is called BASIC. The group is offered three or four times a year, and it involve three or four sessions over a weekend. Each session is about one and a half hours. If this is your first child, you will be invited and expected to participate in BASIC at some time during the year following Baptism. If you have questions about BASIC, kindly speak with the pastor.
The Service
Baptism is celebrated at Sunday Mass or on a Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. When in the afternoon, it is generally on the fourth Sunday of the month. The Sunday Mass celebration is suggested especially when both parents are active Catholics.The Baptismal Rite is part of a service. It is quite simple and beautiful. You and your guests should be present in the church about 10 minutes before the hour. Photographs are wonderful souvenirs, but should be taken after the Rite because taking photographs can easily detract from the service.
Godparents represent the community and should be Catholics, ideally practicing Catholics. A person who is not Catholic but was baptized in another Christian church may fill the role of one of the godparents. In this case, that person is called a "Christian Witness."
The baby to be baptized should come dressed in a jumper/sleeper that can be easily removed so that during the Rite the baby can be dressed in a baptismal robe or a christening robe (supplied by the parents).
Families who support the parish financially or with their time and talent are not expected to give the customary offering at Baptism. For others, this is an opportunity to give a gift of love, one that expresses gratitude to God for this wonderful child.
Post-Baptismal Follow Up
Finally, the Coordinator of Family Religious Education will be in touch with the parents because Baptism is the beginning of Family Religious Education.
