St. Francis Of Assisi: Baptism

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BAPTISM Theology of Baptism Baptisms at St. Francis Baptism Preparation Godparents Baptism over the age of 7 yrs FAQ's Theology of Baptism Baptism, the door to life and to the kingdom of God, is the first sacrament of the New Law, which Christ offered to all, that they might have eternal life. He later entrusted this sacrament and the Gospel to his church, when he told his apostles, “Go, make disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Taken from The General Introduction to Christian Initiation: Roman Ritual. The Baptism of an infant or young child is an event that affects the whole community. The call to support parents in this journey lies at the heart of pastoral ministry. It is one which we take seriously here at The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi. That support begins when parents first approach the parish with the request for Baptism for their child and continues through the years as they grow in faith. For this reason, we ask parents to participate fully in our Baptismal preparation program, Call to Celebrate: Baptism. Baptisms at St. Francis It is with great joy that our parish community welcomes your child into the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism. The goodness of your lives and your faith make possible this wonderful celebration of the eternal life bestowed on your child by our gracious God. Ordinarily, infants are baptized by the priest’s lowering the child three times into the water of the baptismal font. The child is actually immersed in the font by the priest, with care being given that water not touch the face of the child. The water is comfortably warm and we ask you to be ready to receive your newly baptized child into a towel. This ritual, commonly called “Baptism by Immersion”, is an ancient, moving symbol of our dying and rising with Christ in Baptism. It is the preferred way to baptize according to the Catholic Church’s latest liturgical guidelines. If your child is baptized at Mass, the Baptism will be by immersion. If your child is baptized at a communal ceremony, you may choose Baptism by immersion or by pouring. In Baptism by pouring, the child is held over the baptismal font and the water is poured over the top of the child’s head. You are asked to provide a white garment for our child to wear. If this is not possible, a white gown may be borrowed from the parish. Because we want to ensure a wonderful celebration for you and your child, please review the following explanations of the ritual for Baptism used here at St. Francis: Information on the Baptism Ritual at Mass Information on the Communal Baptism Ceremony Dates for Upcoming Communal Baptisms Explanation of the Catholic baptismal certificate Baptism Preparation We offer a Baptism Preparation program for our parents. These sessions are facilitated by a team of trained volunteers and give you an opportunity to grow in faith together as a couple and as a family. Parents are asked to participate in this program prior to each child‘s Baptism. It is preferable that parents attend before the birth of their child whenever possible. Infants are welcome at the classes. Childcare will be available for older siblings. There is no charge for childcare, however, there is a $10 fee for the class materials. To Register for the classes, or for more information about Baptisms at St. Francis, please call Joan Port at 847-8205 x249. Click here to see the 2008 and 2009 schedules of Baptism Preparation classes. Click here to Register on-line for Baptism Preparation Class. Godparents When you invite a person to serve as your child’s godparent, you are asking this individual to make a lifelong commitment to your child. The law of the Roman Catholic Church requires that each child being baptized have one godparent to serve as his or her spiritual model and friend, to be baptized and practicing their Catholic faith. For more specific information, please read Guidelines for Choosing Godparents. Click here for the Godparent Sponsor Certificate. Instructions: This is for potential godparents. Please fill out and sign the top portion. Return it to the office (attention: Joan Port) for the friars to complete the bottom part. Frequently Asked Questions Do I have to be a registered member of the parish in order to have my child baptized? You are required to be registered in a parish but not necessarily St. Francis of Assisi. If you are registered elsewhere, you will need to obtain a letter from your pastor granting us permission to baptize your child. What is required of the parents who wish to have their child Baptized? 1. One parent needs to be a Catholic and should be practicing their faith by attending the Eucharistic liturgies. 2. They need to be registered in a Catholic parish. 3. They need to contact Joan Port (847-8205, ext. 249) to register for a class and schedule their child’s baptism. 4. Both parents are expected to attend Call to Celebrate: Baptism class. My spouse is not Catholic. Does he/she have to attend the classes? We ask that both parents attend the session for your child’s Baptism preparation regardless of church affiliation. It will be an opportunity for your spouse to learn more about the sacrament of Baptism and how we celebrate it in the Catholic tradition. We have had other children baptized. Do we still need to attend Baptism Preparation classes? Yes, Both parents are expected to attend the Call to Celebrate: Baptism program for each child. Are all baptisms celebrated during the Sunday liturgies? You have the option of having your child baptized at one of the Sunday Masses or during one of the (group) communal celebrations which are held monthly.