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 sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
You have entered into a very important and serious time in your life and the life of your child – the decision to have your child baptized into the new life of God. We share your joy and look forward to the day when your child will be welcomed into the Catholic Christian community of faith. We are excited to walk with you as you prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism in this parish community.
The BAPTISM program will help you to prepare for this special day in your child’s life. You will join with other families in exploring the Sacrament of Baptism and the commitment it requires of you as parents.
You will be engaged in the process of preparation in a very personal way through personal reflection, sharing and dialogue. A team of parish volunteers will facilitate the sessions. In each session, the group explores the ritual of Baptism to help you better understand why it is that we “do what we do” when we baptize children in our Roman Catholic tradition.
Godparents play a very important role in your child's spiritual life as role models of the faith. They should support not only the child but you, the parents as well. Additionally, in their role as godparent, they represent the larger Church community and this is a tremendous responsibility. The Church has provided guidelines to help parents choose the best possible godparents for their children.
In recognizing the importance of the godparent and their duties:
*Note: These requirements come from the Law of Canon of the Roman Catholic Church, you can view the Law of the Church by visiting the Vatican Website (click here).
A non-Catholic may be chosen as a Christian witness as long as one godparent is a Catholic and fullfills all of the above requirements.
For more information please contact Patricia at 209-369-1907
or by email at [email protected]