Baptism
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
Baptisms Take Place once a month, except Lent & Advent. Preparation for Baptism (Baptismal Course) is a requirement of the church. It involves one session held in the parish room, for parents and guardians. This can be done before the baby is born. Please note you are required to provide a copy of your baby’s Birth Certificate to the parish office prior to baptism. For more information or to register contact the Parish Office or submit the online registration form.
So, what does Baptism say to us about the God we believe in? Three things jump readily to mind.Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, as a group of three Sacraments, are called the “Sacraments of Initiation.” A Sacrament is a visible sign of God’s presence, God’s activity in our lives, in the Church and in our world. But it goes beyond that! Sacraments not only show us what God is like and what God dreams for us; Sacraments also make that happen!
- Baptism (together with Confirmation and Eucharist) tells us that God wants each and every one of us to belong—first of all, to God! Second of all, God wants us to belong to one another, to care for each other and to form a community of faith with other believers. God is a family—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and God gives us the grace, in these Sacraments of Initiation, to form human families that continue to reveal God’s love to the world.
- Baptism also tells us that our purpose in life is to know, love and serve God in all kinds of ways, but especially through one another.
- The prayers of Baptism tell us something really important about how God looks at us. One of the prayers of Baptism tells us clearly that the love of a mother and father for their child is the clearest picture we have of God’s love for us. The prayer goes like this:
God is the giver of all life, human and divine. … You are the first teachers of your child in the ways of faith. May you also be the best of teachers, bearing witness to that faith in all you say and do.