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Baptizing Your Baby
Pre-Baptismal Catechesis
Canon Law provides that "the parents of an infant who is to be baptized and likewise those who are to undertake the office of sponsor are to be properly instructed in the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations which are attached to it:..."
Sign ups for the pre-Baptismal catechesis are to go through the parish secretary's office. You may reach her Monday through Friday from 8 AM-12PM or 1:00 PM-5:00 PM at 236-7486. Ordinarily, pre-Baptismal catechesis will be given every eight weeks with the date, time and place to be announced in the Sunday bulletin.
Instructions may be received at any time during pregnancy or after delivery. In St. Mary's parish, this catecheis is accomplished by the deacons. The instruction may involve one or two sessions, totaling one to three hours.
Baptism will not be celebrated without the necessary catechesis, excepting of course an infant who is in danger of death.
Sponsors are required to attend the instruction. You may have one or two sponsors (one of each sex). They must be Catholics who have been confirmed and have already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist (baptized non-Catholics may not be a sponsor as such but may have "witness" status at a Catholic Baptism. Sponsors must be at least sixteen (16) years of age (for just cause the pastor or minister of baptism may make an exception); may not be a parent of the child to be baptized; lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken. Note: Catholics who are cohabiting or who are in an invalid marriage should not be asked to serve as a baptismal sponsor.
Children whose parents are not members of St. Mary's Church may be baptized here if the pastor of the parents' home parish gives--in writing--his permission for the Baptism and confirms that the necessary instruction has been given or will be given prior to the celebration of the sacrament.
Parents of infants to be baptized need not repeat the catechesis more often than every two years. Participation of a godparent or parent in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults also exempts for a two year period of time following completion of the class.
Time and Place for Celebration of Baptism
Baptism may be celebrated either within the Mass or apart from the Mass. It is Fr. Bill's preference that children be baptized within Mass. Baptism should be celebrated on Sunday and only once on Sunday in a parish. Baptisms apart from Mass may be scheduled after any of the weekend Masses (approximately 6:30 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM and noon on Sunday). For serious reason (not the mere convenience of those involved), Baptism may be celebrated on other days of the week. The pastor must, necessarily, approve such non-Sunday celebrations. Scheduling for the Baptism must be handled through the parish secretary's office.
General Baptism Information
There are no required stipends or other fees for the administration of Baptism in St. Mary's Parish.
The ritual for the celebration of Baptism requires the use of a white garment. This can be either a white gown supplied by the family or a large white "bib-like" garment given to the child by the Partners of Mary. Please advise the minister of Baptism if you will be supplying the gown for the child's use.
Parents are asked to monitor the behavior of young children in the sanctuary during Baptism.
Particular care should be taken to see that the Paschal candle is not bumped. Spilled hot wax can be very painful.
The Partners of Mary also gives the child his or her own candle which is ceremoniously presented during baptism. The candle should be preserved for the child's use during his or her pariticipation during CCD instruction. Please keep the candle in a safe place.
The child's Baptism will be registered in the Parish Baptismal register and a copy of the record--imprinted with the Seal of St. Mary's Church--will be provided to the parents. The record will contain the child's name, place and date of birth, mother's complete name with maiden name, father's complete name, the date of the Baptism and the name(s) of the sponsor(s). You may pick up the frameable copy of the record from the parish office the week after the Baptism.
Post-baptismal family gatherings are encouraged. If you wish to invite the pastor and/or the deacon who aptized your child, it is helful if you extend that invitation as far in advance as possible to enable the cleric to arrange his schedule accordingly. If you would like to use the church basement or Religious Education Center for the gathering, please make arrangements with the parish secretary for reservations and rental.
A child who has reached the age of reason (considered to seven years of age) is treated as an andult for purposes of administration of Baptism. If the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) is inappropriate for the young child, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (R.C.I.C.) or some form of catechesis approved by the pastor will be used. Parents (or those standing in loco parentis cannot supply faith in Baptism for such a young person nor ritually request Baptism for their child.
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