Infant Baptism

The baptism of children will be scheduled on the first Sunday of each month. This may mean that there will probably be several children baptized at the same Mass.

During the Season of Lent, which is a time of penance and preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation, the parish will not celebrate the baptism of children.

Private Baptisms are discouraged and are avoided unless there are extenuating circumstances. Baptisms, like many of the sacraments, are celebrated with the faith community gathered together in unity with the Church.

There should be at least one Godparent, though two are permitted. One may be one male or female; or if two, one of each gender. One of the godparents must be a
practicing Catholic and the other must be a baptized Christian.

Catholic Godparents must be 16 or older; received the Sacrament of Confirmation; and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

If the godparent cannot be present in person, he or she may appoint another person to serve as a proxy, but the appointment must be made in such a way that there is certainty as to the person who takes the responsibility as godparent.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1278 The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

1279 The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ.

1280 Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated.

1281 Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized.

1282 Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church.  Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom.

1283 With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.