Readings of the Day

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of 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 children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in Christ's mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and the word." (Catechism of the Catholic Church - CCC 1213)

Baptism is one of three sacraments that are known as "the Sacraments of Initiation". These include Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. But of these three Baptism is the most foundational sacrament because no other sacrament may be received until a person has been baptized.

Usually parents bring their children to the church for baptism not long after they have been born - usually within the first six months to a year. At one time children were baptized so quickly after birth that the mother of the child missed the baptism entirely because she was not yet out of the hospital. There is no need for such a rush today.

Such speed was due to the belief that children who died without baptism were unable to go to heaven. The Catholic Church does not teach this. We believe that any child who dies prior to baptism is still a loved child of God. He or she and is believed to be in the merciful hands of a God who, in his love, would not withhold heaven from that child.

When parents bring their children to the Church to be baptized, they and the child's sponsors, (or "godparents" as they are sometimes called) are making a profession of faith on behalf of their child. They are making a public commitment to bring their child up in the faith. While this is the primary responsibility of the parents, the sponsors are meant to be witnesses to the faith by their regular and faithful practice of it both by the lives they lead and their participation in regular Sunday mass.

Children will come to value what they see their parents, relatives and friends valuing. This is the way faith is "caught". That is why it is so important that parents who have children baptized are prepared to practice their own faith and to bring their child to church. This is how the child absorbs a belief in God and comes to value the opportunity to participate in the faith life of the church. Parents who are not prepared to practice their faith on a regular basis should seriously consider deferring the baptism of their children until such time as faith becomes a value for them again.

Every Easter, Catholics of all ages renew their Baptismal Promises. It is done at Easter because we have just participated in the events of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus (also known as the Paschal Mystery). When we are baptized we are baptized into the death of Christ that we might rise with Him to new life in God.

At the Easter Vigil and throughout the Easter Season, the Paschal Candle is lit to remind us that our re-birth has come through Christ. At every Baptism, a "Baptismal Candle" is lit from the Paschal Candle to remind all present of our oneness with Christ as members of His Body including the child who has just been baptized.

If you have any questions about this Sacrament or wish to be baptized or have your child baptized, please contact the Parish Office.

Dates for Baptisms at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

2010
January 31 (Sun)	11:00 am
February 28 (Sun)	4:00 pm
March 20 (Sat)	5:00 pm

Parish Guidelines for Baptism

A Roman Catholic parent (or the guardian who has the legal custody of the child) who is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish may seek Baptism for their child in this parish community.

To be a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish you must live within the boundaries of the parish or be a registered and practicing member of the parish for a period of at least six months prior to the date of the Baptism.

The Church emphasizes the role of parents as the first and best teachers of their child in the ways of faith and Christian values. During the Baptism, the parents of the child promise to do their best to raise their child in the practice of the faith. Obviously, the parents should manifest their faith by participating in the weekly Sunday Eucharist with the faith community into which their child is to be incorporated. We look for an honest and wholehearted commitment on the part of the parents.

It is never our intention to deny Baptism to anyone. However, there may be circumstances that would lead us to suggest the postponement of the Baptism until the parents are ready to carry out the promises they must make at the Baptism ceremony.

Baptism initiates the baptized person into the Catholic community. Hence it is most appropriate to celebrate Baptism at a time when the community is together, which is when we come together to celebrate Eucharist. Thus, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish we celebrate Baptisms once per month at one of the parish's weekend liturgies.

After the parent complete the process of preparing for the Baptism, a date and time will be fixed for the celebration. We generally restrict the number of children being baptized at any one celebration to four.

Since the Baptism is celebrated within the context of the weekend Mass, it is essential that each family arrive well before the Mass starts so that they can be instructed about what to do during the ceremony.

The child must have at least one godparent, although two are usual - one from each sex. The godparent must be a "regularly practicing Catholic". They must also have received all three Sacraments of initiation namely, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. They are required to profess their faith and to expressly assume the responsibility of a godparent for the child.

Members of other Christian churches, though good Christians, may serve only as a Christian Witness at the Baptism and not as a godparent. Only the names of the godparents are recorded on the Baptism certificate.

Process of Preparing for Baptism

After having read the Parish Policies on celebrating Baptism at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, you are now in a better position to decide about the Baptism of your child. If you wish to proceed with the preparation, please follow the steps outlined below.

Complete the Registration Form for Baptism. This can be picked up at the Parish Office. Please print the information clearly.

Both parents should answer one of the questionnaires separately and then discuss their answers. Catholic parents should use the questionnaire entitled, "For a Catholic Parent". If one of the parents is from another Christian tradition or another Faith Group they should use the questionnaire entitled, "For a Parent from another Tradition".

Please return the completed Registration Form as well as both copies of the questionnaire to the parish office, as early as possible.

Once we receive your application we will contact you to arrange either a visit at the parish or a pastoral visit to your home, at a mutually convenient time.

During the visit, a date will be determined for the celebration of the Baptism, as far as possible, on the date selected by you on the Registration Form. This visit is meant to help us get to know one another and to provide you an opportunity to discuss any issues you might wish to raise concerning the practice of your own faith. Such issues might include the religious education of other children in the family or the blessing of your marriage if, for instance, you were not married in the Church, or the process involved in a non-Catholic partner becoming a Catholic, etc.

Before the actual celebration of the Baptism, parents (and if possible godparents) must attend an information session on Baptism at the parish Church. The session includes:
- Instruction regarding Sacraments in general and Baptism in particular
- Discussion on the role of parents, godparents and the parish community
- A video on the celebration of Baptism
- A practice for the ceremony itself

Since the Baptism takes place at the Sunday Eucharist, it is essential that the family make the necessary arrangements for the parents and godparents to arrive early for the ceremony in order to be given final instruction about the ritual and to be seated in the appropriate pews at the front of the Church.

Baptism certificates will be made available to each family following the celebration.

Thinking About Baptism and Godparents

Having made the decision to bring your child to the Church for the Sacrament of Baptism, you are now faced with another decision, the choice of your child's godparents.

In recent years, and in many instances, the role of the godparent has been distorted and the choice of people to fill this role has been made for reasons other than those which should dictate the choice. Only too often, we approach someone to be a godparent to satisfy a social relationship, to say "thank you" for past favours, because they expect to be asked, or for material benefits which may be forthcoming for the child. At the risk of hurting someone's feelings we should make our choice of godparent with the following in mind:

Inviting someone to be a godparent implies the following:

A request by the parents for the assistance of the Christian community in general and the individual godparents in particular in raising their child in the Catholic faith;
An admission by the parents of their awareness that they need this assistance;
An affirmation of the faith of the individuals invited to be godparents and a challenge to them to witness their faith;
A statement by the parents that they want their child to be positively influenced by the faith and lives of the people they have invited;
A reminder to the entire community that it has a shared responsibility to support each of its members.

We suggest the following guidelines in making your choice of people to invite to be godparents:

The person(s) chosen must be mature enough to carry out the responsibility of godparents.

The person must be one of strong living faith, which they practice regularly by attending Sunday Eucharist. They are not required to be a "paragon of virtue" but rather an ordinary good Catholic person who gives witness to his/her own commitment to Gospel values.

The person must be willing to profess his or her faith with the parents immediately prior to the actual pouring of baptismal water and should have no reservations about doing so.

The person must have received all three sacraments of initiation, namely, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

The person must be willing, in whatever way she/he can, to actively cooperate with the parents in helping to bring the child up as a Christian.

For obvious reasons, only a member of the Catholic Church (or Eastern Orthodox community) may be a godparent. However, a member of a non-Catholic Christian Community may serve as a Christian Witness. The godparent must profess the faith in which the child is to be raised and members of non-Catholic churches, although good Christians, cannot be expected to rear another in the Roman Catholic faith. The child must have at least one Roman Catholic godparent.

Unlike the old rite of baptism, which required the godparents to answer for the child in renunciation of Satan and profession of faith in Christ, the rite currently in use reflects the reality of the situation more accurately in asking the parents and godparents to renew their own rejection of evil and acceptance of Jesus that they may offer these to nurture the faith in/of the growing child from the seeds planted at Baptism.

In reflection upon the responsibilities of godparent hood, it comes apparent that what is asked of the godparent is really the mission of each of us as Christians to nurture the faith and reach out to others in love throughout our lives.

If you have any questions about this Sacrament or wish to have your child baptized, please contact the Parish Office.