Church of the Holy Spirit
A Roman Catholic Parish
Baptism
Baptism
Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5)
To have your baby baptized at Holy Spirit
Congratulations and many blessings on bringing a child into your family and into our parish. We encourage you to have your baby baptized at the earliest possibility.
* If you are an adult interested in being Baptized into the Catholic Church click here
Monthly Pre-Baptism Classes
Usually the third Saturday of the month
Holy Family Hall 10:00 am—11:30 am
Pre-Registration Required
.
Those wishing to baptize their child must register for a pre-baptism class which will be held the third Saturday of each month.
Please contact the rectory office (203) 322-3722 to sign up for a class.
Call the rectory to arrange for the baptism. (203) 322-3722
Family and friends often gather together to celebrate a baptism. It is an honor to be asked to serve as a godparent, but it is also a solemn responsibility which the Church takes great care of ensuring the person asked can fulfill the role by identifying certain requirements.
The requirements to be a godparent are:
- The person must be Roman Catholic
- Received the sacraments of Baptism, Communion and Confirmation
- Be at least 16 years of age,
- If married, they must be married in the Catholic Church
- Regularly practice the Catholic Faith (i.e. they are registered in a Catholic parish, actively attend weekly Mass and regularly (at least once a year) Confession.
All proposed godparents must provide a sponsor certificate from the parish where they regularly attend and submit this certificate to the Rectory office two (2) WEEKS PRIOR to the scheduled baptism.
A Note from Fr. Suarez concerning godparents:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding godparents, please do not hesitate to call the Rectory office. It is a great honor to be asked to serve as a godparent- but it is a very solemn responsibility requiring a godparent to serve as a living witness to the Catholic faith to the child. We have learned from experience it has become, for a myriad of reasons, difficult to find a person to serve as a godparent who meets the Church's requirements. I would like to work with you to find a solution.
Keeping in mind the first priority needs to be administering the Sacrament of Baptism to a child and I would never want to unnecessarily delay a baptism, I am happy to engage parents and potential godparents to both understand more their personal story and to share the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith. The church is always forward-looking, perhaps some would take this as an opportunity to return to the regular practice of their Catholic Faith.
The difference between a practicing and non-practicing Catholic is the Sacrament of Confession- which is always readily available. If a person may be nervous about about going to the Sacrament of Confession, this would also be a great topic for conversation. And there are a couple resources that are available here that may be of some assistance.
The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.
At baptism, the presider prays over the water:
Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Holy Spirit give to this water the grace of your Son, so that in the sacrament of baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit. (Christian Initiation of Adults, #222A)
Freed from Sin
Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants, shortly after birth. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children who have been baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”
The Catechism
teaches:
"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" (CCC 1279).
Baptismal Symbols
- Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
- Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
- Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
- White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.
While in ordinary circumstances, sacraments in the Catholic Church are administered validly by a member of the ordained clergy, in an emergency situation, the sacrament of baptism can be administered by anyone.
In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pour water on the candidates head while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (CCC 1284).
