BAPTISM AND THE COMMUNITY For Catholics, baptism is the sign of our unity with Christ’s community, and a witness to our desire to be part of the discipleship of Christ. Just as the birth of the child is so important to the entire family, so the baptism of the child is important to the parish family. For this reason, the Church suggests that baptism should be celebrated on Sunday so that members of the parish community can be present.
At Blessed Sacrament, we preferably celebrate baptisms during any of the three Sunday Masses (8:00, 10:00, and 12:15) on the first and third Sundays of each month. Baptisms are traditionally not celebrated during Lent.
We encourage you to schedule your child's baptism three months in advance. We know that this is not always possible, so please do not let time constraints prevent you from contacting us. Baptismal Preparation Sessions are held monthly for new parents.
To schedule a baptism and to make arrangements for a baptism preparation session please contact Sister Kathleen Wayne at the parish office at 271-7240.
Baptism is a beginning! While it can happen only once in a lifetime; it can be renewed over and over again in a person’s life. The Baptism of your child is an opportunity to renew your Baptism commitment. It is an occasion to celebrate the amazing gift of life that our God shares with us.
To schedule a baptism and to make arrangements for a baptism preparation session please contact Sister Kathleen Wayne at the parish office at 271-7240.
Baptism is a beginning! While it can happen only once in a lifetime; it can be renewed over and over again in a person’s life. The Baptism of your child is an opportunity to renew your Baptism commitment. It is an occasion to celebrate the amazing gift of life that our God shares with us.
GODPARENTS and SPONSORSIn the baptism of infants parents take responsibility for choosing a godparent(s) who will serve as good examples for living the Catholic way of life.
It is customary to have two godparents, however only one is required for baptism. A godparent may be either male or female.
A godparent must be a fully initiated Roman Catholic, (baptized, confirmed and receiving the Eucharist), at least sixteen years of age.
A Christian of another tradition may be chosen as a Christian witness provided there is at least one Catholic godparent.
Godparents should be ready to commit the time and personal care to nurture and support the child and the parent(s). This support should be seen as ongoing through this family’s journey of faith.
BAPTISM SOURCE OF NEW LIFE: A BRIEF THEOLOGY
(From the Diocese of Rochester’s Guidelines on Baptism)
On the day we call Ascension Thursday, Jesus gathered his disciples on a Mountain in Galilee just outside of Jerusalem and commissioned them to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matt. 28:19-20)
And from that first Pentecost, the Church has called all people to "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
The Sacrament of Baptism invites us on a journey of faith as a disciple of Jesus, the Christ. It calls us to a way of life in the spirit. It is the beginning of our initiation into the Christian mystery. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation, the Source of that New Life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.
In the waters of Baptism we are freed from the power of darkness and are empowered by the Light of Christ. In the waters of Baptism, we die to the ways of sin, we are buried and we rise again to new life as children of God.