Baptism Program Overview

 

Dear Parents,

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! The community of St. John the Evangelist Parish rejoices with you and your family. We are delighted that you have chosen our parish for your child’s Baptism. This is the first step on your child’s journey of faith. Therefore, we are committed to making the celebration of the sacrament of Baptism very special and meaningful for you and your family. We are also committed to helping you in every possible way as you raise your child in our faith.

Points of Contact:

For all questions relating to Baptism at St. John’s, please contact Patty Pelszynski at 410 964-1425 x 312.

 

Baptism Procedures:

• If this is your first child you are having baptized, you must attend a Baptism Preparation Class.

»    At least one parent must attend this meeting.  Both parents and godparents are encouraged to attend

»    The class usually meets the third Sunday of each month, 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center.  Please check the bulletin board on the left for the room number of the class.  Beginning in 2011, the class will be held 12:00pm at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, room 13/14. Please call Patty to register for the class and confirm the class date.

 

      The remaining dates are:

                  2010 - OM                                      2011 - WL

           July 18                                     January 23          July 17
     August 15                                 February 27        August 21 
     September 19                            March 20           September 18
     October 17                                April 10              October 16
     November 21                             May 15               November 20

           December 19                             June 26              December 18

 

• For all Baptisms you will have about a 30 minute meeting with the priest or deacon who will preside at the Baptism.  This is an opportunity to get to know your family individually, to assist you in scheduling your child’s Baptism, to answer any questions you might have, and to prepare registration documentation. If a visiting priest is performing the Baptism, paperwork must still be completed by a priest or deacon at St. John’s.
• If you are parish member but plan to have your child baptized at another church you must meet the requirements for Baptism at St. John’s.  Once these requirements are met, we will send a letter to the parish where the child will be baptized, affirming that you met our requirements and giving permission to have your child baptized outside of your home parish.

Questions You May Have...

What is Baptism?
“Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church) It is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Through Baptism, as with the other six Sacraments, we encounter the Living Christ in his passage from death to new life. By this encounter, we are freed from the power of sin and death, become members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and so rise to new life and to a new way of living.

 

When should we have our baby baptized?
We encourage parents to present their children for Baptism as soon as is reasonably possible after their birth. Therefore, it is a good idea to contact the parish prior to the baby’s birth so that Baptism can be scheduled in a timely fashion. However, we also realize that situations in life don’t always allow for Baptism to happen shortly after the birth of a child, and we will welcome children or adults of any age who want to be baptized. Baptisms are celebrated at the weekend Masses and outside of Mass on Saturday or Sunday, as scheduling permits.

 

Why do we celebrate some Baptisms during Mass?
Baptism welcomes us into the Body of Christ, the Church. By water and the Holy Spirit we become the children of God. Baptism is not a private act but a public expression of, and participation in, the Church’s faith. The celebration of Baptism, therefore, calls for the active participation of the community. The whole community welcomes the child and promises our love and support as a tangible expression of God’s love and goodness. Because Sunday is the weekly celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, by which we have new life, celebrating Baptism at one of the weekend Masses, when the parish community gathers for worship, indicates the connection between the Church, the Eucharist and this newborn member of the Church and your family. It also reminds us that the journey of faith will lead your baptized child, one day, to join you and the larger community at the table of the Lord for the Eucharist. At the Eucharist, all Catholics are nourished by the Word of God and Christ’s Body and Blood, so that we can be better witnesses of God’s love to all people. The communal nature of Baptism calls for the celebration of Sacrament within Mass or in small gatherings with other families.

 

Who can be godparents?
Godparents should be faithful people who are baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. Church law requires that at least one godparent is a full member of the Catholic Church. It is possible for the second godparent to be a member of another Christian Church. If you have questions regarding godparents, please speak to one of the priests or deacon at St John’s. When choosing godparents, it is important to consider the responsibility of a godparent, namely, people who will support the parents in bringing this child up in the Catholic Faith and who will be a good role model for this child.

 

The Day of the Baptism
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the time the service is supposed to begin.

 

During Mass: We ask that you check in at the Sacristy so we know you have arrived. If you wish to have your family bring forward the Gifts or have someone who would like to carry the Cross, please let the Sacristan know.

 

Outside of Mass: Please let the priest/deacon know you have arrived.

 

Is a white dress or suit required?
No. A white garment symbolizes that your child has become a new creation in Christ in the waters of Baptism. Most families have a garment (dress or suit) that they have chosen for their child.

 

Can we use cameras and videos at Baptism?
Cameras and videos are allowed. However, the people taking photographs during the Baptism are asked to be courteous and not obscure the view of others. Please refrain from taking additional family photos until after the Mass has ended. The priest will be available after the ceremony for additional pictures.