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.