Welcome to God's Family!

Baptism is the first step in our initiation into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. However, baptism is not just a relationship between God and us. Baptism incorporates us into a community of faith - the Body of Christ, the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism celebrates the faith that first transformed the lives of you, the Parents/Guardians, and your child's Godparents, but it will also be a faith that will be shared by word and example throughout your child's life.

The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The Sacrament of Baptism came about because our First Parents, Adam and Eve, saw God as a rival. They openly defied God's instruction not to eat of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge (NAB Gen 3:1-24). Because they wished to "be like God," they were escorted out of the Garden of Eden and lost the purity of their souls and the souls of future generations. Original Sin is something all humans possess and only through the Sacrament of Baptism, can we be cleansed of this impediment.

Through the Sacrament of Baptism your child will be welcomed into God's family, both here on earth and in heaven. In addition, sanctifying grace, which was taken away due to Original Sin, is restored, so that God's abundant grace can be poured out upon your child to help him/her live out their lives as Jesus asked us to.

The Holy Spirit empowers our child to be ferverent in their resolve to love God and neighbor throughout their lives. This sacrament, while it is received only once, imparts an indelible character on the soul that marks the newly baptized as a child of God. No one or nothing we do can remove this from our souls.

Baptism is a communal sacrament. This means that the whole Christian community of faith actively welcomes your child into God's family. Sponsors, Priests, family members, your parish, as well as the universal Catholic Church are ready to help your child grow in love of God and neighbor.

It is imperative that, you, the Parents/Guardians understand clearly the Christian meaning of baptism, and choose freely to celebrate the sacrament as a time of growth not only in your own relationship with God but also your child's.

For more information on the reception of this sacrament, please contact the Rectory at (414) 321-1965.