Parish Center
“The fruits of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sin, 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)
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first Sacrament we receive as Catholics and the first Sacrament of Initiation. In Baptism, we are born of water and the Holy Spirit. We are called by name and welcomed into the community of faith. The parents and godparents, on behalf of the baby or child (under seven) being baptized, commit to raise the baby/child in a faith-based environment and to nurture the faith of the baby/child throughout his/her life. This includes attendance at Mass weekly and participation in parish life.
The preparation for this first step in the Sacramental life of your child is important to the faith formation of your family and the entire faith community. Just as Jesus was welcomed and baptized by John in the Jordan River, we want to welcome families who are having a child baptized in our “Jordan River.” This welcome is more than a sign of hospitality but a desire for families to welcome God into their homes all day and every day and to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. This welcome requires a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism.