Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
It is the hope of the Pastoral Staff and others involved in the Baptism preparation at St. Vincent Pallotti Parish to do our best to help prepare you for the celebration of the sacrament and for subsequent years.
We spend years in preparation for so many things in our lives. As our children grow up we will pay special attention to their needs. School and extracurricular activities will take up a great amount of your family time. You would not think twice of sending your son, or daughter out “into the world” without being as best prepared as they can be. Homework and endless hours of practice at any given number of activities will be a given in your household.
Knowing your intent and desire to prepare your son, or daughter for the years ahead keep in mind the time you commit to preparation for their religious and spiritual development as well. Baptism is not simply a cultural rite of initiation, or family social get together. Baptism is the gate to the sacraments and a door to the sacred.
Our goal as Christian parents is to prepare our children as best we can to embrace and understand this Catholic faith of ours. In being an integral component in our children’s faith formation we set the stage so that our children make the faith their own and take their place in participating and sharing in the mission and ministry of the Lord, Jesus. If there are any questions about the following guidelines please call Kristine Martin, Office Manager, at the Parish Office at 734-285-9840, ext.100. We look forward to meeting you!
Fr. Brendan McCarrick SAC
Parish Administrator
Preparing for your child’s Baptism…
“Choosing godparents for your child is an important decision. Click here for more information.”
“Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift… We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1216
Baptisms occur twice a month at 12:45 pm (following the 11:30 am Mass) on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.
A baptismal class will be required of the parents and takes place on the Thursday evening before the baptism. We ask that even if this is not your first child baptized (even here at St. Joseph or St. Patrick) that you still plan on attending. During this gathering parish representatives will address the nature of the sacrament and the order of events at the baptism. Also discussed will be ways and ideas that parents may utilize to help foster faith formation from newborn through preschool years. For this reason “experienced parents” are most helpful in aiding the conversation. Godparents are required attend.
Baptisms are not celebrated during the Season of Lent respecting the special nature of this liturgical season.
Baptisms are not private affairs. Baptism is rightly called a sacrament of welcoming. For in it we are welcomed into the Catholic community. It is the first of the Sacraments of Initiation; Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation. We become members of the Body of Christ and are incorporated into the life of the Church. As such it is a sacrament rightly celebrated within the context of community.
For more information, contact the Parish Office at 734-285-9840, ext. 100.
