Walking in the Newness of Life

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.   (St. Gregory of Nazianzus)

Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. (CCC 1280)

…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. (CCC 1279)

Baptism is a welcoming ritual with a unique opportunity to connect with Catholic families at a very meaningful time in their lives. Some facts pertinent to Baptism include:

·        Parent sessions for Baptism were mandated by the new Rite of Infant Baptism in 1969 immediately after the Second Vatican Council. The Church wanted to reach out to parents to assist them in many ways, but especially to help them see this big connection: Baptism connects us ---for life---to a worldwide family which gives us privileges and responsibilities.

·        Welcoming each new member is the responsibility of all those who have been baptized. It is not a private affair.  Therefore, Baptisms often occurs at Sunday Mass.

·        According to Canon Law (#872-874) a godparent must be at least sixteen years of age and have received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist). He or she should lead a life of faith in harmony with the duty undertaken. The godparent may not be one of the parents of the person being baptized. Only one godparent is required for Baptism and a maximum of two can be recorded in the baptismal record.

·        Baptism is the primary sacrament. No other sacrament can be received unless one is baptized. 

·        Baptism is only celebrated once in a person’s lifetime.

Best practices in lifelong faith formation identify good sacramental catechesis as a value and suggest that parishes be attentive to the following elements:

Welcoming – inviting new parents to register for Baptism through an ongoing notice in the bulletin or parish website; by personal invitation by parish staff and parishioners; through the responsiveness of well-prepared parish secretaries.

Preparing – parishes must have an inviting and informative baptismal preparation program for parents that includes:

• Information concerning the role of parents and godparents in the sacrament
• Recognition of the beautiful symbols of the sacrament
• Reflection on the Rite of Baptism
• Responsibilities that arise as the sacrament is received and lived
• Resources (written or online) to promote further study of the sacrament of baptism and the creation of a household of faith.
  

Celebrating - ideally, the Rite of Baptism should be celebration within a parish Mass with special emphasis on the families involved; the Rite should be rich in symbols and understanding.

On-Going and Lifelong – develop an explicit plan to provide activities and gatherings for the parents after baptism to support them in their role as primary educators of their children and help them strengthen their ties to the parish. This plan can include special mailings and events that gather parents at various milestones of family life such as: Parenting Toddlers; Before Your Child Goes to School, The Middle School Years; or Parenting A Teen. More ideas and resources are available from edankowski@buffalodiocese.org.