St. Mark Church - Baptism Guidelines

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Baptism Guidelines

	Baptism is a life-long process, not an instant transformation. It marks the beginning of a process of growing in relationship to God through membership in the Christian Community.
Message to Parents As you consider the wonderful gift of Baptism for your child, we hope to help you plan and prepare in the best possible way. It is to be a time of celebration and joy. Baptism is a birth into the Christian Community and is in every way as solemn and important as birth itself. It is an event for which preparation is needed! The most important preparation is to look at your own faith since you will be the first teachers of your child's faith. It is through you that your child will come to know God's love. As you pray, your child will learn to pray. Through you, your child will acquire an awareness of being active in the Catholic faith. And, in this process of sharing the life of Christ with your child, your own faith will be enriched. This is a blessing of Christian parenting! To assist you in this effort, we provide a Baptismal Preparation process here at St. Mark Catholic Church. We welcome you, and your child, with love and prayers for peace and happiness for your family in the years ahead.
Some Guidelines The best way to prepare for the Baptismal event is to initiate the process before the birth of the child. In choosing Godparents, select someone who can honestly support you in your decision to baptize your child in the Catholic faith. Although it is customary to have two, ony one Godparent is required. He/she is to be at least sixteen years of age, have received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, and be an active witness in the Catholic faith. A baptized person of another Christian denomination may be a Witness together with the Catholic Godparent. The church insists that "the hope of the child being brought up in the Catholic faith is well-founded." When this is evident, baptismal preparation can take place. If thre is a question, the Baptism may be postponed until the "hope" is indeed well founded. Baptismal Preparation for Parents is offered as a two-part series from 9:00 to 10:15 am on the first and third Sundays of the month. After parents have completed the second workshop and the Sponsor Certificate is received by the Parish Office, a date and time for the Baptism may be scheduled. The Rite of Baptism for Children unfolds in two parts. The first part is the Reception of the Children and takes place during a Liturgy on the weekend between the two preparation workshops. This ritual is the Introduction to the Rite of Baptism and an important step in the process. The second part is the Baptism itself. Baptisms at St. Mark Parish are celebrated during any weekend Liturgy.
Last Updated: 7/19/2007 5:10 PM