Please dress the child/children before you arrive. If you choose to have your child baptized by immersion, please dress him/her in clothing that is easily removable.
When you arrive you will be shown to your seat by a Baptismal Assistant. Please go there and settle your things in the pew. Pews in the front of the Church are reserved for each family directly involved in the baptismal liturgy. Then you will be directed as the parents, child and godparents to go to the back of the church to begin the Mass at the baptismal font followed by the procession to your seats. (Brothers and sisters of the child to be baptized may participate in the entrance procession, but we request other family members to remain in their seats)
Before the liturgy begins the Baptismal Assistant will briefly run through the registration form to ensure accuracy of detail and spelling of names. This form will be used later to complete the Parish Baptismal Register. They will also give the godmother a white baptismal garment and the godfather a baptismal candle, please remember to carry them with you, when called by the celebrant, after the homily for the baptism.
In the Opening Rites of the Mass next to the Font the celebrant will
ask you two questions:
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and what do you ask of God’s Church? The answer to the second question is either faith or baptism. |
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"I claim you for Christ
by the sign of the cross" |
Please note that all other questions asked will require a yes or no answer.
After the Homily the whole community will join in a communal Profession of Faith and Renunciation Of Sin. This will then be followed by the Intercessions after which you will be once more asked if it your intention to have your Baby baptized. You will then be invited to join the celebrant and servers in the procession to the Baptismal Font at the back of the Church. Once again only parents, siblings and godparents are invited to join the procession. All other family members are expected to remain in their seats. At this point simply follow the server or if there is no server walk ahead of the celebrant to the Font. As you gather at the Font please remember not to block the view of others or the way of the celebrant.
Infant baptism will be conducted in the upper level of the Font, there is plenty of room behind the Font to stand and both get a good view and allow others to witness this important event too. If there are several children to be baptized each family will be called by name. As your child is baptized, please step to one side of the Font and wait until each child is baptized. At all times follow the directions of the Baptismal assistants. The children will then be anointed and receive the Light of Christ from the Paschal Candle that stands next to the Font.
During Easter time, this Candle remains
in the sanctuary at the front of the Church. The procession will follow
the priest to the sanctuary where the candles will then be lit.
Baptism by Infusion or Immersion: Since
the construction of our new Baptismal Font, you now have the option of
having your baby baptized by infusion (pouring over the head) or by immersion
when the child is immersed in the waters of the upper level of the font.
Please inform the associate pastor at the time of registration. If you
choose to have your child baptized by immersion please dress your child
in clothing that is easily removable. The parish will provide a large towel that you may use to wrap your child in after immersion.
Placing the White Garment and Lighting the Candle:
When
directed, the godmother places the white garment, symbolizing the new creation
in Christ on the child.
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the outward sign of your Christian dignity" |
The godfather will be invited to light the baptismal candle from the
Paschal Candle by the priest.
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When the baptism ceremony is finished you will be directed to wait for the procession of the Gifts and to return then to your seats as part of this procession.
Photography: We are aware of your desire to get the best possible picture of this important event in the life of your child, but we also ask you to remember that this is a liturgy of the whole community. We ask that no photos be taken during the Mass or during the rite of baptism. Photos may be taken before or after Mass. Each family will be given a DVD copy of your child's baptism.
All of this will be told you again when you arrive at 11:45 am for the 12:15 Mass, and you will be directed throughout the ceremony. This keeps you from having to be unnecessarily nervous or memorize the ceremony. We will take care of you each step of the way.