Baptism is the first and foundational sacrament of the Christian/Catholic faith. Through baptism, Christians are freed from Original sin and reborn as children of God, they become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and are made sharers in Her mission. To baptize means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolizes the individual’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he or she rises up by resurrection with Him, as a new creature.
Baptism is a cleaning bath, and it actually brings about what it signifies–remission of Original sin, and also cleansing of actual sins, if a person is baptized at an age where they could have commited sin. Everything is washed away! This sacrament also fosters communion with most Protestant and Orthodox communions, since the Catholic Church accepts baptisms from all denominations that baptize in the name of the Trinity. Since the earliest days of the Church, parents have brought their children to be baptized, in much the same way as the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him and incorporate Him into the Jewish faith. People of all ages are welcome to explore the possiblity of being baptized.
For Adults
If you are an adult and are interested in exploring the Catholic faith and baptism, we invite you to explore our faith in Jesus Christ, and membership in the Catholic Church. Please contact the Director of OCIA, Betsy Koval (see below), if you are interested in joining the Catholic Church through the The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
For Infants
If you are a parent and are interested in having your child baptized, please either contact the Director of Faith Formation/OCIA, Betsy Koval or call the parish office. To have your baby baptized in the Catholic Church, it is hoped that the parents are active and practicing members of the parish and of the Catholic faith. Godparents must be at least 16 years of age, have received all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation) and practice their faith. It is possible for a baptized member of a non-Catholic church to serve as a type of godparent known as a “Christian Witness” as long as they do so along with a fully initiated Catholic godparent. The role of the godparents is to assist the parents in the raising of the child in the Catholic faith. Additionally, a baptismal preparation class is required for first time parents; after that the class is not required for any subsequent children.
Baptisms will be scheduled on an individual basis. Often there will be more than one family having a child baptized on a given date. They generally take place after the 11:00am Mass on Sundays, but other arrangements can be made if necessary. There is no longer any particular week (ie, third Sunday of the month) that baptisms are performed.
To register your child for baptism or for more information about baptism for adults, please contact Betsy Koval at the parish office (517-783-2748) , or email bkoval@queenschurch.com.