Baptism cleanses us from sin, makes us children of our God our Heavenly Father, and incorporates us into the Mystical Body of Christ. It is the foundation of, and gateway to, the sacramental life.

Freedom from Sin

Baptism frees us from the bondage of Original and actual sin.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches:

"The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, 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. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ." (CCC, 1279).

Baptismal Symbols

• Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
• Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as are reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
• Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
• White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.

THE PROCESS

• We begin with the parents' initial contact with the parish to obtain an overview and begin the registration process.
• The parents attend a Baptism Preparation Session where they learn the theology of the sacrament and review the ritual so that they are adequately prepared.  This step may be waived by the pastor if the parents have already participated in the Baptismal prep and the family's other children have been baptized at our parish.
• The baptism is scheduled and takes place on the arranged date.

This process helps the parents to understand and take seriously the promises they make at baptism to raise their child in the faith of the Church, enabling the child to live as a disciple of Christ.
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When do baptisms take place? 
Baptisms for children under the age of seven are performed by the priest and celebrated with your family and friends at a mutually agreed upon date and time.  For children seven years or older, please contact the parish.
 

Do we need to be registered with the parish? 
Yes!  We want you to know what is happening in your faith community.  If you are not currently registered with the parish, you can download a form from our website. Click here for the parish registration form.  Simply complete the form, and either scan and email the completed form to [email protected], or mail your completed form to the parish, or drop it in the collection basket.
 

Do godparents need to attend the Baptism Preparation session?

No, they do not.
 

What documentation has to be completed and submitted?

In addition to the parents registering for the baptism, godparents need to provide a Sponsor Verification Form from their local parish that must be submitted to the office prior to the child’s baptism.  The form can be obtained upon request from the church where the person is currently active.
 

What is required for a person to be eligible to be a godparent? 
The role of a godparent is to support the parents in raising their child in the Catholic faith.  Only one godparent is required but in the case of an infant two may be chosen.  A child cannot have more than two godparents. A godparent must:

• Be a confirmed Catholic who faithfully participates in the liturgical life of the church.
• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Be Confirmed in the Catholic Church.
• Be designated by the parents or legal guardians.
• Not be the father or mother of the one being baptized. 
• A person who was baptized in the Catholic Church, but who has not received the Sacrament of Confirmation cannot be a Christian Witness or a godparent.

Can a non-Catholic be a godparent?
No. The godparent is someone who will participate in the faith development of the child as he/she matures and enters fully into the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Therefore, a non-Catholic cannot be a godparent.
 

What is a Christian Witness?
A Christian Witness is a baptized non-Catholic who can stand as witness to the baptism. This person has no religious responsibility for the child and is not considered a godparent by the Church. A child can never have two Christian Witnesses. They must have at least one confirmed, Catholic godparent.

In the case of two godparents, do they have to be one male and one female or can we have two people of the same gender?
Only one male and one female can be godparents. Both godparents cannot be of the same gender.
 

Do the godparents have to be present for the baptism?
Ideally, the godparents will be present to participate in the baptism ritual. If however, if one or both godparents cannot be present a proxy can stand in for the godparent. The proxy can be any adult the parents choose. The godparents will be recorded as such in the permanent records.
 

What do I need to do if I plan to have my child baptized in another parish due to family affiliation?
Contact the parish where you want to have your child baptized to learn what they require.   They may require you to attend a baptism preparation class in this parish and provide verification that you attended. They will require a letter of permission from the pastor of this parish for you to have your child baptized in another parish.
 

What do I need to do if I am from another parish and want my child baptized at Immaculate Conception Parish due to family or historical affiliation?
Contact us to begin the registration process. Contact your local parish and arrange to attend a Baptism Preparation session and provide verification that you attended. We require a letter of permission from the pastor of your local parish for you to have your child baptized in this parish.

Please contact the Parish Office to discuss or schedule a Baptism.