Baptism
Is a Celebration
The birth of a child is a precious gift and a major
step on a family's faith journey -- a journey that will be filled with
surprises as the mystery of this new life unfolds with all its uniqueness,
joys and challenges. With this birth, God is doing a new thing, creating
a family anew. With a child's baptism, the family of the Church is created
anew as well. Together as family and as Church in this particular community
of St. Perpetua, we are charged with welcoming and nourishing the life
of this child in every way -- physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
In the baptismal rite, we are reminded of our own faith commitment and
challenged to live it more fully for the sake of this child and the world.
Baptism is a family affair -- a kind of birthday party -- when parents,
family and friends, and the parish community gather to celebrate both
this child and our faith in Christ Jesus. In a single joyous celebration
baptism brings together wonderful symbols of our faith -- water, light,
oil, sacred Scripture, and the community itself. We want to make this
first sacrament of initiation a reverent, beautiful and graced experience.
So we surround this child with music and song, prayer and gesture to draw
us all into the living presence of the Spirit in whom we live and move
and have our being.
All this can happen if we prepare for baptism thoughtfully and prayerfully.
Because this sacrament is such an important moment and because it is the
first step in an on-going process of faith-filled living, we ask parents
to join us in preparing for this celebration, to use the weeks before
the child's baptism to explore the meaning of this event for them and
their child.
Why
a Special Preparation for This Baptism?
Just as you prepared lovingly and carefully
for the arrival of your child, it is equally important to prepare yourself
to help your child live his or her life as God's son or daughter. Every
child deserves this kind of care and special attention, even if there
are other baptized children in the family. With this new arrival, family
circumstances and relationships as well as your own faith journey will
change, and that is cause for reflection.
Throughout the history of our Church, the practice of preparing for baptism
has ranged from no preparation at all to years of instructions for catechumens.
Vatican Council II separated the celebration of baptism into two different
rites -- one for adults and children ages seven and older, usually celebrated
at the Easter Vigil, and one for children under age seven. Baptism has
always been understood to initiate each person into a personal relationship
with God that brings salvation. The new rite visibly reaffirms an ancient,
deeply held understanding that baptism also brings us into membership
in the Church, the community of believers that mediates and forms that
relationship.
For a child, the most important faith community is the family where he
or she first experiences love and begins to understand God's unconditional
love. In the baptismal rite, parents make a faith commitment on behalf
of their child and promise to help the child's faith grow. The Church
promises to be present to and for the child as together we learn to be
disciples of Jesus. This is why we now prepare for and celebrate baptism
as a total faith community instead of having private baptisms.
Preparing for Baptism in St. Perpetua Parish
Baptismal preparation at St. Perpetua involves five
simple steps: a welcome meeting with a member of the pastoral staff, your
personal reading and reflection about the sacrament, an evening session
of prayer, input and discussion; participation in a brief rehearsal for
the celebration of the sacrament, and the baptism itself.
1. Welcome Meeting: Three
to four months before the desired date of baptism, contact the rectory
(283-0272) to schedule a welcome meeting with a member of the pastoral
staff. In this meeting the baptism preparation process will be explained,
any questions or concerns will be addressed, and the baptismal registration
form will be completed.
2. Personal Reading and Reflection: At
the initial meeting you will be given the booklet "Your Child’s
Baptism." Please read it and use the reflection questions found throughout
the booklet.
3. Evening Preparation Session:
This session is intended to help parents explore and deepen their understanding
of this sacrament, life in the Church and Christian parenting. The session,
led by a team of parish couples with a member of the pastoral staff, provides
an opportunity to create a small faith community where parents can get
to know and be supported by other parents in the parish who share the
same faith and face the same parenting challenges.
4. Brief Rehearsal: This
takes place 30 minutes before the celebration of the rite of baptism.
Parents and sponsors (if possible) should be present.
5. Rite of Baptism:
After new parents have completed their preparation, they and their families
and friends join with the parish community for the rite of baptism at
one of the weekend liturgies.
When Do Baptisms Take Place at St. Perpetua?
Baptisms take place at St. Perpetua Church generally
during one of the weekend liturgies. These ceremonies usually include
more than one family. Dates and times can be arranged either at the welcome
meeting, at the evening preparation session or afterwards by calling the
parish office.
Because the whole community prepares during Lent for the Easter sacraments
of initiation and the renewal of baptismal promises, we
do not baptize during Lent.
May We Take Pictures at the Baptism?
The key word here is "unobtrusive." This
is a special occasion that you want to remember for many years to come.
But the baptism should be memorable first as a powerful worship experience.
Although cameras are welcome before and after, picture taking is not allowed
during the ceremony so that the rite itself is not disturbed. The presider
will be happy to participate in picture taking and will help in any way
he can to make this event a real celebration. The ceremony may be videotaped
without special lights from a stationary position out of the sight lines
of the assembly.
What About Godparents?
Your family is the primary place where your child's
faith will be nourished. Godparents are a sign of the community's support
and care for this child and your family as you begin this journey of faith
together. Canon Law requires each child who is baptized to have a sponsor
(#872). One sponsor is enough; there may be two. Godparents should be
"people of firm faith and committed love." Usually they should
be 16 years or older and confirmed members of the Church. Parents may
ask a baptized and believing Christian who is not a Catholic to be a godparent
along with a Catholic godparent. If you select godparents who live a great
distance away, they need not be present at the baptism. You may have a
proxy stand in for the official godparents. More godparents may be included
in the ceremony, but only two will be placed in the church's baptismal
register as official godparents.
Clothing With the White Garment
Can anything be newer than a new baby can? Yes!
The newly baptized who have put on Christ! In Christ, new life is victorious
over sin and death. The white garment that you so carefully prepare for
your child is the garment of the kingdom, of all the saints assembled
before God's throne (Revelation 7:9-10). Together with your spouse and
the godparents, you will help dress your child in the baptismal robe you
have prepared. Perhaps it's a family heirloom. Perhaps it was crafted
for you by a dear friend. Now that your child has "put on Christ,"
the white robe announces celebration, festivity, and the fullness of life
lived in the spirit of Christ. The white robe is the special garment of
the baptized. Perhaps you recognize it from other occasions: the alb worn
by priests or lay ministers, or young people being confirmed or receiving
first communion. The white pall placed over the coffin at a funeral is
a reminder of the white garment received at baptism.
May We Have Guests at the Baptism?
This is a day of great celebration so you are encouraged
to invite relatives and friends to share your joy and welcome your child
into the community. It is helpful for us to know an approximate number
of guests in advance, so that we can arrange seating for you.
Offerings
Although there is no set fee, it is customary on
the occasion of a baptism to make an offering to the church to help support
parish ministries, such as the baptismal preparation program. A typical
offering would be $25 to $50. Checks are made payable to St. Perpetua
Church, not to the priest performing the rite.
Special Circumstances
If you do not presently live in Lafayette and wish
to have your child baptized at St. Perpetua, you must have a letter from
the pastor of the parish where you live giving permission for the baptism
to take place at St. Perpetua.
A priest assigned to St. Perpetua usually presides at baptisms celebrated
here. If you wish to have a visiting priest or deacon baptize your child,
you should discuss this well in advance with our pastor. If it is appropriate
for a visitor to preside or participate, the pastor will communicate with
him about our parish procedures and provide the necessary delegation.
Reminders for Baptism Ceremony
* bring bottle for infant; soft toy for toddler
* reserved seating will allow you access to the hall where you can walk
your infant or older sibling(s) who is crying or needing to be pacified
* parents not godparents hold infant during baptism (older children step
on platform)
* remove and leave bonnet/cap in pew before baptism
Outline for Infant Baptism during Sunday Liturgy
(parents, godparents and child to be baptized gather
in the back of the church)
Rite of Gathering
- welcome by presider
- What name have you given your child? parents respond
- What do you ask of God’s church?
- brief response by parents
- Sign of the Cross: presider claims child
for Christ by tracing cross on child’s forehead,
parents and godparents do the same
- procession (Gathering Song):
1.
cross 2. servers 3. Lectionary
4.
parents, godparents, child 5. presider
(parents,
godparents, child go directly to reserved pew)
Liturgy of the Word
- Scripture readings, homily
Rite of Baptism
- procession to baptismal font during Litany of
Saints
- blessing over baptismal water
- renunciation of sin and profession of faith
- baptism and anointing
- clothing with white garment and lighted candle
- return to reserved pew for Prayers of the Faithful
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Preparation of the altar and the gifts
- Eucharistic Prayer
- Lord’s Prayer, Sign of Peace
- Communion
Concluding Rite
- parents and infant come before the altar for blessing
- parents and infant join recessional with presider
- parents gather outside church so parishioners can personally welcome
them.