Baptism

For Infants to Children Age 7

 
 

You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ.  This means that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

~ Galatians 3:27

Welcome!  We are excited to be a part of your family’s relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through the Sacrament of Baptism! It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new member into the Church and into our parish community.  Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit.  As the doorway into God’s Church, Baptism enables your child to grow in holiness by receiving the other sacraments as they mature.

Are You Ready for this Awesome Journey?

As you already know so well, being a parent is both a tremendous gift and a monumental commitment.  You want to provide the absolute best for your child, ensuring that they grow and develop to their full potential.  This is as true for their material and emotional well-being as it is for their spiritual health and wholeness.

It is truly wonderful that you wish to share your faith with your child, for Jesus Himself said: “Let the children come to me.” As you embark upon the important role of bringing up your child in the Catholic faith, you undoubtedly have many questions and concerns. We would like to share with you the rich depth and beauty of what it means to be a Catholic parent. Below are a few steps to help you prepare your child’s Baptism.

Step 1: Reflect on the importance of faith in your life.

 

In preparing for your child’s Baptism, we invite you to reflect on some of these questions:

  • “What place does God have in our lives?” “What place does the Church have in our lives?”
  • “How is the practice of our faith going?”
  • “What sort of faith do we want for our children?”
  • “Where do we intend to go to church?”

 

Your answers to these questions will help direct where and when you choose to celebrate your child’s Baptism. For a Catholic, the desire to have a child baptized should indicate an acceptance of the teaching of Jesus Christ as handed on to us by the Church.  Do we have to be perfect in our faith?  The short answer, no.  We recognize that we grow in faith throughout out lives, and with that growth our acceptance and love for Christ and his Church deepens.  It’s also important to recognize that our faith in Christ is a shared faith which needs the believing community to support and nourish it.  The Church urges all Catholics to practice their faith in a particular parish family.  

 

Step 2: Make a decision about where you are in your faith, and where you want to be… and ACT on it!
 

For those who accept God’s invitation, faith promises Eternal Life! During the Baptism ceremony the parents are asked to affirm their faith. The desire of parents to have a child baptized is a witness to their love for the child. It should also give witness to their acceptance and living of the teaching of Jesus Christ as handed on to us by the Church. We will urge you to participate in Mass each week at your parish, and to lead your child to Jesus by word and example.

 

Step 3: Choose good godparents.
 

Your child must have at least one godparent, who is at least 16 years old, and a fully-initiated (baptized, confirmed and receiving Holy Communion) and practicing Catholic in good standing.  A godparent should be chosen because he/she is someone who will pray for your child, and who can help you to teach your child to be a good Catholic by word and example. While you only need one godparent, it is customary to have two, one male and one female.

 

Step 4: Contact the Church
 

If you feel ready to accept the responsibility of raising your child in the Catholic Faith we would love to help you get things started.  If you are not yet sure if this is the time for baptism, and you would like to talk with someone, please contact us through the Parish Office at info@divinemercynl.com or 709 726 9924.  We would be happy to help. 

Preparation at Divine Mercy Parish:

We offer the program Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God to those who wish to have their children baptized. The program is designed to provide parents with an incredible encounter with Jesus and with the Church. It seeks to prepare parents to have their children baptized and to win over their hearts at this important time in their lives. Parents will learn what it means to be children of God and that in the Church, they will always have a place where they belong. This program involves guided home reflection as well as at-the-church welcoming, videos and discussion, and a “run-through” session.  

Let’s get the Started:

 
Please fill our Baptism Registration e-form, found below, and submit it to us.  Once we receive it, we will put you in contact with our Baptism Team who will help prepare and schedule the baptism of your child.   For our records we will also need a copy of your child’s birth certificate.  You can bring it in to the Parish Office at your convenience or scan it and email it to us at info@divinemercynl.com 
 

How Can We Help? 

 

Let us know if you need any assistance with the registration process.  If you prefer, we are happy to set up an appointment to meet in person to guide you through the steps or answer any questions you may have about infant baptism. Please contact our parish office at info@divinemercynl.com or 709 726 9924 to begin the process. 

 

Some Common Questions:

What if we would like our child baptized at Divine Mercy Parish, but regularly attend another Parish?

It is normative to have your child baptized in the parish you regularly attend.  But there may be many reasons why you would like your child baptized in another Catholic Parish.  You might wish to go to your local parish and explain your desire.  In any case, you are more than welcome to prepare and celebrate Baptism at Divine Mercy Parish.

What if we’re not registered?
Every Catholic is called upon to assume an active and supportive role in a specific parish community. If you worship with us regularly, but have not yet registered, please fill out our online registration form or  contact the parish office.

What is a practicing Catholic?
A practicing Catholic is someone who accepts and strives to live the teaching and Commandments of Jesus Christ as handed on to us by the Catholic Church, and who regularly participates in the worship of the Church. A practicing Catholic receives the Sacraments regularly, and supports the Church through their generosity and service.

What if we’re not practicing?
We invite you to consider this a good time to become more active in your faith. A good place to start is by attending Mass – it is here that we are nourished the Word of God and sustained through the gift of Christ’s Body – the Holy Eucharist. Seeking Baptism for your child presumes that you are striving to live your faith. We would love to speak with you about any questions or hesitations you have in becoming more active in the practice of your faith.

What if one of us is not Catholic?
At least one parent of the child must be willing to guarantee that the child will be brought up in the practice of the Catholic Faith. A grandparent or legal guardian may also make this guarantee, provided that the parent is not opposed to the Baptism.

Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” We urge parents, as the first teachers of their children, to live holy lives. If your current situation prevents you from participating fully in the life of the Church, we want to help you to return to full communion. Your situation, however, will not prevent your child from being baptized, as long as you commit to do all in your power to properly form your child in the Faith.

What if my child is over 7 years old?
If your child has already reached the age of reason, it is important that he/she know what Baptism is, and consent to it. Such a child should participate in Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (R.C.I.C.) classes. Please contact the Parish Office.

Can a non-Catholic be a godparent?
A Non-Catholic can be a Christian witness to your child’s Baptism, but there must be at least one godparent who is a fully-initiated and practicing Catholic in good standing.

How many godparents can I have for my child?
There must be at least one, but there may be two: one man and one woman.

Is there anything else I need to do?
You and the godparents will need to take part in baptismal preparation, after which you may schedule the date of your child’s baptism. 

Baptism Registration Form

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