Baptism

Baptism is the sacrament which celebrates and brings about liberation from Original Sin and the entrance of a person into the life with Christ and His Church.  When Jesus died and rose from the dead, he promised that we would follow him into eternal life.  Just as he died, was buried and rose again to new life, so we imitate his actions.  In Baptism, we plunge into the Paschal (Easter) mystery of his passion, death and resurrection passing over into new life in a new community of faith.

Each of us shares some responsibility for the newly baptized person.  We pledge to help them grow in the fullness of life.  The ritual of baptism is just the beginning; it presumes that there will be a continuation, a life-long journey made in the company of fellow believers.

Contact the parish office for more information on Baptism.

Initiation of Adults

An adult desiring to enter the Catholic Church is admitted into the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or “RCIA”.  This process is the modern version of the ancient way of formation for new believers.  It has four stages: 1) Inquiry, 2) Catechesis, 3) Purification and Enlightenment and 4) Mystagogia.

In the Inquiry stage, those who are interested in the Catholic Church are invited to explore how God has been working in their lives and are introduced to the community of faith.  After a period of discernment lasting no less than 6 weeks, but sometimes lasting over a year, a person may be admitted to the Catechumenate in the Rite of Acceptance.

The Catechumenate is a deliberate, sequential process where one comes to a full understanding of how the Church celebrates, educates and lives the Paschal Mystery.  This stage lasts at least 12 months so that the catechumen can fully experience the Church’s rhythm fo prayer throughout the Liturgical Year.  The catechumenate concludes with the Rite of Election.

The period of Purification and Enlightenment takes place in the weeks before the celebration of the Easter sacraments, usually during Lent.  Here through various rites celebrated at the Sunday liturgies, the Elect are intensely prepared to receive the Sacrament of Initiation by prayerful reflection and the prayers of the community.  This period usually is concluded with the joyful celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

Once initiated as a full member of the community, the neophyte enters into a year-long period of “mystagogia” where he or she continues to reflect upon the experience of the Catholic Faith as it is lived in this parish and to continue to learn more about that Faith.

Uncatechized Catholics

Sometimes, through no fault of their own, a person may have been baptized in the Faith, but never received proper instruction or formation for Confirmation and First Eucharist.  In this case, the baptized, uncatechized person may participate in a similar journey.  They man participate in the RCIA to the extent that it is beneficial to the completion of their formation in the Catholic Faith.

Those Baptized in Other Christian Traditions Who Seek Full Communion with the Catholic Church

“Those baptized persons who have lived as Christians and need only instruction in the Catholic tradition and a degree of probation within the Catholic community will not be asked to undergo a full program parallel to the chatechumenate”.  Their participation will depend on the extent to which they have led a Christian life within a community of faith.  At St. Andrew Parish we will attempt to respond to the needs of the individual as they come to us.  The length of this process is not defined; there is no offcial starting or ending date.

Baptism of Children

Baptism removes the stain of Original Sin and welcomes the child into the Parish Family.  Since parents are the first teachers of their children in the faith, having your child baptized demands responsibility on your part as parents and godparents.  As Catholic parent(s), you should be faithful members of St. Andrew Parish, regularly practice your faith and receive the sacraments frequently.  In this way, your child can see and imitate your own love of the Lord.  Baptism of infants should normally occur within 3 months of the child’s birth.

Duties of the Parents

1. The parents or at least the Catholic parent of the infant must practice the faith, be registered in the parish and be in good standing with the church
2. The parents must select godparents who have a deep faith in the Lord Jesus.  At least one of the godparents must be a confirmed, active, practicing Catholic
3. Both parents should be present at the ceremony in which the child is baptized.  However godparents may be present by proxy
4. If your child is to be baptized in another Catholic parish, permission must be obtained from the pastor before the baptism can take place

Duties of Godparents

1. At least one of the godparents must be a faithful, confirmed member of the Catholic church and be willing to carry out their responsibilities.  A non-Catholic godparent must have a respect for our beliefs and the practice of baptism
2. The godparents pledge to help support the parents in their responsibility of raising the child in the Catholic Faith by word and example
3. The Catholic godparent(s) must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation

Arranging for Your Child’s Baptism

Arrangement for a baptism should normally be made with the parish office at least 1 month in advance.

Prior to the baptism of their child, parents are required to attend a preparation class which explains the nature of baptism and its celebration here at St. Andrew Parish.  Baptism classes are held at 11:30am on the first Saturday of the month and last for about and hour and a half.

Infant baptisms are normally celebrated during or after one of the weekend liturgies.  A private ceremony may be arranged if there is sufficient reason.  For further information, please call Deacon Jim Hostman at 694.5520.

Please Note: These norms do not apply to an EMERGENCY BAPTISM when the child is in danger of death (in pericolo mortis).  In case of such an emergency any person who intends to do what the Church intends may baptize the child by pouring water over the child’s head and saying the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  It is important to notify the pastor as soon as possible so the rest of the ceremony can be supplied and the event recorded.