Baptism - St. Raymond Catholic Parish

Baptism

We welcome you to St. Raymond's Pre-Baptismal Program!

The Lord has blessed you and the Parish Community with a beautiful gift - your child - the visible sign of your love for each other. You have played an important part in God's plan of creation, and with him have given life to a new member of his family. What more beautiful way can we welcome your child into God's family than through the sacrament of baptism.

The new rite of baptism for children puts emphasis on the role of parents in baptism, and on the preparation that should be a part of the celebration of this sacrament. The Introduction to the Rite states:

"...it is of great importance for the baptism that parents moved by their own faith, and other members of the community, should prepare to take part in the rite with understanding...

It is the duty of the priest to prepare families for the baptism of their children and to help them in the task of Christian formation which they have undertaken.

It is the duty of the bishop to coordinate such pastoral efforts in the diocese, with the help of deacons and lay people.

The Introduction to the Rite points out that the importance of the sacrament makes some preparation a necessary element for all involved. As parents, we prepare long and well for the arrival of our children. Now we need to prepare ourselves to help them for the life they will lead as children of God - the lifelong commitment of Catholic Christians."

Through the pre-baptismal program at St. Raymond's, we hope to deepen your understanding of the sacrament of baptism and make you ever more aware of the importance this sacrament plays in your life as a family of God. We will also begin to form a basic Christian community with one another and develop a sense of celebration about your child's baptism.

Steps to Prepare for Baptism

Come to the parish office any weekday during regular office hours to schedule a baptism and baptismal class.
Return the registration form as soon as possible. Priority is given to active, registered parishioners. Parishioners who are registered and have been active in the parish for at least three months may schedule the pre baptismal class and schedule the date for the baptism. Persons seeking baptism for their children who are NOT registered, attending members of our parish must register in the parish, and be actively attending for three months prior to requesting a baptism.
Attend the pre-baptismal sessions you've registered for.

Celebration of Baptism

The parish community of St. Raymond's celebrates the sacrament of baptism for children on the second weekend of the month at the following masses: Saturday 5:00pm and 7:00pm (Spanish Mass), Sunday at the 12:00pm Mass and at 1:30pm. The schedule may deviate slightly during special periods during the liturgical year such as Lent. As a general rule, we do not schedule private baptisms.

General Information:

PICTURES may NOT be taken during the ceremony. We ask you to do nothing that would disturb the atmosphere of prayer during this sacred rite. There will be opportunity for pictures after the Mass.

FOR AN OFFERING, we receive offerings anywhere from $50-$500. Checks are made payable to St. Raymond, not to the priest performing the baptism.

GODPARENT'S GUIDELINES

You are only required to have one godparent for your child's baptism. However, it is customary to have two (one female and one male). At least one of these godparents must be a practicing Catholic, having received baptism, first eucharist, and confirmation. If you select godparents who live a great distance away, they do not have to be present at the baptism. You may have a proxy fill in for the official godparents.

There is no limit to the number of people you may invite to your child's baptism. You are encouraged to invite relatives and friends to share your joy and welcome your child into our Christian community.

ATTENTION PARENTS!

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