Infant Baptism

Parents, you have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

Rite of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism

            God sanctifies the person being baptized through the outpouring of his grace, which washes away all sin – original and actual – and incorporates one into the Body of Christ, the Church ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1262-1274).
Through the waters of baptism one dies and is made a new creation. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
          Through baptism one is claimed for Christ and marked with the sign of faith, making it both permanent and unrepeatable. “Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship” (CCC1280). Baptism, then, allows one access to divine life.
By making this step in their child’s life, parents make a commitment to raise their child in the Catholic faith, to instruct their child, and to participate in the sacramental life of the Church week after week. Baptism is the beginning of the journey for this child in which the faith is lived and learned and practiced both in the home and in the parish community.
          Baptism is necessary for salvation; however, baptism is no guarantee of salvation. The life of faith brought about by baptism must continue to grow and develop so that one may live in a manner worthy to be called a child of God and a member of the Body of Christ (c.f. Ephesians 4:1). For those baptized as infants, the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the time after baptism to the completion of Christian Initiation as a “post-baptismal catechumenate” (par. 1231). During this time those baptized as infants participate in faith formation and the life of the parish; they also prepare to receive the other sacraments and complete their initiation through Confirmation and First Eucharist.
 
Preparation :  The Sacrament of Baptism must be prepared for well. Consequently, the parents of an infant to be baptized and those who are to undertake the role of sponsor/godparent are to receive sufficient formation on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it prior to the celebration (Can. 851).
First time parents are to participate in a baptismal preparation session prior to the baptism of their child. Preparation sessions are scheduled as needed. Please call the parish office for more information (784-5454).
 
Sponsor/Godparent Information : A sponsor or godparent is the Church’s assurance that the person being baptized will persevere in the Catholic faith. The sponsor represents the Church as mother and teacher and guide. The sponsor must regularly participate in the sacramental life of the Church, for it is through the sacraments that faith is nourished and strengthened by God’s grace.
 
A person who does not meet all of the qualifications set forth by the law of the Church may not serve as a sponsor.
 
A person may have only one male or one female sponsor or one of each (Can. 873). In order to assume the responsibility of sponsorship a person must:

1. be designated by the parents or the pastor,
2. have the capability and intention of carrying out the responsibility of a godparent,
3. have completed the sixteenth year of age,
4. be fully initiated into the Catholic faith through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist,
5. be living a life consistent with the Catholic faith,
6. not be bound by any canonical penalty,
7. not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized (Can. 874).

 
Before a baptism can be scheduled, the following information is needed:

1. Baptismal Request Form – filled out with the pastoral associate..
2. Letter(s) of Good Standing for Godparents – for godparents who are not members of Holy Name of Jesus Parish. This document is generated by the godparent’s parish and affirms that this person meets the requirements of Can. 874 § 1. The parish may mail (89 N. 17^th Ave, Beech Grove, IN 46107) or fax (317-784-1834) the letter directly to Holy Name.

 
Baptisms are usually scheduled on Sunday mornings after the 10:30am Mass depending on the availability of the priest.