Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist are the three sacraments comprising the Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church. To understand the unity, you can think about these three sacraments in terms of the Holy Trinity, three Divine Persons in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the Sacraments of Initiation reveal one of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.
Baptism is always the first sacrament to be received and reveals God the Father. It signifies the removal of the stain of original sin from Adam and Eve, entry into the Church as a son or daughter of God the Father, establishing divine life into our souls to be nurtured through the other sacraments. Baptism is a sacrament that is received only once.
Jesus Himself was baptized by John the Baptist, not that He needed to be cleansed. By engaging in baptism, He Himself cleansed the water by which we too could be cleansed and begin our journey back to God and eternal life. Jesus taught, No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of 'Water' and 'Spirit' (Jn 3:5).
For those seeking baptism of their children at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. . . .
First, congratulations on your newest member of the family - children are such a blessing! Second, we are thrilled that you wish to have your baby baptized in our Catholic church community. Below are details to help you get started with planning your baby's baptism with us.
Baptisms occur on the fourth Sunday of each month, immediately following the 10:00 am mass, and by special request.
Parents are encouraged to begin baptismal planning soon after their baby's birth to facilitate effective preparation, such as selecting Godparents, completing a baptismal seminar, and acquiring and preparing required documents. Parents must contact the Parish Office at least three (3) weeks prior to their baby's baptism to make arrangements and complete the required paperwork and preparation processes. Contacting the Parish Office earlier and providing a longer lead time is appreciated.
Both parents and Godparents are required to attend a Deanery Baptismal Seminar prior to the Sacrament of Baptism. Availability of upcoming seminars can be found in our weekly Church Bulletin, on our Church parish website calendar (see News-Events page), and by contacting our Parish Office.
To get started with planning your baby's baptism, click the link below for the Baptismal Planning packet. It includes an outline of requirements, guidelines, and the required forms to be completed and submitted when making initial contact with the Parish Office (985-497-3412, [email protected]). After reviewing these documents, parents are encouraged to contact the Parish Office when questions arise and assistance is needed.
Click here:
Baptismal Planning Packet