INFANT BAPTISM TEAM
And
because you. . . have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.
(Galatians 4:6)
Reality Check
Here
you are, joyfully awaiting the birth of your child, and you begin
realizing that this awesome event catapults you into a world of
vaccinations and potty training, ABC’s and multiplication tables,
soccer practice and piano lessons, drivers exams and dating and the SAT.
Huge responsibilities, all of them.
Fortunately, parents can find help and advice for virtually
everything that comes along.
Above
and beyond all of these, however, as your child’s primary teacher,
you have the most important responsibility of all: introducing your
child to God, the Creator of the universe, and helping your child to
know and love Jesus, our brother. A baby is not just a cute little
bundle of body and intellect; a baby is God’s beloved, unique
creation, whose immortal soul is destined to live forever. The most
important thing you ever do in this life is to instill this awareness
and nurture in your child a loving response to God’s love for us.
Your
Child’s Baptism
One
of the first steps is preparing for your child’s baptism. Yes,
preparing. Some parents think of baptism as little more than an
occasion for photos and a party. Some want their child baptized because
their own parents are insisting. Some even have the superstitious
notion that babies must be baptized to ensure that, if the child should
die, he/she won’t go to hell or to a fictional place called limbo.
All of those reasons are superficial nonsense and theologically
wrong. The sacrament of baptism initiates your child into God’s
family, a growing relationship that lasts forever. It is infinitely more
than simply a photo opportunity or a burdensome obligation.
At
Our Lady of Refuge, like all other parishes in this Archdiocese, the
parents and godparents of infants or young children who are to be
baptized are required to attend a preparation course conducted by our
trained Infant Baptism Team. The course consists of one Sunday afternoon
session, lasting three hours. The presentation focuses on the meaning
and symbols of baptism, the ways in which parents and godparents can
teach their new child about God’s love, ideas for nurturing family
prayer and faith traditions, and an overview of what will happen during
the baptism itself. Both
parents and both godparents must attend.
Godparents living at a distance may take the class in their own
parishes and forward certificates of completion to our office prior to
the baptismal date. In
addition, those who provide documentation that they have participated in
the course within the past two years are exempted!
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If
you wish to schedule your child’s baptism and your preparation
course, please contact:
Office of Religious Education
(562)
597-3102
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If
you would like to become involved as part of the presenting Team
in this important ministry,
please contact:
(562)
597-3102
E-Mail: Liturgy |
Links
If you want to learn more
about the Sacrament of Baptism, click on the following links.
MINISTRY GROUPS
