In Baptism God fills us with his Holy Spirit.
In Baptism, God bridges the gap that existed between us and him. He comes close and a new relationship is born that transforms us.
Becoming Catholic
Adult Baptism
Adults (over 18) who would like to join the Church and be Baptized will need to enter a yearlong program called the RCIA. It starts up in September. Click below for more details.
Adoption into God's Family
Infant Baptism
We share your joy that you have a child and we look forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism with you and your child. We can set up a time with you for this Sacrament during one of our Weekend Masses.
Expectations of the Parents:
- Meet with the pastor for a preparation class.
- Committment to raise their child as Catholic.
- Choose Godparents. Click here for the Godparent’s Requirements or hover over the image below.
- They are at least 16 years of age.
- They are Catholic and have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
- They are a practicing Catholic who participates regularly in Sunday Mass, unless they are prevented because of work or illness, etc.
- If they are single, they are not cohabitating (living with someone to whom they are not married).
- If they are married, they are married according to the laws of the Catholic Church.
- There can be one or two Godparents.
- If there are two Godparents, one is a man and the other is a woman.
Infant Baptism Materials
In Baptism your child is becoming a member of the Church and of our St. Anthony Church family. We at St. Anthony look forward to getting to know you better. If you are not a member of our parish, you can register with our parish here.
Below are the forms to fill out. You can fill them out online or print them & bring them to the parish.
Printable Forms:
Baptism Registration Form
Godparents for Baptism Eligibility Form
Godparent for Baptism Responsibilities
Online Fillable Forms:
Theology of
Baptism
Infant Baptism:
The Catholic Church baptizes infants because we want to give our children the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as possible. We want them to begin their relationship with God from an early age. In Baptism, God makes of them a New Creation. They become adopted into God’s Family and become part of the Body of Christ.
Faith is required in Baptism. In the case of the Baptism of Infants, God accepts the faith of Parents and Godparents. This is similar to when Jesus healed the Paralytic Man because of the faith of his friends, who brought him to be healed.
Fruits of Baptism:
- Forgiveness of Sin: It washes us of Original Sin and all Personal sin.
- New Creature: We become a new creation. We die to our old nature. We become an adopted child of the Father.
- Reception of Holy Spirit: We become a Temple of the Holy Spirit.
- Incorporation into the Body of Christ: We become members of the Church—members of Christ.
- Part of Mission and Ministry of Christ: Priestly, Prophetic and Kingly.
The Water of Baptism:
Water cleanses us and gives life. Without water we die. But, it also can bring death. One can drown in water.
The water of Baptism cleanses us spiritually. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing and brings it about.
The Greek word “to baptize” means “to immerse.” The act of being immersed into the water symbolizes death and coming out of the water symbolizes rising to new life. In Baptism, we die with Christ and rise to new life with him. We die to sin and become a new creation.
Symbols of Baptism
- Water:
- As was written above, water symbolizes both death and life and also cleansing.
- The Baptized person is immersed into the water, symbolizing death. Then, they rise out of the water to new life.
- Water:
- Oil: The priest anoints the breast of the baby with the Oil of Catechumens before baptism and with Sacred Chrism on the forehead after Baptism:
- Kings (the Messiah), priests and prophets were anointed with oil (chrism—where we get the word Christ). In being anointed we become “other Christs.” (cf St. Augustine).
- Oil has been used since ancient times fo
r healing, lubrica
tion, beauty and strength.
- Light: Easter Candle: This Represents the Light of Christ:
- Candle for the Baptized Person: This represents the light of faith that is meant to burn brightly from this point on.
- Baptismal Garment:
- A sign that the person has “put on Christ”–risen to new life with Christ.
- They have become a new person.
- It is white–a sign of the Baptized person’s new purity.
- In the Liturgy, the priest says: “Bring this baptismal garment back unstained to the heavenly banquet…”
Can Baptism be Repeated?
Once Baptized, always Baptized:
- “Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated” (CCC 1280).
- As our life moves forward, we will know the joy of having Christ in our lives. We will experience the strength he can give us to overcome obstacles beyond us. We will sense him working through us and see him in others. We also will have many areas to grow in, we will need more help from the Holy Spirit, we might even stumble and have to re-commit ourseves to following Christ. But, we will not have to be Baptized again.
