Call the Rectory Office for information at least one month in advance.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is the Sacrament by which one is freed of original sin and brought into the life of the Church by becoming a member of the Body of Christ.

Preparing for Baptism

If you have a child under seven years of age, including newborns, your child may be baptized directly by a priest or deacon. Baptism is the Sacrament by which one is freed of original sin and brought into the life of the Church. When you are preparing a child for baptism, the consent of both mother and father is required. The mother and father will select a man and a woman to act as the child's godmother and godfather. At least one of the godparents must be a practicing Catholic (having had all of the Sacraments of Initiation, and if married, is married in the Church). The other godparent may be a Christian of any denomination, as long as they are baptized. This is because the godparents will answer the questions on behalf of the child, such as: Do I believe in God? Do I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the Resurrection of the Body? They must have this faith themselves, that they might be able to communicate these beliefs to children. 

If you are an adult and would like to prepare for baptism, the ordinary course for receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). If you have a child over the age of seven but not more than 18 years of age, that child would go through either St. Mel’s Religious Education program or participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for Children (RCIC).