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Baptism -
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We congratulate all parents and guardians on the gift of their children!
We welcome all seeking to pass on the Faith to their children, and look forward to rejoicing with you on the day of their entrance into our family.
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Baptism is...
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Dying to a life
of sin
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Rising to new life
in the Spirit
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Adoption as a
child of God
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Entrance into the
Church
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"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission..."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1231
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The Baptism of Children
at Church of the Holy Family
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The Role of Parents/Guardians
For children baptized into the Catholic Church under the age of reason (see below, typically approached near the age of seven), parents/guardians play an especially important role in the reception of the sacrament. Because the child cannot profess the faith themselves, it is the parents/guardians who profess the faith in which they intend their child to be brought up. During the Rite of Baptism, they affirm their understanding of the responsibility that they are undertaking, to raise their child in the practice of our Catholic faith.
It is therefore a fittingly beautiful time for parents/guardians to spiritually reflect on and deepen the nature of their relationship with the Faith, the Church, and Christ Himself.
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1. Formally Inquire About Baptism
Canon law obliges parents to "take care that children are baptized in the first few weeks" (Can. 867 §1). Ideally, therefore, expectant parents will submit the Baptism Inquiry Form around the sixth month of pregnancy, in order to complete sacramental preparation before the child's arrival.
At the same time, Holy Family acknowledges that many situations can lead to inquiry about Baptism for a significantly older child! "Infant Baptism" can be joyfully celebrated for a child up until their seventh birthday. From the age of seven onwards, individuals are welcomed into the Catholic Church through RCIA (see below).
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2. Meet with the Baptism Coordinator
Our Baptism Coordinator looks forward to meeting with you! Please bring any questions you may have to this social and informational meeting. Required documents and scheduling of the sacrament will be discussed at this time.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to review the qualifications of suitable godparents (below) before the meeting, but are lovingly entreated to refrain from approaching potential choices until afterwards.
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3. Complete an
Online Program*The self-paced Belonging course by Ascension Press consists of six videos and their accompanying discussion questions and checks for understanding. *The course is not required for those who have received Baptism preparation in the past three years.
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4. Attend a Follow-Up Group Session
This meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect collaboratively on the content of the Belonging course and to walk through the Rite of Baptism, diving deeply into the richness of this beautiful sacrament. Sessions are scheduled on weeknights from 6-8pm, approximately three weeks before Baptisms. They are mandatory for parents and highly encouraged for godparents.
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5. Celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism!
Joy of joys! The Body of Christ rejoices in welcoming your child! The Baptism Coordinator will meet you thirty minutes beforehand to conduct a final walkthrough in the worship space. Afterwards, photographs and the requests for the blessing of sacramentals are warmly welcomed.
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Godparents
Discerning a Gift for Your Child
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A godparent is a hand-selected gift to your child, specializing in one specific area.
There will be many people, friends and family, that you will welcome into your child's life, and surely you hope that all of them will love and support him or her in various ways! Among all of these relationships, the godparent has a very particular one. The godparent is the one whom you have designated to support you in your duty to "[train] them in the practice of the faith," and in the Rite of Baptism they solemnly affirm their readiness to do so. Given this responsibility, the Catechism teaches that godparents "must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized child...on the road of Christian life" (CCC 1255).
The Diocese of Richmond's Instructions for Infant Baptism states that, "In choosing a person to serve as godparent, parents should carefully consider his (her) capacity to provide this help." Godparents help their godchildren to lead Christian lives through word and example. They demonstrate what it means to practice our Catholic faith in a particular time and in a particular society. When discerning between potential choices, parents/guardians might ask themselves: Do I believe this person could speak with my child and give them advice to support and guide them in spiritual matters? If my child grew up to follow the example he or she is setting by the way they live today, would they be truly living out their Catholic faith daily?
Interesting in thinking more deeply about what it means to be a "practicing Catholic?" Check out Father Mike Schmitz's video here.
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Recognizing that godparents help lead children in the practice of the faith by both word and example, the Church identifies certain qualities that will be held by individuals suitable for the role.
"In order to be a godparent, according to Church law, a person must:- Be at least 16 years old (A pastor may grant an exception to the age requirement for a just cause.)
- Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist..."
- "Not be bound by a canonical penalty
- Be leading a life of faith befitting the role to be undertaken (for example, regularly attending Sunday Mass; if married, be in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church)
- Not be a parent of the child"
For Baptisms celebrated in the Diocese of Richmond, godparents are required to sign the diocesan Godparent Attestation Form in the presence of the pastor at their current parish (or his delegate). Godparents, in signing this form, swear to their eligibility to serve in this role and their willingness to assume the responsibility of it. The pastor/delegate's role is to ensure that the individual understands the Church's requirements before signing and to witness the signature.
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How many godparents can/must we have?
Insofar as possible, those being baptized are to be given at least one godparent. At most, only two godparents can be recorded, one male and one female.
Does the godparent have to be present for the Baptism?
If a godparent cannot be present for the Rite of Baptism itself, a proxy may stand in for them. This individual need not meet the requirements of a Catholic godparent, but must be at least 14 years old and must positively know what the response of the godparent would be to the questions asked of them during the rite so as to provide them in his or her stead.
What if we don't know anyone who meets all of the qualifications?
Not to worry! We will be happy to help you find someone befitting of the role. This need never be a deterrent to seeking Baptism!
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Upcoming Baptism Mass DatesBaptisms are typically scheduled on set dates each month (next three below).
Special circumstances may be discussed with the Baptism Coordinator.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Friday, December 13, 2024
Sunday, January 12, 2025 -
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From the age of reason onwards, children and youth are considered “adults” when it comes to the reception of the sacraments. At this point, they are able to distinguish right from wrong and take personal responsibility for their sins. They are also able to make the Baptism Rite's profession of faith for themselves, responding in faith to God's initiative in their lives.
Non-baptized persons who are determined to have attained the use of reason enter the Catholic Church through the process of RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Having the use of reason, these individuals receive all three Sacraments of Initiation by the end of the process, no matter their age. These are the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
In order to determine if a non-baptized person ought to enter the Church via the path of Infant Baptism or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, non-baptized persons approaching the age of seven will be interviewed by staff in the presence of a parent or guardian to discern if the use of reason has been attained. The Church presumes, in most cases, that the age of reason has been reached by the 7th birthday.
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Inquire About RCIA
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For Children
(Age of Reason - 5th Grade)
Michelle De Rubertis
Early Childhood Coordinator
757-384-2727
[email protected]
&
Marie Wolanin
Christian Formation K-5 Coordinator
757-937-6712
[email protected]
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For Youth
(Middle & High School)
Michelle De Rubertis
Early Childhood Coordinator
757-384-2727
[email protected]
&
Abby Causey
Director of Evangelization and Communication Technology
757-937-8144
[email protected]
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For Adults
(Post-High School)
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commaned you."Matthew: 28:19-20
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