What
is Baptism?
”Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in
the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through
Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members
of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission:
Baptism is a sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.” (Catechism
1213) Through baptism, we become part of the royal, priestly people of God,
called to holy lives of prayer and service.
At St. James,
the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated communally, in the context of the Sunday
Eucharist. As the great poet and Anglican divine John Donne wrote, “The church
is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does belongs to
all. When she baptizes a child, that action concerns me; for that child is
thereby connected to that head which is my head too, and engrafted into the body
whereof I am a member.”
Baptism
of Young Children (0-6 years)
We celebrate baptisms of young children monthly
at one of our weekend Masses (view
the schedule here). First time parents/guardians are asked to
participate in a Baptism Preparation Class to update their understanding of
baptism, the important responsibilities of Christian parenting, and learn more
about the many ways our parish supports families. All families and godparents
are then asked to participate in a seminar the Saturday morning prior to the
actual celebration. This seminar will, in a prayerful setting, review the
primary prayers of the celebration, celebrate the Welcoming Rite with the
anointing with the Oil of Catechumen, and review the practical details for the
actual celebration.
To schedule an initial
interview and reserve a date for your child’s baptism, please contact Theresa
Van de Ven.
Commonly Asked Questions
Are there any requirements in order to have my child baptized at St. James
Cathedral?
Parents/Guardians are required to be a registered
parishioner here or have a personal connection with a registered parishioner
(i.e. grandparents are members of the parish). If a family is a member of
another parish, a letter must be received from their own parish granting
permission for the baptism indicating that they are registered and have
participated in that parish’s baptism preparation class.
Who can be a godparent?
Church law requires that there is at least one godparent for the child
baptized. Godparents need to be active, practicing and confirmed Catholics at
least 16 years in age. Godparents need to submit written proof of registration
from their parish.
Can a non-Catholic be a godparent?
No, only a Catholic can be a godparent because they are asked to promise to
help support raising the child in the Catholic faith. A non-Catholic Christian
can witness the baptism as long as there is one Catholic godparent. A
non-baptized person cannot be a godparent or witness.
What if the godparents can’t come to the actual celebration?
You can have a proxy stand in for the godparent(s). Please let the staff
know so they can record the name of the proxy on the certificate.
Can I schedule a private baptism?
No, unless there is an exceptional circumstance. Baptism celebrates the
initiation of the child into the parish community and it is very important that
the community is present at the time of the celebration.
To schedule an initial
interview and reserve a date for your child’s baptism, please contact Theresa
Van de Ven.
