In This Issue: A Call to Serve Baptism of Children First Communion The Pew Next to You Tee-Time Serious Celebrating One Hundred Years Ago Image of the Divine Cathedral Almanac

“Through Baptism,” says the Catechism, “we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” Thus the presence of the faith community is essential to the true celebration of the sacrament. In this way the parents and godparents recognize that in raising their children in the faith, they cannot do it by themselves. There is a community that will support them and complement their efforts to teach these children how loved they are by God and what it means to be a follower of Christ.

It’s also essential for us, the parish, to understand more fully our responsibility in supporting these parents and witnessing our faith. This is why at St. James we celebrate Baptism in the context of the Sunday Mass, in the midst of the entire faith community. It helps us bring life and concreteness to the reality of what it means to be a Catholic Christian in our world today.

Parents and godparents gather on a Monday evening to learn more about the sacrament of Baptism and what it means to be Christian parents.

We gather as a welcoming community to celebrate new life in our parish. The presence of the faith community is essential to the celebration of this sacrament.

“Eavan Siobhan, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Eavan’s godparents (at left) extend their hands over her in blessing as she is baptized.

There’s always at least one “conscientious objector”!

Solaya Garcia surprises everyone by standing up in the font to be baptized!

Mom and big sister watch as little sister is baptized.

After baptism, Matthew Kress returns clothed in his white baptismal garment.

Text by Helen Oesterle. Photos by Maria Laughlin.

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