“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 commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus.  Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist.  The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.  . . .  Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin.  However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.

In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ’s call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

The Sacrament of Baptism brings a person into the family of God and makes that person a member of the Catholic Church, thereby enabling that person to enjoy the benefits of God’s grace and the Church’s Sacraments.
After Baptism a person has the life of God within. That is what we call sanctifying grace. It is important that a child be baptized shortly after birth. If possible, the child should receive the sacrament within a month or two after birth.

For adults today, the Church, after the Second Vatican Council, has restored the order of the Catechumenate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It outlines the steps for the formation of catechumens, bringing their conversion to the faith to a greater maturity. It helps them respond more deeply to God’s gracious initiative in their lives and prepares them for union with the Church community. This process is meant to form them into the fullness of the Christian life and to become disciples of Jesus, their teacher.

If there is a premature birth or if the child is sick and the baby will be in the hospital for quite some time, the child should be baptized in the hospital. At times, the child will also receive the sacrament of Confirmation. When the child is able to come home from the hospital, the ceremonies of baptism will be supplied in the church, but the water will not be poured again.
The sacrament is celebrated by the priest/deacon saying “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” while pouring water over the forehead of the person.
Parents are expected to attend an information and instruction session before the Baptism of the child. If parents have attended a Baptismal Instruction session previously, they need not attend.

GODPARENTS When selecting a godparent for Baptism, prayerful consideration should be given. The godparent is an individual who is to be a good role model to assist in the Catholic formation of the child. Both the one choosing and the one chosen should be aware of this privilege and responsibility.
The requirements for this church and, in fact, for all Catholic Churches, by virtue of Canon Law, to issue permission for someone to be a god-parent are as follows: the person must 1) be a registered and participating member of a Catholic parish; 2) attend Mass regularly on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation; 3) observe the practices of Lent; 4) witness by words and actions one’s commitment to Jesus Christ; 5) be, at least, 16 years of age and have already received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist; 6) either single or, if married, have been married in accord with Catholic Church Law; and 7) not be the parents or stepparents of the one to be baptized or confirmed.
Only one godparent is necessary for Baptism, but if two godparents are chosen, one must be a male and the other a female. The godparent(s) must be a practicing Catholic. A non-Catholic could be a Christian witness, which means that he/she is a practicing member of another Christian denomination. If someone is a member of this parish and is asked to be a godparent, that individual will need to pick up a form from the parish office and sign the form stating that he/she fulfills all the above requirements. After the form is signed, the priest will sign it and affix the parish seal. 

Times and Dates

Baptisms are normally held each Sunday after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Please call the Parish office for scheduling a baptism and for arranging a baptismal preparation class. Godparents for Baptism must be practicing Catholics, age 16 or older, have already received the Sacraments of Initiation; viz., Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist and, either single or, if married, married in accord with Catholic Church Law.

We also give all of our Baptismal parents the following sheet:

At St. Columba, when you schedule a Baptism, we request the following information:

To become a Godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism, you need to complete and return a Certificate Form which you can download here:

For more information about the Sacrament of Baptism from the USCCB, click this link.

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