"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..." (Mt. 28:19)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.'" (Jn. 3:3-7)

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: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."

The Baptism of Adults
Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new. The catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.

The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community. The catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher. The catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites."

Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity.""With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces them as her own."

The Baptism of Infants
Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.

Christian parents will recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them.

The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.

Faith and Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" The response is: "Faith!"

For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism.

The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite. Immersion in water symbolizes not only death and purification, but also regeneration and renewal. Thus the two principal effects are purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit.

For the forgiveness of sins . . .
By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.

"A new creature"
Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature," member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ
Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore . . . we are members one of another." Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."

The sacramental bond of the unity of Christians
Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church.

An indelible spiritual mark . . .
Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ.

The Sacrament of Baptism

at St. Joseph Parish

The celebration of infant Baptism is not a private family matter, but rather a community celebration that involves the whole family of God. As such, St. Joseph Parish offers Baptisms only during the Saturday/Sunday Liturgies throughout the year. As your child enters into the family of God, the whole parish community will support and welcome him/her into this new life of faith.

Ideally, preparation for a child's baptism should begin before the child is born or as soon as the adopiton process has begun, but it is never too late to begin. Preparation includes an interview with the parish staff coordinator for Baptisms, attending the required Baptism Preparation classes for parents and godparents and completing all required paperwork.

Listed below are the currently scheduled dates for both Baptism Preparation Classes and Baptism weekends. Once all of the class and paperwork requirements are completed and returned to the office, then a Baptismal date and time will be scheduled. All paperwork must be returned to the office no less than two weeks preceding the Baptism.
 

Dates of Baptism Preparation Classes at St. Joseph:

Classes are held on either Saturday mornings, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or Sunday afternoons, 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the St. Teresa/St. Francis Rooms in Marian Hall.

June 2, 2012
July 15, 2012
August 19, 2012
September 16, 2012 

Baptism Weekends:

Baptisms take place during our weekend Mass times (Saturday 5:00 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12 noon and 5:30 p.m.) with a limit of six families per Mass.

June 23/24, 2012
July 28/29, 2012
September 22/23, 2012
 

Other Info on Baptisms

(Forms are available as pdf files. Download Adobe Reader here.)

It is required that all the baptismal forms (baptism request information sheet, child's information form, godparent's commitment papers ) are completed, and a copy of ·the child's state birth certificate are in the office no less than two weeks prior to baptism.

§······· Have the child completely dressed in his/her baptismal garment prior to arriving at the church.

§······· Be at the church at least than twenty minutes before the baptism for procedural instructions.

§······· Please take the baptismal certificate and candle home.

• At St. Joseph Catholic parish, the parents and godparents are required to have completed a class on the sacrament of baptism, its meaning, and celebration. A written statement from another parish indicating that you have completed their baptism preparation within the past five years may waive this requirement. Baptism classes at St. Joseph are offered several times per year.

• The role of the godparents is to represent the larger Church community, to continually support the parents' Christian way of life, and to be examples of faith-sharers for the child. Godparents are to be active, practicing Catholics who have completed the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist). The Godparent's commitment form must be fully completed and signed. Godparents are to read and complete the Godparent Form in the presence of the pastor or parish representative of the Catholic Church where they are registered parishioners. Only two names, a godfather and a godmother, will be recorded in the parish book. One Godparent is sufficient to meet the requirement.

• Child's Birth Certificate: The certificate issued by the state is the requirement. However, if you haven't received this certificate two weeks prior to the baptism, the form issued by the hospital with all the information filled out, including mother's maiden name, will be accepted.

• We ask that in your planning for baptism you will consider a donation to the Church. And if you want to make an offering to the priest, please do it personally. Thank you.

Please contact Tracy Joy at 360-823-2833 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register for the Baptism Preparation Classes and if you have any questions about the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism at St. Joseph Parish.