Sacraments

Baptism Guidelines

Congratulations! God has blessed you with the gift of new life and now you are inquiring into baptizing your child in the Catholic Church. Your parish community celebrates with you and wants to help you prepare fully and well for this most important event in the life of your child and your family.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that: "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 in the Church and made sharers in her mission?." [No. 1213]

So baptism is, then, first and most importantly one of the sacraments of initiation, whereby a person becomes a member of the Christian community. (The other two sacraments of initiation are Confirmation and Eucharist.) In baptism, your child becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ and a part of the body of Christ, the church. And the church, likewise, is enriched with the gift of a new believer.

Important Information about the Rite of Baptism for Children

Role of Parents

In the rite of baptism, parents are asked whether they understand that their role and their duty is to bring their child up to keep God's commandments as taught by Jesus Christ. This presumes that at least one parent is a practicing member of the Catholic Church, regularly worshiping and receiving the Eucharist, and committed to sharing that faith with the child to be baptized.

Requesting baptism for a child confers on the parents a serious responsibility to follow through in raising the child as a Catholic person, sharing their own faith, insuring that the sacraments of initiation (Confirmation and Eucharist) are received, and acting as good models of mature Catholic faith.

Role of Godparents

Ideally, godparents will play an important and life-long role in the life of the child. Therefore, they should be chosen with care. The church requires only one godparent of either gender. If two godparents are selected, they must be of different genders. Godparents must be baptized, confirmed Catholics who have received the Eucharist. Godparents must be at least 16 years old and must lead a life "in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." [Code of Canon Law, No. 874]

A baptized person not of the Catholic faith may act as a witness along with a Catholic godparent.

Ideally, the one who serves as a godparent at baptism will also act as the child's confirmation sponsor later on. This also suggests the importance of choosing godparents thoughtfully and prayerfully and with an eye toward the future.

Baptism of Older Children

The celebration of baptism for older children (who are no longer infants) is scheduled on a case-by-case basis, ensuring proper catechesis for the child to be baptized, as well as parents and godparents. For information, please call the Parish Office at (248) 446-8700.

Parish Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism

Because of the importance of the sacrament of baptism and the commitment it requires of parents, all parents are expected to participate in the baptism preparation offered by Saint Joseph Parish. Godparents are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The class consists of one session, usually offered on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.

The evening of preparation will provide important information on the sacraments, baptism, the rite of baptism and sharing faith with children.

Please find a sitter for the children.

Dates and Times for the Celebration

Infant baptism is normally celebrated at Saint Joseph Parish on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, following the Noon Mass. Because of holidays or occasional conflicts, the schedule may be adjusted. The Parish Office can confirm a date with you.

The Record of Baptism

The record of your child's baptism will be kept permanently at Saint Joseph Parish. In the future you may request a copy of the record for sacramental purposes by calling the Parish Office.

Subsequently received sacraments (First Communion, confirmation, marriage) are also recorded at the parish of baptism.

Making Changes in the Baptismal Record

In most cases changes may not be made to a baptismal (or other sacramental) record, such as a desire by parents to change the godparents at some time after the baptism. Sacramental records preserve and describe an event at a moment in time and ordinarily may not be altered in any way.

Order of Service in the Rite of Baptism for Children

The celebration of infant baptism follows this order of service:

Reception of the Children

Celebration of God's Word

Celebration of the Sacrament

Blessing of the Baptismal Water

Renunciation of Sin, Profession of Faith

Baptism

Anointing with Christ

Clothing with the Baptismal Garment

Lighting of the Baptismal Candle

Prayer over the Ears and Mouth

Conclusion of the Rite

At Saint Joseph Parish, the celebration begins in the church proper, moves to the gathering space around the baptismal font for the pouring of water and associated rites, and then returns to the church for the concluding rites. Family members and friends are encouraged to participate fully in the celebration of the sacrament by singing, making the responses and by being actively engaged in the rite.

Baptism and Marriage

The birth of a child and preparation for baptism is often a time when parents reflect on the deeper values in life. For couples who were married outside the church (whose marriages were not witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon), the baptism of a child presents an opportunity to have their marriage convalidated (blessed) by the church. In some cases, an annulment for a previous marriage may be necessary before the convalidation can take place.

The Catholic Update is available from the Parish Office, entitled: Bringing Your Marriage Into the Church. It will provide you with excellent information and anticipate some of your questions.

A member of the parish staff will be happy to talk to you about your specific situation and help you with the process of convalidation (and an annulment, if necessary).

A Sacrament is an outward sign of an invisible reality – that is, something we cannot see. The invisible reality of a sacrament is God’s presence and action. Here are important things to know about sacraments:

• Sacraments are grace, a sharing in God’s own life and friendship.

• The sacraments are actions of God and the Church.

• God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are always at work in the sacraments.

• Sacraments are communal, meant to be celebrated and shared with all the faithful.

Implementation

1. Catechesis for the celebration and reception for First Eucharist includes instruction in the symbols and parts of the Mass that lead the children to an active participation in the Eucharistic celebration.

2. The parish offers catechesis to parents who have children preparing for the celebration and reception of First Eucharist. Parental catechesis assists parents in fulfilling the primary role for nurturing the faith of their children.

3. The pastor determines whether a child is sufficiently prepared and has the right intention for the celebration and reception of First Eucharist.

4. Since the Sacrament of the Eucharist is an integral part of the initiation process, verification of the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism is to be obtained and a record of the First Eucharist is to be kept in the parish of reception.

The basic understanding that a child needs to know is that the bread and wine do indeed become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Transubstantiation) and that Jesus Christ is truly present within us.

Second, the child must be sufficiently prepared to receive the Eucharist with appropriate respect and reverence.

Preparation includes the following expectations, so that your child will be spiritually prepared to receive the Holy Eucharist:

• It is reasonable to expect that your child has been participating in Sunday Liturgy, on a regular basis.

• It is reasonable to expect that your child has been participating in the religious formation program, and will continue to do so.

• It is reasonable to expect that your child is beginning to know the responses and the prayers of the liturgy, in particular, the Our Father, the Holy, Holy, Holy acclamation, the memorial acclamation, and the Great Amen.

• It is reasonable to expect that prayer is a part of your child’s life and is experienced within the family as well as within the church community.

• It is reasonable to expect that your child has the capacity for reverence that is necessary for sharing in the Eucharist.

• It is reasonable to expect that your child understands that when we receive Holy Communion, we are to try and become more like Jesus in the way we treat people and our willingness to share and be of service to others.

For more information, please call the Parish Office at (248) 446-8700.

First Eucharist Photography

​Parents, family, and friends are welcome to take photographs and video from your spot in the pews, but we ask that you do not approach the altar to avoid interfering with the rite.

Prints and pictures from previous ceremonies are available on the Photographer's website.

Initiation, Not Graduation

Confirmation is meant to be a “new” beginning for our involvement in a life of faith and community. Unfortunately, all too often it becomes a rite of exit.

​So, parents who make “deals” with their children that once they are confirmed they don’t have to participate in church or religious formation are doing their child(ren) a great disservice.

We understand that at this stage of adolescence there are a series of disagreements, questions – even battles – over values; but if we do not continue to emphasize the importance of a faith life and faith community once they are confirmed, then our children will be hard pressed to want to make it a priority on their own.

Community

It is important to belong, and it is necessary for young people to realize their Confirmation gives them a special status and role in the parish community and the whole Church.

It is necessary, also, to help the parish to recognize their part in Confirmation preparation. The parish of committed adults helps young people better understand Christian community and the beliefs passed on to succeeding generations through the community. Presentation of the candidates during Sunday liturgies, Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Election, prayer for these young people during their preparation, and Sunday homilies about community involvement will strengthen the bonds between candidates and parish.

Prayer and Worship

Helping young people to pray and build a deep and lasting relationship with God is a primary goal of catechesis. The Confirmation preparation process provides opportunities to develop prayer life, both personally and communally. There should be a good balance between personal prayer and liturgical prayer, and the opportunity for celebration of Eucharist and Reconciliation. Parents and or sponsor will need to hear the prayers of the candidates then sign the “Prayers to Memorize” sheet included in this packet.