Baptism
|
The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters of baptism and thus becomes God's child.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe 
Please call the Parish Office (683-6522) if you are not currently registered Parishioners of Our Lady of Pompeii Church. Prior to scheduling a baptism at Our Lady of Pompeii families need:
*Completion of Pre-Baptismal class (offered at OLP) (Ideally scheduled three to four months prior to your baby's arrival.) *Godparent letters of recommendation https://forms.gle/r9E3mfuTCVg5nCYT6 Email [email protected] with any questions. |
Baptism in the Catholic Church
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 sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (Catechism of the Catholic church #1213)
IMPORTANT: Parents need to talk to Theresa at the parish office (716-683-6522) to have a space and date for the baptism. We have baptism classes approximately once a month except for Advent and Lent. Please plan ahead.
1. Baptisms are celebrated normally during the 10am or 11:30am Sunday Masses. There are exceptions to this depending on the circumstances of the family. For Baptism dates call the Parish Office.
2. At Our Lady of Pompeii, a one-hour Baptism class is required for the parents of children to be baptized. This class includes an overview of what Baptism is, what it does, how God and the church want to help parents, preparation for the actual ceremony and a review of what is required. Parents are encouraged to attend the class as soon as possible. Most parents find it helpful to do so before the baby is born. To register, complete the online form. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or contact Theresa at the parish office at 716-683-6522 x101. Once the class is completed, parents are to call Theresa in the parish office to set the baptism date. If for any reason the parents are not taking the class here at Our Lady of Pompeii, they need to contact Theresa.
3. If the sacrament of baptism is to be held at another parish, parents must request this from the parish office and Our Lady of Pompeii must send the church of anticipated baptism a letter granting permission. The scheduling of the baptism would then go through the other selected parish office.
Be for this child and his or her parents someone special, someone who cares enough to be part of an important ritual of welcome into the faith, someone whose presence means more than presents, someone this child's - your godchild's - parents can trust, can turn to, can be honest with, can count on no matter what else is going on in the world. That, more than all the ceremonies in the world, characterizes the faith of baptism and the sense of true godparenting.
- Tom Sheridan, The Gift of Godparents
IMPORTANT: Parents need to talk to Theresa at the parish office (716-683-6522) to have a space and date for the baptism. We have baptism classes approximately once a month except for Advent and Lent. Please plan ahead.
1. Baptisms are celebrated normally during the 10am or 11:30am Sunday Masses. There are exceptions to this depending on the circumstances of the family. For Baptism dates call the Parish Office.
2. At Our Lady of Pompeii, a one-hour Baptism class is required for the parents of children to be baptized. This class includes an overview of what Baptism is, what it does, how God and the church want to help parents, preparation for the actual ceremony and a review of what is required. Parents are encouraged to attend the class as soon as possible. Most parents find it helpful to do so before the baby is born. To register, complete the online form. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or contact Theresa at the parish office at 716-683-6522 x101. Once the class is completed, parents are to call Theresa in the parish office to set the baptism date. If for any reason the parents are not taking the class here at Our Lady of Pompeii, they need to contact Theresa.
3. If the sacrament of baptism is to be held at another parish, parents must request this from the parish office and Our Lady of Pompeii must send the church of anticipated baptism a letter granting permission. The scheduling of the baptism would then go through the other selected parish office.
Be for this child and his or her parents someone special, someone who cares enough to be part of an important ritual of welcome into the faith, someone whose presence means more than presents, someone this child's - your godchild's - parents can trust, can turn to, can be honest with, can count on no matter what else is going on in the world. That, more than all the ceremonies in the world, characterizes the faith of baptism and the sense of true godparenting.
- Tom Sheridan, The Gift of Godparents
Requirements of Canon Law for being a Godparent in the Catholic Church
Canon Law #874 to be admitted to the role of godparent, a person must:
1. be designated by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the priest or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
2. have completed their sixteenth year;
3. be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken; [This means that the Catholic person is a fully initiated catholic (having celebrated Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist) and actively practices their Christian faith in their way of life and in their participation in their Catholic parish and the sacraments of the Church.]
4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared; [This means that if the intended sponsor is married, this marriage must be a recognized valid marriage in the Catholic Church. Catholics who are either civilly married, married by common law or living together are not in a valid Church marriage, and thus, by law, have a canonical penalty imposed upon them. The penalty is that the person may not participate in the full sacramental life of the Church. Specifically, they may not receive communion, nor may they act as a godparent at Baptism.)
5. Not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized.
6. There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.
Godparents need to send Pompeii a letter of recommendation from the parish they are registered at. This letter must be received at least one week before the scheduled baptism and can be sent through the mail, email, fax, dropped off in person, or dropped in the Sunday collection basket. If the selected godparents are members of Our Lady of Pompeii, a phone call should be made to Theresa at the parish office to confirm they meet the requirements. For more information you can read The Role of Godparents (catholiceducation.org).
1. be designated by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the priest or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
2. have completed their sixteenth year;
3. be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken; [This means that the Catholic person is a fully initiated catholic (having celebrated Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist) and actively practices their Christian faith in their way of life and in their participation in their Catholic parish and the sacraments of the Church.]
4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared; [This means that if the intended sponsor is married, this marriage must be a recognized valid marriage in the Catholic Church. Catholics who are either civilly married, married by common law or living together are not in a valid Church marriage, and thus, by law, have a canonical penalty imposed upon them. The penalty is that the person may not participate in the full sacramental life of the Church. Specifically, they may not receive communion, nor may they act as a godparent at Baptism.)
5. Not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized.
6. There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.
Godparents need to send Pompeii a letter of recommendation from the parish they are registered at. This letter must be received at least one week before the scheduled baptism and can be sent through the mail, email, fax, dropped off in person, or dropped in the Sunday collection basket. If the selected godparents are members of Our Lady of Pompeii, a phone call should be made to Theresa at the parish office to confirm they meet the requirements. For more information you can read The Role of Godparents (catholiceducation.org).
Requirements for Parents
1. Baptism is perhaps the greatest gift parents can offer their child. In order for a child to be baptized, Canon Law instructs that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic religion. Therefore, both parents should consent to the baptism according to the ritual. If such hope about a child being raised in the faith is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this. In the circumstance that the parents are not married in the Catholic Church, Canon Law provides further instruction: “That the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent” (CIC 868).
2. Baptizing a baby whose family is from outside of the parish: They must meet all of the above requirements. They must have a letter giving them permission from their parish to baptize their child at Our Lady of Pompeii.
2. Baptizing a baby whose family is from outside of the parish: They must meet all of the above requirements. They must have a letter giving them permission from their parish to baptize their child at Our Lady of Pompeii.