Baptism
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What is Baptism?
The Sacrament of Baptism is often called “The door of the Church” or the “Gateway Sacrament” because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time, since most Catholics receive it as infants, but in priority since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, as it directly responds to Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Accordingly, “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.
Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Traditionally, the rite or ceremony of baptism was held outside the doors of the main part of the church, to signify this fact.
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Why Baptize?
Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: “Amen, amen I say to thee unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian because it brings us into a new life in Christ.
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Why Baptize?
Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: “Amen, amen I say to thee unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian because it brings us into a new life in Christ.
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What Happens thru Baptism?The Sacrament of Baptism joins a person to Christ’s Church (His Mystical Body), and allows them to receive all other sacraments. By Baptism, persons are cleansed of both their original sin and personal sin, have punishment for sin remitted, receive sanctifying grace (a share in the divine life), and a special character.
Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of the mystical body of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word. (CCC: 1213)”
It is through baptism that we truly become adopted sons and daughters of God, and temples of the Holy Spirit.
Through this Sacrament, we are truly made anew and become members of the Church. In addition, we receive both the theological and moral virtues and actual grace to assist us in living a moral life. Once baptized, the individual is incorporated into Christ who is Priest, Prophet and King.
The celebration of this Sacrament requires the recitation of the Trinitarian formula (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), water and the intent to baptize. Once incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person is sealed with the indelible spiritual mark (character).
Anyone not already validly baptized can and should receive this Sacrament
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How to get Baptised?
We extend a special welcome to you if you are trying to find out more about Baptism for yourself, or for your child.
If you are an adult who is seeking more information on how to become a member of the Catholic Church, please refer to The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
If your child is older than 7 years old, and would like to get them baptized please refer to The Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC).
If you have recently become a parent, or your child is a little older, we want to assist you in raising your child in the faith.
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Please fill up this form, along with attaching the required documents outlined in the form, once submitted we will be in touch to organize a time to meet.
Before you start this form, please make sure to have a scanned clear copy of:
- Your Child’s Birth Certificate
- A copy of one of the Parent’s Baptismal Certificate
- A copy of the Godfather’s Confirmation Certificate.
- A copy of the Godmother’s Confirmation Certificate.
Please note that this form can not be completed unless you upload these documents onto the form
The following are the requirements in order for a Catholic to be a sponsor (Canon 874):
- The sponsor must be at least 16 years of age
- He/She has been fully initiated in the catholic Church (received Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation)
- In good standing with the Catholic Church: live a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; not under canonical penalty. (Comes to church regularly every week)
- Not the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
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“Every baptized person should consider that it is in the womb of the Church where he is transformed from a child of Adam to a child of God.”St. Vincent Ferrer
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