Baptism of Children at St. Anthony of Padua Parish

Congratulations on the birth of your child. Our whole parish is very pleased that you desire your child to become a child of God through the graces of baptism. This information is meant to help you prepare for that day and to answer many of the common questions couples have as they prepare for baptism.

Scheduling a baptism — Baptisms are normally held in English after the 10:15 am Mass on the second Sunday of each month, except on those rare occasions — either because of the Church calendar or serious scheduling conflicts on the part of the family — when they need to be held on another Sunday. Portuguese baptisms are celebrated on one of the other Sundays during the month in arrangement with Fr. Landry. Parishioners can schedule a baptism by calling or visiting the parish office during normal business hours. The Church, for reasons of the importance of baptism for salvation, suggests that the baptism take place as soon as possible after birth. For this reason, parents are urgent to contact the rectory and provide the proper information in anticipation of childbirth so that the baptism can occur on the first available opportunity after birth.

Appointment with the pastor — The pre-baptismal classes take place individually. Parents need to make an appointment with Fr. Landry at the rectory to discuss the baptism. They preferably should email for an appointment (fatherlandry@saintanthonynewbedford.com) but they may also call 508.993.1691. 

The importance of baptism — The Lord Jesus said, “Unless a man is reborn in water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”  Right before He ascended to heaven, sent out his disciples with the words, “Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to carry out everything I have commanded you.” Out of love for children and for the Lord, the Church baptizes children as soon as possible after birth. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, baptism is necessary for salvation, at least in intention. Christ has not revealed any other means than Baptism to assure entry into heaven: this is why the Church takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the spirit.”  

What baptism does — Through baptism, a person is freed from all sins, reborn as a child of God and, configured by Christ by a character that will last forever, becomes a member of Christ’s Body, the Church. . 

Sacrament of Initiation — Baptism is just the beginning of a life with God. Just like a child needs to be fed in order to survive, so a growing child needs to be “spiritually breast-fed” on the faith of parents, until such time that the child is old enough more fully to receive the nourishment of the Word of God at Church and Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist. A couple which brings a child for baptism must have this intention to continue the child’s growth.

Choosing of a name — Christian tradition is that a child will be named after a Christian saint, who will be a patron of the person throughout life. If the child’s first name is not a saint’s name, then a middle name should be a saint’s name. A couple may choose to add a patron saint’s name at the baptism if the child’s birth certificate has non-Christian names. The child may not be baptized with a name foreign to a Christian mentality (for example, Satan, Zeus, Hefner, Hitler, etc.).

The commitments parents make —During the baptismal rite, the parents first ask for the child to be baptized and claims the child for Christ by making the sign of the Cross on the child’s forehead. This is an act of entrusting the child to God and his service. Next, they publicly acknowledge that they clearly understand that in asking for their child to be baptized, they are accepting the responsibility of training the child in the practice of the faith by raising them to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and neighbor. They reject Satan, all his evil works and empty promises, and profess their faith in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church and what the Church teaches. These actions before God and others are immense and must be done not just with the lips but with life itself. If the parents are unable to make these promises, or, if by their words or actions they give evidence that they do not intend to keep them, then under church law the priest must delay the baptism until the time when the parents can make the promises to raise the child in the practice of the faith.

Godparents — The mission of the Godparent or sponsor is with the parents to present the child for baptism and help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it. A child must have at least one godparent, but may have one godfather and one godmother. According to the universal law of the Church, to be admitted to the role of a godparent, a person must be Catholic, at least 16, have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized, and lead a moral life in harmony with the faith and the role of a godparent. A person who does not practice the faith and keep the commandments — for example, someone who does not come to Mass each Sunday, or who does not follow Christ’s teachings about human sexuality or is living with someone to whom he or she is not married in the Church — is not capable of being a sponsor, because that person is not practicing the faith in which as a godparent he or she must help to raise your child. Godparents must receive from their respective Catholic pastors a “sponsor certificate,” which is the signed word of one priest to another that the proposed godparent is a Confirmed, fully-practicing Catholic and qualified to be a godparent. They should talk to their pastor to obtain a sponsor certificate as soon as you asked them to be a godparent. If parents are unable to find a qualified godparent from among their family and friends, the Church will provide one.

Preparations for the ceremony — Parents and godparents should go over the Rite of Baptism for Children, so that they know the structure of the rite and the responses they must make. The child should be dressed in white, as an outward sign of the child’s new Christian dignity by means of the thorough cleansing from sin that happens in baptism. During the ceremony, the priest will need to anoint the child’s breast plate, so please do not tie anything very tightly around the child’s neck, as it will have to be loosened or unfastened during the ceremony. Couples may purchase an ornate baptismal candle, but if they do not have one, the Church will provide one. Likewise they may bring a towel for the ceremony as well as a holy water bottle to capture and retain some of the water that has made their child a child of God.

Emergency Baptism — If, God-forbid, a life-threatening medical emergency should happen to your child before the scheduled time for the baptism, you should page one of the Catholic chaplains at the hospital where the child has been admitted or call me to do an emergency baptism. If there is not enough time to do that or circumstances prevent it, and the child is in imminent danger of death, anyone may baptize the child, by saying, "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" while pouring water on the child's forehead at or around the words "Father," "Son," and "Holy Spirit." You should then, as soon as possible, notify the pastor of the parish to record the baptism in the baptismal register and, hopefully, if the child recovers, provide the rest of the rite in the Church. An emergency baptism like this should be done only in a true life-threatening emergency when a priest or deacon is unable to be present. 

Unmarried parents — A child born to unmarried parents is beloved by God and obviously should be baptized. The only obstacle to such a baptism taking place would be if the child’s parents would not be willing, by word and example, to raise the child in the practice of the faith. One instance of this refusal would be if unmarried parents would intend to persist in living together in an unmarried state, which is clearly against the teaching of Jesus and would provide a harmful spiritual example to the child. Such a couple would not be able during the ceremony truthfully to promise to teach their child to obey God’s commandments if they are willfully breaking them, nor to reject Satan’s works and empty promises if they continue to live in what would at least be a near occasion of sin. Christian integrity would demand that such a couple presenting a child for baptism decide either to begin preparation for marriage or to live apart.

A non-Catholic parent — A non-Catholic parent does not need to make the profession of faith during the baptism if he or she does not share the Catholic faith. However, this parent, in requesting baptism for the child, must give permission for the child to be instructed and raise in the faith of the Church in which the child is baptized.

Photos and videos — Photos and videos of the baptismal ceremony are not only allowed but encouraged. They provide a great means for the child to be able to revisit the day of baptism when he or she is older. Those taking photos and videos should remember that the Church is not a studio and the primary purpose of being present at the baptism is to pray; therefore, they are asked to be discreet in the taking of these important remembrances.

Donation — It is customary for the family of the child to be baptized to present a financial gift to the Church according to their means, in gratitude to God for the birth and spiritual rebirth of the child, and in order to foster the continued growth and work of the Church God founded. Those who would like to write a check may make it out to Saint Anthony of Padua Church. These contributions go entirely to the Church. If the family would like to give a special gift to the priest, they may, but it is not at all expected that they do so.

To download a registration form to have your child baptized at St. Anthony's, please click here. You may bring the filled out copy to Mass with you on the weekend or deliver it to the parish office (rectory) during normal business hours. Please fill it out in pencil, just in case changes need to be made.

To download a copy of the Rite of the Baptism for Children, please click here.

Adults interested in being baptized Catholic are asked to consult the "Becoming Catholic" section of the website.