Baptismal Information

Baptism at St. Benedict’s

At St. Benedict’s we welcome all children, youth and adults to be baptized. The first contact or request should be made in person at one of our weekend services occurring at 6:00 pm Saturdays, or 8:00 and 10:00 am on Sundays directly with the priest or deacon, who will be readily available and meet every person during the service, often until the last person has walked out of the church. The clergy person will then introduce you to the Baptismal Preparation Team member who will answer all questions and help the family and/or individual prepare for the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. We do not reserve dates or give information about any of the sacraments over the telephone. Attending a service is the best place to begin.

Baptism

is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Kingdom of God (BCP, pp. 298, 858). In baptism we are made sharers in the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the foundation for all future church participation and ministry. Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. Sponsors (godparents) speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children and cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates. During the baptismal rite the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant. The water of baptism may be administered by pouring or immersion (BCP, p. 307). Candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and then marked on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Chrism may be used for this marking. The newly baptized is “sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” When all baptisms have been completed, the celebrant and congregation welcome the newly administered within the Holy Eucharist (or Mass) as the chief service on a Sunday or another feast. The Catechism notes that “Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.” The baptismal promises are made for infants by their parents or sponsors, “who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him” (BCP, pp. 858-859). Adapted from: www.episcopalchurch.org