Baptism
"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".
- St. Augustine
Baptism
Baptism signifies the cleansing of
original sin and the initiation of a baby into the Christian faith, making them a child of God and a member of the Church.
It is seen as essential for salvation and opens the door to other sacraments like Confirmation and receiving the Eucharist.
The Church believes that infants, like adults, are in need of God's grace and that Baptism is the way to receive it.
THE SACRAMENT OF INITIATION
Blessings to you on the birth or pending birth
of your child or godchild!
Sacramental Preparation for parents and godparents of infants
Is your unbaptized child under seven years old? If so, we welcome your inquiry about the gateway sacrament of Baptism. By seeking to have a child Baptized, parents express their intent and accept the responsibility to educate their child in the practice of the Catholic faith, as do the godparents. This time in your life brings a renewed invitation for parents and godparents to encounter, love, and serve Jesus, one another, and the world. Baptism Sacrament orientation for Parents and Godparents is available. Please contact us for more information.
Sacramental Preparation for older children
Is your unbaptized child seven years old or older? Preparing older children for Baptism is a comprehensive, multi-sacrament preparation process. Contact us to discuss your older child's sacrament preparation journey.
Sacramental Preparation for unbaptized adults
Called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) with an adaptation for older children, OCIA is the process for an unbaptized adult to explore the Catholic faith through an "apprenticeship" in the way of Christian discipleship within this community of believers. For more information about this process, including information for Baptized Christians or Baptized Catholics desiring preparation for the sacraments of initiation, please contact the parish office 413.256.6181.
Baptism Preparation
Explore our FAQ's below
Parent Guidelines
- Schedule a family meeting with Fr. Valentine to meet your family and discuss all the details.
- Become registered parishioners of St. Brigid Church (or other parish).
- Attend Baptism Orientation before the actual baptism ceremony.
- If you will or have already attended baptism preparation at another parish, please share those details/certificate with us.
Godparents
1. Who is eligibile to be a godparent? A godparent must be a practicing Catholic who has received all their sacraments of initiation through confirmation, and aged 16 or older. If godparent(s) is/are married, the marriage was in the Catholic Church. * A non-Catholic baptized Christian from another faith tradition may serve as a Christian witness along with the Catholic godparent.
2. Godparents who are non-parishioners of St. Brigid Parish will need a letter from their parish priest confirming their eligibility to be a godparent. Contact your parish to initiate the request well in advance. If unregistered, please contact us to discuss your situation.
3. Attend a Baptism Preparation Orientation offered at St. Brigid. If attending preparation at another parish, please obtain pastor letter and certificate from that parish for our records.
4. Only one eligible godparent is necessary; if two godparents are chosen, one should be male and one female. (A non-Catholic baptized Christian witness may also participate.)
When can the Baptism take place?
1. We encourage celebrating Baptism during any of the weekend Masses. Sharing this beautiful sacrament with the assembled faithful celebrates the joy and growth in the Body of Christ!
2. Only one family will celebrate Baptism at a time, and godparents unable to travel may be represented by a Christian proxy. Please discuss this in advance.
Is there a fee?
While there is no set fee for a Baptism, it is customary to make a generous offering to the
parish in gratitude. It is appropriate to offer a modest token of appreciation for the priest
or deacon celebrant as well, separately.