Baptism
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Baptism for Infants to 2nd Grade
Baptism is an incredible gift from God! St. Matthew parish provides details about the Baptism liturgy and empowers parents with the Church's teachings regarding the responsibility of raising their child in the Catholic faith. Parents will learn that they are the primary educators of their children in the faith.
To begin the process, please schedule a baptismal interview by contacting the parish office at 814-684-1480.
Baptism for Children 3rd Grade and Older
Children 7 years and older will go through a religious education program to learn about the sacrament. For more information, call Lauren Wright, our Director of Religious Education, at 814-312-0969 or email [email protected].
Children going through the program will be baptized at the Easter Vigil.
Baptism for Adults
Adults wishing to be baptized will go through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and be baptized at the Easter Vigil. Please reference our Becoming Catholic page for more information.
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Baptism Program and PolicyWe are happy to participate in the celebration and wonder of new life with you in the sacrament of Baptism. We desire to make this time very special for you, to accommodate you in every way possible, and not to place any undue burden on you. This sacrament entails a serious obligation for parents. Because these children are too young to speak for themselves, parents must make a personal commitment to instruct their children about the Catholic faith.
Even though it may be years away, it is not too early to think about what form this instruction will take, whether it be formal education in a Catholic school or through our youth religious education program. The pledge made by those chosen as godparents to help and support the parents in this endeavor is also essential.
Before scheduling a Baptismal date at St. Matthew, all paperwork must be completed and turned in to the parish office.
Baptism is usually performed by pouring water over the forehead of the child, but immersion is also possible. If you wish to have your baby baptized in another Catholic parish, you will need a letter of permission from the pastor here, and you will need to fulfill all obligations for baptism required by the church of Baptism.
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Choosing a GodparentWhen a parent chooses a Godparent, that person should be a committed Catholic. Being called to be a Godparent is not merely a choice because of family ties or friendship. The call to be a Godparent bears the responsibility of giving a spiritual witness to your child of how to live out the Catholic faith in everyday life.
As a confirmed adult Catholic, the Godparent is a guide and model of how a mature Catholic ought to live. By being faithful to God's law, being active in the life of the parish, participating in Mass weekly, and living the Gospel values, the godparent can render tremendous personal support for you in faithfully passing on the Catholic faith to your child.
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Godparent RequirementsThe law of the Church lists these requirements for a person to be a valid and lawful Godparent in Baptism:
The Godparent’s role is, together with the parents, to present the child for the sacrament and help him/her to live a life befitting a baptized Catholic Christian.
There may be only one male Godparent or one female Godparent or one of each.
To be permitted to take on the function of Godparent, a person must:- Be a Catholic in good standing with the Church who has received the three sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation - and regularly practices his/her Catholic faith;
- Be at least 16 years of age;
- Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared by the Church. If married, the Godparent must be in a marriage recognized as valid by the Catholic Church. As a reminder, a Catholic must be married by a priest or deacon. A Catholic not married by a priest or deacon (i.e. civil ceremony) cannot serve as a godparent unless his/her marriage has been Convalidated. The person may not be cohabitating, or living together without sacramental marriage.
- Must not be father or mother of the one to be baptized.
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Christian WitnessWhile it is ideal that parents select two Catholic godparents, the church only requires that there be one Godparent. A non-Catholic may act as a Christian witness alongside a Catholic godparent. This non-Catholic must be at least 16 years of age and baptized with water in a Christian tradition. The sex of the witness need not be opposite to that of the godparent. During the ritual, a non-Catholic witness at a Catholic Baptism may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. His or her name may be entered into the parish register as a witness, together with the name of the godparent.
Catholics who are non-practicing, not Confirmed, or otherwise do not qualify to serve as godparents may not serve as a Christian Witness.
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Baptism FAQs
- Why do we baptize babies?
- Can I receive Baptism twice?
- If I was baptized somewhere else does it "count" (is it valid in the Catholic Church)?
- What is the role of a godparent?
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The Catholic Church’s practice of infant Baptism stems from her teachings regarding original sin (what we have) and Baptism (what we do about it).
After Adam and Eve's sin in the garden, all people are born with original sin due to our fallen human nature. Through the gift of grace in Baptism, God washes away this stain of original sin, makes us a part of His family, and offers us eternal life.
Children, who are born with the stain of original sin, also need Baptism to free them from the bondage of original sin and make them children of God. Our loving Father does not wish to withhold His love and grace from anyone, including children. Baptism simply requires openness.
“The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.” (CCC 1250).
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Baptism effects three things:
- Removes original sin
- Marks the soul as God’s own, initiating that soul into the life of the Church and giving them a right to all the other sacraments
- And infuses sanctifying grace from which virtue flows, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and makes us children of God.
Since (1) and (2) can only occur once, Baptism can only be validly received once.
However, sanctifying grace (3) is lost each time we commit a mortal sin. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this life of grace and friendship with God can be restored.
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For any sacrament to be validly confected (“put together”), it must have three elements: form, matter, and intention.
- The form is the ‘how’ of the sacrament. It is these exact words said aloud, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
- The matter is the ‘what’ or visible thing. In this case, it is the water poured three times over the head or bodily immersion.
- The intention is for the minister to intend or do what the Church intends for each sacrament, to baptize according to the Church.
If all three are present, even if performed outside a Catholic Church, the Baptism is valid.
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In the case of children, the role of the Godparent is to be that of a “spiritual guardian” who takes up any “slack” in the child’s religious instruction, helps ensure that his/her Godchild learns the Catholic Faith, and prays for the Godchild throughout their life.
This is a very solemn obligation, not one to be entered into lightly. Parents should choose their child’s Godparents very carefully and select Catholics who know the Faith, understand the obligations of Godparenting, and are willing and able to live up to them.
Parents and Godparents should work together for the goal of helping the child to know, love, and serve God!