Baptism is the first Sacrament of the Catholic Church, the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (Communion). Like all Sacraments, Baptism is an encounter with God and a celebration of community. The Baptism ritual involves symbols, words, and actions which express its purpose: the beginning of a new life with God and a welcome into the family of the Church.
But Baptism is more than the actual celebration; what happens after the ceremony is vitally important in living out that sacrament. Since babies cannot speak for themselves, parents and Godparents make promises of faith for them. Those promises will begin to form the child into a faith-filled follower of Jesus Christ. As the child grows, parents and Godparents will have the responsibility of modelling the Christian life, setting good example, and answering the child’s questions about God and the Church. And so, the Baptism of their child provides parents with an ideal time and opportunity to re-commit to their own faith and to their connection to their Church community.
As you promise to raise your child as a faithful Catholic, you also are promising to be a faithful Catholic yourself. The Parish of the Holy Cross stands ready to help you in this most holy endeavor. Thank you for choosing Holy Cross, and may God bless you on your journey.
