Strengthen Your Brethren - Sacrament of Baptism, part 3 - July 16, 2006
In the first two parts of this series on Baptism, we have explored the serious obligations that the parents freely take on when they present their child to the Church for this sacrament of rebirth. Universal Church law requires that assistance be given to parents so that they may faithfully fulfill their grave responsibility to form their children, by word and example, in faith and Christian living. The Code of Canon Law (canon 851) states that the parents “are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it. The parish priest (Pastor) is to see to it that either he or others duly prepare the parents, by means of pastoral advice and indeed by communal prayer, bringing a number of families together and, where possible, visiting them.” As this canon does not give particulars with regard to the content or organization of this parental preparation, Baptism preparation programs vary from parish to parish.
In accord with canon 851 of the Code of Canon Law and in order to better meet the needs of new (first time) parents at Saint Peter’s, as Pastor I have promulgated some revisions to our baptismal preparation program effective 1 July 2006. Parents presenting for the first time a child for Baptism are required to attend our parish’s four-session program. It is preferable that participation in the program be completed before the birth of the child. If a family has already taken part in a baptismal preparation program at Saint Peter’s or at their previous parish, as a general rule, they need not repeat it. It is advisable for the family to contact the parish office during the pregnancy in order to complete a Baptism Registration Form. This form gathers basic information about the family (name and religion of the parents, address, phone number, etc.) in anticipation of the birth. It also serves as a notification to the Pastor to spiritually accompany the family during their pregnancy. In the case of new parishioners or parents presenting for the first time a child for Baptism, a meeting with the Pastor is necessary.
At any time during the pregnancy the family may approach the Pastor to receive the “Blessing of Parents Before Childbirth,” a brief rite found in the Book of Blessings published by the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship (31 May 1984). According to this Book of Blessings, “a husband and wife participate in God’s love through the Sacrament of Matrimony and cooperate in the gift of life through the conception of a child. It is appropriate that they receive God’s blessing together as they wait in faith and hope for the birth of their child” (215).
Under my supervision, our Director of Catechesis and Evangelization, Phil Lawson, now coordinates the Baptism preparation program. It is a four-session program conducted in February, August, and November. The next series is August 9, 16, 23, and 30. Please call the parish office to register. Each session lasts approximately one hour with Phil Lawson and young families of our parish conducting the first three. Topics discussed during these sessions include the nature and meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism, faith, family prayer, and Catholic parenting. The fourth and final session is led by the Pastor during which questions are entertained and the ceremony discussed. Stay tuned as this series on Baptism continues next week!
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!