The Rite Of Baptism
The Baptismal Rite for Infants
The rite of baptism for infants begins with the parents asking the church to baptize their child. The bishop, priest, or deacon, in turn, makes the sign of the cross on the child and invites the parents and godparents to do the same. A lector, or the priest or deacon, then reads a passage from Scripture. The priest speaks to the gathering of family and friends about the meaning of the baptism for them and the child. Following the priest’s remarks, he anoints the child on the forehead, lips, throat and chest with holy oil.
After the anointing with chrism the child is given a white garment, a symbol that the child is clothed in Christ’s protective love. A lit candle is given to the child’s family to remind the child and all of us that as baptized people, we are to be lights for our world. The baptism concludes with the assembled family and friends praying the Our Father, followed by a final blessing. Then, photographs of everyone around the baptismal font!
At Epiphany, our baptisms usually are offered the third Sunday of the month after the 11am Family Mass.
For more information about Baptism, contact Tadhg Malone, faithformation@epiphanychurch.nyc
The family is then invited to the baptismal font. Everyone present at the font is invited to make a profession of faith and reject evil. The parents and godparents make this profession on behalf of the child and promise to provide for the child’s religious formation. The celebrant blesses the water with a prayer. Then a parent is asked to hold the child over the baptismal water font as the celebrant says, “[Child’s name] I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” All present respond “Amen.” At the threefold prayer, the celebrant three times pours water over the child’s forehead. The ritual of immersion or washing helps us understand that our sins are buried and washed away as we die with Jesus, and we are filled with divine light and life as we rise from immersion in the water or are cleaned by the pouring.
Following the immersion, the celebrant anoints the newly baptized with the sacred chrism(a perfumed oil), so that united with God’s people, the child may remain forever as a member of Christ, who is priest, prophet and king.
Requirements for Baptism
At least one parent must be Catholic. A child can be baptized even if the parents are not married. A child may be baptized as long as there is a well-founded hope that he or she will be brought up in the practice of the faith, and that at least one parent is willing to practice the Catholic Faith and share it with the child.
Godparent(s) must be at least 16 years old, a confirmed Catholic, practicing their faith, and be willing to accept the responsibility of supporting their godchild in faith.
If you have only one Godparent, then that person can be either male or female. If you have two Godparents, then one must be male and the other female.
Both the parents and the godparents must attend baptism preparation class, which we offer here at Epiphany. You may attend a class at another Catholic parish (please provide a certificate of completion with the baptism name and date of baptism, clearly printed). You can arrange attendance at the baptism class by contacting
Tadhg Maloneat the parish office.
Adult Baptism at Epiphany
Adults preparing for baptism go through a process known as Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Persons discerning their call to become Catholic generally attend classes for one year prior to the Easter Vigil. All adults are baptized at the Easter Vigil, and receive the sacrament of Confirmation immediately after their baptism. Adults then receive Eucharist for the first time during the same liturgy. The Catholic Church doesn’t re-baptize people who are already baptized. If you are baptized but never received any instruction in the faith, you should receive instruction now and finish any sacraments you didn’t complete. We strongly recommend RCIA, even if you have been well instructed in another faith tradition, since you will need to learn how the beliefs and practices you grew up with differ from the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church.
For more information about Adult Baptism, contact Tadhg Malone, faithformation@epiphanychurch.nyc
