Baptism is one of three sacraments of Christian Initiation. By Baptism we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ. The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. . . . Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español
Baptism at St. Bernadette Parish
To have a child baptized, parents must register and attend a class as a couple. Try to attend before your child is born. At least one parent and godparent must be practicing Catholics.
For more information or to register, please call Sarah Borah, Faith Formation Director, at [email protected] or (740) 654-1893.