Baptism

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Becoming Catholic

Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation

This page does not discuss the theology or spirituality of the sacraments but rather how one may receive them.

The reception of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Communion (the Eucharist) is the way in which a person becomes a full-fledged Catholic.

These three sacraments are called the sacraments of initiation since they initiate a person into the fullness of the Catholic faith. For those who have been raised in a practicing Catholic family, it is traditional for baptism to have been conferred in infancy, for First Communion to follow it around the age of seven or eight, and for confirmation to come just a few years later.

For adults who would like to become Catholics but have never been baptized, a course of instruction in the fundamentals of the Catholic faith is offered each year. This course is referred to as the Rite of the Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). It usually begins in September or October and is held once a week at a time convenient to all participants. It continues until the Easter Vigil of the following year (in March or April) when, during an age-old and beautiful ceremony, the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist are received. A few times after the Easter Vigil, the participants meet again to discuss their new commitment. Those who wish to join the RCIA program should contact the pastor the preceding spring.

Catholics who have been baptized but were never confirmed and/or never received the Eucharist, and who would like to do so, are encouraged to attend the RCIA sessions. Baptized non-Catholics who wish to become Catholic are likewise encouraged. All the necessary sacraments are received at the Easter Vigil. Please contact the pastor the preceding spring.

What follows concerns the reception of these sacraments by children.

Infants are traditionally baptized as soon after birth as is practicable for all concerned. Please contact the pastor if you wish to schedule a baptism for your baby. Baptisms are typically celebrated on Saturday or Sunday, but you may schedule a baptism for any day and time that is convenient for both the baptismal party and the pastor. If this is your first child, you will be asked to meet the pastor to discuss the nature of baptism and the ceremonies that are involved. There is no fee for a baptism, but it is customary to make a gift to the church in thanksgiving for your child’s baptism.