Baptism is the Christian sacrament of Initiation into the life of Christ, both in the sense of identification with the person of Christ (in the more ancient mode of baptism, immersion, going under the water and rising again from it symbolically links the baptized person with the burial and Resurrection of Jesus) and also in the sense of participation in Christ’s sacramental body, the Church. Receiving baptism is the precondition for receiving any of the other sacraments.
BAPTISM
Third Sunday of the Month (excluding Lent)
Baptism preparation course every second Friday of the month.
Download form, complete it, and drop the completed form at St. Augustine’s of Canterbury office.
baptism
requirements for baptism
Parishioners who want to have their child celebrate the sacrament of baptism at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church should remember that:
- They must be registered, active, and contributing parishioners for at least three months at the Parish prior to the request (if you are not a registered member there is a 3-month waiting period).
- The Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are confirmed and no younger than 16 years of age (one person may be a baptized Christian in another Christian denomination, but then is only a witness to the baptism.) If they are not parishioners of St. Augustine’s the Godparents must provide a letter from their current Parish.
- They must take part in our Baptismal Preparation seminars.
- Dates for baptisms are not available by request but follow the schedule of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church.
What is the sacrament of baptism?
Who can get baptized?
In the Catholic tradition, infants and small children are baptized on the condition that their parents and godparents commit to raise them in the Christian faith. Since Baptism makes one a Christian, it is a matter of importance that anyone baptized should be consciously initiated into the teachings and practice of Christian life.
If you are an adult who would like to be baptized, please refer to the page on the Rite of Christian Initiation. If you are a Christian who has been baptized outside of the Catholic Church, and are seeking full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Church will probably recognize your baptism as valid; however, before you are free to participate in receiving Catholic sacraments, you will first have to be accepted into the Catholic Church by the Sacrament of Confirmation and/or a statement of faith. Again, please refer to the page on the RCIA.