Baptism Program Overview

Our Baptism Preparation has two parts:
If this is your first child, or the first child you are having baptized at Our Lady’s, we ask you to meet with Rosemary Seibold, a member of the parish staff, who oversees Baptismal preparation. You can reach her at 617-527-7560, ext 213. This informal meeting will last about an hour, and it can take place either in your home or at the parish office. This meeting provides an opportunity to get to know one another and to share information about the parish.
Also, you and your baby will be invited to come to a particular Mass for the Lord’s Day. During Mass there will be a special anointing for all the babies who are preparing for Baptism. This anointing, with the Oil of Catechumens, enables the parish to ask God to bless and protect your child. It also indicates that our parish supports your decision to baptize your child. You will receive a letter with the date and time for this Mass. Immediately following that Mass, the Baptism team will meet with you for about half an hour. During this gathering, the team and other parents will share their experiences and more information about the celebration of the Sacrament. The anointing and the meeting are the second part of the preparation for Baptism.

Questions you may have...

What is Baptism?
“Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church.) It is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Through Baptism, as with the other six Sacraments, we encounter the Living Christ in his passage from death to new life. By this encounter, we are freed from the power of sin and death, become members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and so rise to new life and to a new way of living.

When should we have our baby baptized?
We encourage parents to present their children for Baptism as soon as is reasonably possible after their birth. Therefore, it is a good idea to contact the parish prior to the baby’s birth so that Baptism can be scheduled in a timely fashion. However, we also realize that situations in life don’t always allow for Baptism to happen shortly after the birth of a child, and we will welcome children or adults of any age who want to be baptized. Baptisms are celebrated at the Masses for the Lord’s Day on the weekends and/or in small groups on Sunday afternoons, once a month.

Why do we celebrate some Baptisms during Mass?
Baptism welcomes us into the Body of Christ, the Church. By water and the Holy Spirit we become the children of God. Baptism is not a private act but a public expression of, and participation in, the Church’s faith. The celebration of Baptism, therefore, calls for the active participation of the community. The whole community welcomes the child and promises our love and support as a tangible expression of God’s love and goodness. Because Sunday is the weekly celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, by which we have new life, celebrating Baptism at one of the Lord’s Day Masses, when the parish community gathers for worship, indicates the connection between the Church, the Eucharist and this newborn member of the Church and your family. It also reminds us that the journey of faith will lead your baptized child, one day, to join you and the larger community at the table of the Lord for the Eucharist. At the Eucharist, all Catholics are nourished by the Word of God and Christ’s Body and Blood, so that we can be better witnesses of God’s love to all people. The communal nature of Baptism calls for the celebration of Sacrament within Mass or in small gatherings with other families. Due to the large number of Baptisms here at Our Lady’s, we have both small group celebrations once a month and Baptisms during many Masses for the Lord’s Day.

What is a full-immersion Baptism? Why do we need to baptize this way?
Most people who have witnessed an immersion Baptism of an infant or an adult never want to see Baptism done any other way. The power of the symbol strongly indicates the change the Baptism accomplishes in peoples’ lives. When someone goes down into the water and is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, that person sacramentally dies with Christ to sin and is raised up to the new life of grace. The practice of immersion goes back to the very beginning of the Church. Our Church has an immersion pool for both infants and adults. All of our baptisms are done by full immersion unless special circumstances exist.

Who can be godparents?
Godparents should be faithful people who are baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. Church law requires that at least one godparent is a full member of the Catholic Church. It is possible for the second godparent to be a member of another Christian Church. Our tradition is one godmother and one godfather. If you have questions regarding godparents, please speak to Rosemary Seibold. When choosing godparents, it is important to consider the responsibility of a godparent, namely, people who will support the parents in bringing this child up in the Catholic Faith and who will be a good role model for this child.

The Day of the Baptism
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the time the service is supposed to begin. The first of two pews, reserved for your family, will be marked with your child’s name. A team member will lead you to the sacristy to lay out the baby’s garments. Baptisms usually begin promptly at the designated time.

Is a white dress or suit required?
The white garment symbolizes that your child has become a new creation in Christ in the waters of Baptism. Most families have a garment (dress or suit) that they have chosen for their child. This garment should be brought with you to the Baptism. You will clothe your child in this garment after the immersion in the water.

Is there a fee for Baptism?
There is no charge to become a member of God’s family. However, it is customary for families to offer a gift to the parish in thanksgiving for their child’s baptism. $100.00 is a suggested offering. However, we are grateful for your generosity, no matter what your means allow.

Can we use cameras and videos at Baptism?
Cameras and videos are allowed. However, the people taking photographs are asked to be courteous and not obscure the view of others. The priest will be available after the ceremony for additional pictures.