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.

Our Parishes baptize infants, adults, and children.  The path to Baptism may look different for each age-group, but the same sacrament is offered to all. 

Baptism of Infants

Baptism is our formal introduction to the Christian community, a Sacrament of Initiation that unites us to God the Father, and the means by which we are saved. In the Catholic Church, infant Baptism is celebrated anytime from birth until the child reaches the age of reason, typically defined as seven years old. In our parishes, all parents are required to take a Baptism class to prepare for their child’s Baptism.

The online course parents/guardians will be expected to complete is “Reborn”. It is available for free on Formed.org. You can access it and other resources by going to formed.org and signing up as a parishioner of the “Diocese of Pembroke”.

Part of preparing for a child’s baptism is that the parents promise to raise their child in the Catholic Faith. Are you a practicing Catholic? If not, you need to seriously consider your motivations for seeking baptism for your child. If you’re serious about raising your child in the Catholic Church, please fill out the form below. 

Baptism of Adults

Adults who seek to receive the Initiation Sacraments: Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation normally follow the Rite of Christian Initiation for adults (RCIA). They are often joined by others who were baptized Catholic as a child and are now seeking the remaining Sacraments of Initiation. Any fully initiated Catholics who want to learn more about their faith are most welcome too!  For more information about the RCIA at our parishes, please visit our RCIA page.