Baptism

Baptism is the first of three Sacraments by which a person becomes Catholic.  In the Sacrament, the person becomes a child of God, and an heir of Heaven.  The journey of faith and discipleship begin in Baptism; Original Sin is removed and the newly baptized becomes part of the family of the church. 

Children of Catholic parents should be baptized soon after birth so that after the gift of natural life, the supernatural life of grace may begin.  As Catholics we believe in the process of salvation that begins in Baptism.  A person is "saved" in the water of Baptism and continues throughout life to be saved again and again as they grow in grace.  Our ultimate salvation comes when we enter eternal life in God's Heavenly Kingdom.

For a child to be baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows, the parents should be registered, practicing members of Our Lady of Sorrows parish.  As a parent requests Baptism, the Church has a minimal expectation that they will see to it that their child has the opportunity to grow in faith.

To arrange for a Baptism, please call the rectory to register for the Baptism class, held on the second Monday of each month.  At this class, parents will be instructed on the signs and symbols of this welcoming Sacrament, as well as a brief theology of the Sacrament as celebrated in the Catholic Church.  If parents have already attended a Baptism class with a previous child, they will not need to attend a second class.  They may make arrangements over the phone, giving the necessary information for the Baptismal register.

According to Church Law, a child must have at least one Godparent who is a baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholic.  Parents may not be sponsors for their own child's Baptism.  One who is not Catholic, but a Christian, may act as a witness to the Baptism.

Those who are not members of Our Lady of Sorrows, but have family in the parish, or a genuine pastoral reason, may request their child be Baptized at OLS.  A letter of permission from their proper Pastor is requested attesting to their participation in the life of their proper parish.

Baptisms are normally held on the Second and Fourth Sundays of the month following the 10:00 a.m. Mass.  Other arrangements can be made for pastoral reasons and special circumstances.