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St. Vincent de Paul |
| 18 Pleasant St. |
| Baldwinville, MA |
| (978) 939-8851 |
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Plans may be made by contacting pastor at least one month ahead. |
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| Although the church has practiced infant baptism for centuries, Vatican II shifted the theological stance of the sacrament. The Rite of Baptism for children now being used emphasizes the role of the parents. When a child is baptized, the parents hand on a tradition and legacy they value. Before an infant is brought to baptism, the Church requires that the parents by suitably catechized, be active Catholics, and be instructed in the meaning of baptism and their responsibility as their child's primary religious educators. | |
| Baptismal Catechesis: | |
| Parents who are planning to have a child baptized in our parish in the months of July, August or September are asked to attend an important meeting Sunday June 25 at 6:30pm in our parish hall. Because of the constrictions of time as summer vacation approaches and the unusually high number of baptisms expected within the next few months, we shall combine the baptismal preparation sessions with this one meeting. Dates of baptismal celebrations will be announced. Expectant parents are also invited to attend this meeting if they wish. | |
| Kylie Megan LaFreniere, daughter of Cynthia (Chagnon) and Todd LaFreniere, was baptized here Sunday June 25, 2000. Welcome, Kylie, to the Family of God! God's blessings on your parents and godparents as they lead you on your journey of faith! | |
| Darren Michael Fischer son of Wendy (Woods) and Mark Fischer, was baptized here Sunday June 18, 2000. Welcome, Darren, to the Family of God! God’s blessings on your parents and godparents as they lead you on your journey of faith! | |
| Benjamin Daren Burke, son of Kimberly (Harding) and Daren Burke, was baptized here Sunday June 11, 2000. Welcome, Benjamin, to the Family of God! God’s blessings on your parents and godparents as they lead you on your journey of faith! | |
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QUALIFICATIONS OF SPONSORS FOR BAPTISM |
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| Many Catholic parents and parents-to-be do not know and/or understand the teaching of the Catholic Church concerning godparents. I wish to clarify the Church's teaching on godparents because the choice of godparents is very important, since they have a serious responsibility to encourage and support the parents in their role of raising their children in the Catholic faith. If the parents cannot or do not take their spiritual responsibility seriously, it is the duty of the godparents to intervene. This responsibility must be understood and agreed upon between parents and godparents when the godparents accept their role to sponsor the child for Baptism. | |
| Canon Law requires only one godparent for Baptism. This godparent may be male of female. However, most parents choose two godparents. It this case, one must be male and the other female. | |
| Since godparents represent the Catholic community, they must be fully initiated Catholics (confirmed) and in good standing in the Catholic Church (attend Mass and receiving the Eucharist on a regular basic; if married, in a valid Catholic marriage, if single, not cohabiting). In other words, to be godparents they must be living an exemplary Catholic lifestyle. A potential godparent, who is not known to the minister of Baptism, must obtain a "sponsor certificate" from his/her parish, verifying that he/she is a confirmed Catholic in good standing and qualified to serve as a godparent. | |
| As a concession to ecumenism, the Catholic Church allows a "Christian witness" to serve along with a confirmed Catholic as long as he/she is a baptized Christian since he/she represents the wider baptized community. (The "Christian witness" must be baptized in a Christian community whose Baptism the Catholic Church recognizes as trinitarian and valid -- not Unitarian, not Jehovah's Witness, etc.). an unconfirmed Catholic or a former Catholic do not qualify as a "Christian witness." A Catholic sponsor for Baptism must be confirmed and in good standing in the Church | |
| Unfortunately, many parents choose the godparents before checking the requirements for eligibility with their parish. This very often results in a very awkward situation for all involved (parents, unqualified godparents and pastoral minister). Please check with your priest, deacon, or other pastoral minister before making the choice of godparents. All this, of course, is for the spiritual good of the child to be baptized. | |