Text Box: The day of Baptism is a day to celebrate! For our children, baptism is the “day the Lord has made,” a day of new life and grace, a day of sharing in the life of Jesus, our Brother and our God. For parents, godparents and family, it is a day of pride, a day of happiness for each other as well as for our new family member. For the Christian Community, it is a day of promise and of faith, a day to celebrate our Christian heritage. Infant Baptism is a celebration of our adult faith. For that reason it is good for us to spend some time before the day of Baptism preparing for the celebration. We do that in many ways: by sending invitations to close family friends, by preparing for a party the day of the Baptism, and by making ourselves ready to accept the responsibility of raising our child in the faith. Parents and Godparents are their children’s first and best teacher. Our children model our behaviors—both good and bad. They accept what they see us do without question. Therefore we must enter into Baptism with the knowledge that this is a life-changing event for us as well as a soul-changing event for our child. To prepare us for the realities of Baptism, parents and godparents must attend a day of reflection prior to the baptism. OUR NEXT EVENING OF REFLECTION IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 AT 7:00 PM AND WILL BE HELD IN MEETING ROOM SOUTH IN THE MAIN BUILDING. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND ARE RESTRICTED TO MEMBERS OF RISEN SAVIOR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OR FOR THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING TO BAPTIZE THEIR CHILD AT RISEN SAVIOR. PLEASE CALL THE PARISH OFFICE AT 821-1571 TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE. Baptisms are scheduled most Sundays of each month. There are some exceptions, please call Deacon Kenn Sinatra for the upcoming Sundays when we will not be baptizing. You may arrange to have your child baptized by visiting the parish office. Baptisms cannot be arranged over the telephone. FAQ’s Q. Do I have to give my child a Saints name? A. Yes. In the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, at least one of the names given to the baptized must be a saint’s name. (Canon 855) Q. Do the parents of the child have to be married? A. Each case is examined individually. Q. Must both Godparents be Catholic? A. Canon Law states that the infant must have at least one Godparent and that Godparent must be Catholic. A non-Catholic cannot be a Godparent as they cannot make the vow to see the child is raised as a practicing Catholic. Q. Are there any restrictions on who can serve as a Godparent. A. Godparents must have been confirmed, over the age of 18 and actively practicing their faith. If married they must be in a canonically recognized marriage. If not married they must not be cohabitating outside of marriage. Q. How does a person prove they are active in their faith? A. Catholics are called to be members of and support the parish in whose boundaries they live, they can get a letter from their parish stating they are known members and granting them permission to serve in the role of sponsor. Q. Can a grandparent (or other relative) have a child baptized? A. The proper persons to present an infant for baptism are the parents. However, the founded hope of raising the infant in the faith could be given by another member of the family as long as the parents allow it and promise not to interfere with the person making the promise in his/her efforts to raise the child in the faith. Q. How old does the child have to be to be baptized? A. There are no age restrictions for infants. However, infant baptism is only available to those who are under 7 years of age. Baptism for those who have attained the age of reason (7 and above) is done following a period of catechesis and usually at the Easter Vigil. Q. Is there a fee to have my child baptized at Risen Savior? A. The church does not charge for the sacraments—they are God’s gifts of grace to his people. However, it is customary to give a personal offering to the priest or deacon. If you are not a regular churchgoer at Risen Savior, you might also consider an offering towards the upkeep of the church. Q. When should we plan our child’s baptism? A. You are encouraged to begin making plans during your pregnancy. Notice: You must bring your child’s birth certificate with you at the time you register your child’s baptism. Your Baby's Baptism