The Sacrament of Baptism
Jesus answered (Nicodemus), "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." -John 3:5
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd edition paragraph 1215 states “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
It is through this sacrament of initiation that we enter a new life with Christ and fellow believers.
Faith communities are built and nourished with committed believers. At Our Lady of Africa, it is important that we share what the sacred gift of Baptism has brought us and develop a deeper faith-filled relationship with all those who wish to have their children baptized. We are a faith family of believers and for any relationship to grow, it requires commitment, attention, and mutual intentional care. In that light, parents who desire Baptism for their child must be parishioners at Our Lady of Africa, attend Mass regularly, and attend a mandatory baptismal preparation class.
Baptism requests will be confirmed upon submission of the following requirements:
Families can decide to have the class via Zoom or meet in person with Ms. Carter. Only 1 Godparent is needed, but 2 are acceptable. Godparents should attend the class even if they will not be physically present on the day of the Baptism.
Requirements for Godparents
The Catholic Church requires the following of Godparents: (canon 874.1)
**Non-Catholic Witness (Can.874.2) A baptized person from a non-Catholic ecclesial (church) community may be admitted as a witness to baptism but only with a Catholic Godparent. This person is not formally called a Godparent but will be referred to as a Christian Witness.
Children aged 5 and up are encouraged to attend Sunday school regularly to help them also learn about their faith.
Adults interested in Baptism are encouraged to enroll in the Order for Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) and will be baptized at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Public Baptisms (baptisms during Mass) are available at the following times:
Private baptisms are also available by appointment.
The suggested donation cost for baptisms is $50.00
Arrangements are to be made personally several weeks in advance. Please call the Parish Office or send an email for more details. When sending an email please select Baptism from the Subject list and provide the age of the child and any additional information in the Comments box.