Baptism
Saint Matthew's is always happy to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism, which is a moment of joy for the whole Church. When we share in the Baptism of infants and young children throughout the liturgical year, we know that we are celebrating a journey of faith that has reached a new milestone. We know too that we are also pledging to journey together even further, that we might experience more intimately the love of God who summons us ever closer.
Since Baptism, like all the sacraments, involves the action of the whole Church, those approaching Saint Matthew's for the Baptism of their children are expected to be Christian believers and members of the parish. Since it is often the birth of a child that prompts a young couple to approach the Church for the first time as independent adults, it is often a good time to establish a relationship with a parish community as a new Christian household. That relationship, of course, means more than merely filling out a form. Joining a parish means bonding with other Catholic Christians through weekend worship, lifelong faith formation and ministry. It is in fact your participation in these things that serve as the first phase of the sacramental preparation for Baptism.
The celebration of Baptism is part of an initiation into the church community that will strive to share our faith in the Gospel of Jesus which we hold sacred, and where that faith can be nurtured. If you would like to consider celebrating your child's Baptism at Saint Matthew's Church, please call us at the parish office. Once you make that call, you will be invited to meet with one of the members of our Parish Baptismal Team. If you have not been a member of our parish you will have an opportunity to ask any questions about parish life or Baptism, and hopefully begin to feel more at home at Saint Matthew's. When you do, you will also have an opportunity to officially register as a parish member.
Once you have made your initial inquiries and commitments, you will be invited to be a part of the more immediate Baptismal preparation. Expectant mothers who will be seeking Baptism, are invited to celebrate God's love and care for their unborn child with a Blessing of Pregnancy. This blessing is a liturgical sign of God's Grace and the support of our parish community during this special time in the life of your family.
In order to make the celebration of your child's first sacrament as meaningful as possible for all involved, Saint Matthew's hosts a one-session parent preparation program. This session invites parents and members of the baptismal team together to explore the rich history and evolution of the sacrament of baptism, the significance of its symbolism, and their own personal experiences, understandings, and feelings. Parents seeking the Baptism of their child are expected to attend - extended family (ex: grandparents, godparents, your new baby!, etc.) are welcome. Parents are welcome to attend these sessions prior to the anticipated arrival of their newest family member.
Recognizing that Baptism is most fittingly celebrated when the community is present, Saint Matthew's celebrates this sacrament at weekend liturgies scheduled throughout the year. The Liturgy of Baptism, takes place once the preparation program has been completed. At this liturgy, the child being baptized, together with the parents, godparents, families and friends are called to the font in the presence of our worshiping community. During the Baptismal Liturgy, the parish community offers its continued support with faith and prayer, as the parents strive to be not only the first but the best teachers of the faith, in fact becoming a "domestic church". This liturgy is clearly the high point of the process, celebrating the life of God in your child and in the Church Community.
For more information and to register for our program, contact Peggy McQuade at [email protected]
or (518) 765-2805 Ext. 14. We look forward to welcoming your child into the Catholic Church and celebrating with you the wonder of God's love as revealed here at St. Matthew's. Once again, welcome!
Since Baptism, like all the sacraments, involves the action of the whole Church, those approaching Saint Matthew's for the Baptism of their children are expected to be Christian believers and members of the parish. Since it is often the birth of a child that prompts a young couple to approach the Church for the first time as independent adults, it is often a good time to establish a relationship with a parish community as a new Christian household. That relationship, of course, means more than merely filling out a form. Joining a parish means bonding with other Catholic Christians through weekend worship, lifelong faith formation and ministry. It is in fact your participation in these things that serve as the first phase of the sacramental preparation for Baptism.
The celebration of Baptism is part of an initiation into the church community that will strive to share our faith in the Gospel of Jesus which we hold sacred, and where that faith can be nurtured. If you would like to consider celebrating your child's Baptism at Saint Matthew's Church, please call us at the parish office. Once you make that call, you will be invited to meet with one of the members of our Parish Baptismal Team. If you have not been a member of our parish you will have an opportunity to ask any questions about parish life or Baptism, and hopefully begin to feel more at home at Saint Matthew's. When you do, you will also have an opportunity to officially register as a parish member.
Once you have made your initial inquiries and commitments, you will be invited to be a part of the more immediate Baptismal preparation. Expectant mothers who will be seeking Baptism, are invited to celebrate God's love and care for their unborn child with a Blessing of Pregnancy. This blessing is a liturgical sign of God's Grace and the support of our parish community during this special time in the life of your family.
In order to make the celebration of your child's first sacrament as meaningful as possible for all involved, Saint Matthew's hosts a one-session parent preparation program. This session invites parents and members of the baptismal team together to explore the rich history and evolution of the sacrament of baptism, the significance of its symbolism, and their own personal experiences, understandings, and feelings. Parents seeking the Baptism of their child are expected to attend - extended family (ex: grandparents, godparents, your new baby!, etc.) are welcome. Parents are welcome to attend these sessions prior to the anticipated arrival of their newest family member.
Recognizing that Baptism is most fittingly celebrated when the community is present, Saint Matthew's celebrates this sacrament at weekend liturgies scheduled throughout the year. The Liturgy of Baptism, takes place once the preparation program has been completed. At this liturgy, the child being baptized, together with the parents, godparents, families and friends are called to the font in the presence of our worshiping community. During the Baptismal Liturgy, the parish community offers its continued support with faith and prayer, as the parents strive to be not only the first but the best teachers of the faith, in fact becoming a "domestic church". This liturgy is clearly the high point of the process, celebrating the life of God in your child and in the Church Community.
For more information and to register for our program, contact Peggy McQuade at [email protected]
or (518) 765-2805 Ext. 14. We look forward to welcoming your child into the Catholic Church and celebrating with you the wonder of God's love as revealed here at St. Matthew's. Once again, welcome!