Menu
Saint Matthew's Church ​​​​​​​​A Roman Catholic Community
  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Join Our Parish
    • Our Pastor
    • Our History
    • Staff Directory
    • Parish Events
  • Services
    • Our Cluster Parishes
    • Rosary and Novena
    • Prayer Chain
    • Memorial Page
    • Mass Cards
  • Ministries
    • Prayer and Worship
    • Education & Faith Development
    • Outreach/Social Justice
    • Administrative
  • Faith Development
    • Circle of Grace
    • Generations of Faith
    • Generations of Faith FAQs
    • Adult Bible Study
    • Seasonal Book Club
    • Word of God Faith-Sharing
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Reconciliation
    • Confirmation
    • Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
    • Sacrament of the Sick
    • Matrimony
    • Ordination
  • Outreach
    • Bereavement Support
    • Food Pantries
    • HOPE Club
    • Home/Hospital Visits
  • Parish Support
    • Weekly Offertory Envelopes
    • E-Giving
    • Parish Reports
  • Home
    • Our Mission
    • Join Our Parish
    • Our Pastor
    • Our History
    • Staff Directory
    • Parish Events
  • Services
    • Our Cluster Parishes
    • Rosary and Novena
    • Prayer Chain
    • Memorial Page
    • Mass Cards
  • Ministries
    • Prayer and Worship
    • Education & Faith Development
    • Outreach/Social Justice
    • Administrative
  • Faith Development
    • Circle of Grace
    • Generations of Faith
    • Generations of Faith FAQs
    • Adult Bible Study
    • Seasonal Book Club
    • Word of God Faith-Sharing
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Reconciliation
    • Confirmation
    • Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
    • Sacrament of the Sick
    • Matrimony
    • Ordination
  • Outreach
    • Bereavement Support
    • Food Pantries
    • HOPE Club
    • Home/Hospital Visits
  • Parish Support
    • Weekly Offertory Envelopes
    • E-Giving
    • Parish Reports

Baptism

Picture
Picture
Saint Matthew's is always happy to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism, which is a moment of joy for the whole Church. Whether we are sharing in the Baptism of adults at the Easter Vigil, or sharing 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 together 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.

At Saint Matthew's Church, we try to make the celebration of Baptism part of an initiation into a 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 the Pastor or 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.

Much like Baptism itself is lived out over time, so too Baptism is celebrated over time. At Saint Matthew's the community aspects of our Baptismal Rituals take place in two parts. Recognizing that Baptism is most fittingly celebrated when the community is present, Saint Matthew's celebrates these two liturgical moments at weekend liturgies scheduled throughout the year.

The first part, the Rite of Enrollment, normally takes place once the family has determined that they will seek Baptism for their child and has completed the preparation session. It is at this time that the child receives the Church's First Blessing.

The second part, 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 st.mattswelcome@gmail.com
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!

baptism_schedule_2019-2020.pdf
File Size: 45 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

                                                    St. Matthew's Baptism Schedule 2019-2020                                              
Prep Session*                     Rite of Enrollment / Blessing of Pregnancy**                                Baptism Liturgy** 
                                                                                 2019
Sun, June 23                        Sat, July 13 - 5 PM / Sun,  July 14                                       Sat, Aug 24 - 5 PM / Sun, Aug 25
Sun, Aug 25                         Sat, Sept 21 - 5 PM / Sun, Sept 22                                     Sat, Oct 19- 5 PM / Sun, Oct 20  
Sun, Oct 6                            Sat, Oct 26 - 5 PM/ Sun, Oct 27                                         Sat, Nov 23 - 5 PM/ Sun, Nov 24
                                                                                                                                                        2020
Sun, Nov 24                         Sat, Dec 14 - 5 PM/ Sun, Dec 15                                         Sat, Jan 11 - 5 PM/ Sun, Jan 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Sun, Jan 26                          Sat, Feb 8 - 5 PM / Sun, Feb 9                                            Sat, Feb 22- 5 PM / Sun, Feb 23 
Sun, Feb 23                         Sat, Mar 28 - 5 PM / Sun, Mar 29                                        Sat, April 18 - 5 PM / Sun, April 19
Sun, April 5                         Sat, May 2 - 5 PM / Sun, May 3                                            Sat, July 11 - 5 PM / Sun, July 12
Sun, June 7                          Sat, July 11 - 5 PM / Sun, July 12                                         Sat, Aug 29 - 5 PM / Sun, Aug 30 
Sun, Aug 2                          Sat, Sept 12- 5 PM / Sun, Sept 13                                        Sat, Oct 17 - 5 PM / Sun, Oct 18 
Sun, Sept 13                       Sat, Oct 17 - 5 PM / Sun, Oct 18                                          Sat, Nov 21- 5 PM / Sun, Nov 22

*Preparation Sessions are held on Sunday's St. Matthew's Church at 11:45 AM.
**Baptism scheduled for Sunday may be celebrated during either 8:30 AM or 10:30 AM Mass. 
For expecting mothers, 
"The Blessing of Pregnancy" is offered during the same time as The Rite of Enrollment.
​
​Home
     Our Mission
     Join Our Parish
     Our Pastor
     Our History
     Staff Directory
     Parish Events
     Our Cluster Parishes

Services
     Prayer Chain
     Mass Cards
     Rosary and Novena
     Memorial Page
​Ministries
     Prayer and Worship
     Education & Faith Development
     Outreach/Social Justice
     Administrative
Faith Development
     Generations of Faith
     Generations of Faith FAQs
     Generations of Faith 2020-2021 Theme
     Adult Bible Study
     Word of God Faith-Sharing

​Sacraments
     Baptism
     First Communion
     Reconciliation

     Confirmation
     Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
​     Sacrament of the Sick
     Matrimony
     Ordination
Outreach
     Bereavement Support
     Food Pantries
     HOPE Club
     Home/Hospital Visits

​Parish Support
     Weekly Offertory Envelopes
     E-Giving
     Parish Reports
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Copyright Notice
© 2017 Saint Matthew's Church, Voorheesville NY, USA    All rights reserved