Baptism becoming community milestone

Baptism, once held in a dark corner of the church with only a few people present and the mother sometimes absent, is now seen by the Church as a celebration of a child entering the mystery of God's life -- a mystery that will continue to unfold as he or she grows.

And with the Church's belief that parents are the primary educators of children, baptismal preparation becomes very important, explained Joyce Solimini, associate director for children and youth catechesis for the diocesan Office of Religious Education.

Because of that, parishes are developing programs that introduce the newborn to the parish, unite the family to the Church community, and support mothers and fathers as the ones responsible for passing the Faith on to their child.

Four models

Four models of baptismal preparation are currently in place:

1. Parents can meet with the pastor or his delegate for a one-time session. The benefit is that the pastor is able to build a relationship with the family. The drawback is that the session is often spent on the logistics of the ceremony rather than on the faith development of the parents. This model also fails to connect the family to the parish community.

2. A parish can train sponsor families who provide baptismal preparation. They serve as living witnesses to Christian parenting. This method is similar to pre-Cana sessions where engaged couples meet with married couples. A drawback can be that the new parents are connected only to the sponsoring families rather than to the whole parish community.

3. Parents become involved in a parish-based process prior to the child's birth and up to the Baptism. Expecting couples take part in a special blessing, and home visits are made so that the parish program can be explained and support extended. After the birth, the parents take part in programs where they discuss their own faith and ask questions they have, and attend workshops on the theology of Baptism. Finally, the Baptism is celebrated during a weekend Mass. This model connects new parents with the entire parish community.

4. The final model expands on the third by adding contact with the sponsor families after Baptism until the child is old enough to enter parish religious education programs.

Effective effort

St. Margaret Mary Church in Albany has been celebrating Baptism as a parish community for the past three years. The program has several components:

* Expecting parents are visited by a member of the Parish Baptismal Team, who brings materials on the program and answers questions. This brief visit allows for the discussion of the selection of godparents or unusual circumstances.

* Next, expecting parents participate in a blessing designed to show the parish's support for them.

* Parents then participate in group preparation session to discuss the history of the sacrament, the importance of its symbolism and their own experiences.

* The baby is then brought to Mass for the Rite of Enrollment when he or she formally becomes a member of the parish. The child also receives the Church's blessings for the first time.

* After the preparation is complete, parents, godparents and families come to church for Baptism during weekend Mass.

Popular program

St. Margaret Mary's offers the sacrament six times throughout the year during liturgically appropriate seasons or celebrations, including the Easter season, Pentecost, the Feast of the Epiphany and the Feast of Christ the King. (Baptism is not held during Lent or Advent.)

According to Rev. Thomas Chevalier, pastor, the program has been well received by the parish. Parishioners get to see the new family long before the Baptism, and can lend their support and share in the joy of birth and Baptism.

"It becomes really clear that this makes sense," said the priest. "This is a community event."

Staying in touch

Another parish doing unique work with Baptism is St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Guilderland. The parish, which baptizes more than 100 children a year, tries to stay in touch with families after the rite, said Sister Marilyn Hickey, RSM, pastoral associate for faith formation.

The baptismal preparation consists of attending a workshop facilitated by a parish staff member and a parenting couple. The workshop includes information on the theology of Baptism, tips on being a Christian parent and guided meditation.

"Frequently, a child is born a year or two after marriage," said Sister Marilyn. "This is an opportunity to update the couple's theology and to help them see they are the first and most important teachers of their children."

On-going effort

To support parents in their role as teachers, the parish sends letters on the sixth-month, one-year, two-year and three-year anniversaries of the child's Baptism. Included in the letters are blessings, prayers, and tips on using the Bible as a family, celebrating Advent and following other Church customs.

Said Sister Marilyn: "We try to stay in touch until they start the Liturgy of the Word program," offered at two Sunday Masses for children ages four to six.

Because it is often difficult for parents with young children to participate in parish life, the letters, said Sister Marilyn, "keep them connected and let them know they are important. Being a good parent is not easy. [We remind them that] ordinary things are holy and that parents are living the Corporal Works of Mercy in the home."

Two key questions

A. According to Joyce Solimini, associate director for children and youth catechesis for the diocesan Office of Religious Education, the guidelines for Baptism state the child should be baptized as soon as possible. That usually means when the child is healthy and the mother has recovered from the delivery. Pastoral considerations will also dictate the scheduling of the sacrament.

Q. What is the role of godparents?

A. A godparent, Mrs. Solimini explained, is a person who will play an active role in a child's life, provide support to the parents and serve as a faith example. Godparents looking for ideas on special activities might want to consult "The Godparent Book" by Elaine Ramshaw (Liturgy Training Publications). The book offers suggestions for building a relationship with godchildren prior to Baptism through adulthood. (MM)

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(06-12-97) [[In-content Ad]]