Sidebar: Baptism just a start

For many parents, the Baptism of a child can be the first step of rejoining the Church, said Joyce Solimini, associate director for children, youth and family catechesis for the Albany diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

"We need to give parents the chance to explore their faith in light of the gift of becoming parents," she said. "Conversion happens gradually and in steps. It doesn't happen overnight or through participation in classes. It takes community, welcoming, witness and prayer."

She added that the day a sacrament is received is not the end of the family's journey. "The day a sacrament is celebrated is one step," Mrs. Solimini said. "Baptism unfolds; it isn't achieved. Sacraments celebrate what God is doing, not what we have achieved."

That's why the Church needs to continue to provide support to families and individuals after the reception of sacraments. "We need to be with them, to nurture them and to walk with them," she said.

Often, parishes try to determine if people are ready to receive a sacrament, but parishes should also look at themselves, she said. "Personal readiness won't happen until the community is ready to be welcoming and nurturing," explained Mrs. Solimini. (MM)

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