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Baptism The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Sacrament of Baptism is “the basis of the whole Christian life…Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” (1213) The Sacrament of Baptism may be received at any age. For an adult, receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist are normally given through the completion of the process called “The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at the Easter Vigil. For many of us, our faith journey began with our Baptism at infancy. Since we were not able to speak for ourselves, our parents and godparents asked that we be baptized and promised to raise us in the Catholic Faith. Because of the gravity of this commitment, parents are required to attend a preparation program to help them understand what the signs and the symbols of the sacrament mean and to help them prepare for raising their child in the Faith. At least one parent should be a practicing Catholic or preparing to become a member. Baptism preparation classes and baptisms are scheduled regularly. Ordinarily baptism is celebrated during Sunday Mass. When selecting god parents, the following requirement should be follows: a child may have either one or two godparents. If two are chosen, one must be male and one female. While it is preferred that both be Catholic, both must be baptized, at least sixteen years old and in good standing in the church. Persons who are cohabiting are not suitable godparents.
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