HARMONY CHAPEL BAPTIST

I have not gotten my children baptized yet and have been putting it off trying to find godparents. The truth is that we don’t have anyone we could choose. We live far from relatives ( can relatives be godparents anyway?) and the only friend I could consider is single and not catholic. Are they still necessary these days? I mean how many instances are there of god parents actually taking over for the parents when needed to? I appreciate your info. Thanks in advance.

Godparents are not just people who fulfill the role outlined by the Church, but should be a living example of the authentic Catholic faith that you, the parents, are teaching your children in your everyday lives.

A couple of posts have gone into the exact requirements, so I won’t belabor those points, but according to Canon law, you need {on paper} one godparent who meets the spiritual requirements to care for your child and *help* you raise your child with the Faith.

Ideally, you should have two godparents, one male and one female {as a reflection of God’s design for the family}, but sometimes it’s difficult to find two practicing Catholics who can offer your child what he/she needs spiritually. In those cases, you can ask a non-Catholic Christian to be a Christian witness to the baptism in addition to your Catholic godparent. They are agreeing to help {not hinder} your ability to raise the children with the Faith.

If you have relatives out of town/state, you can also ask local parishioners to be ‘proxy-stand ins’ for your godparents, which means they will stand in and validate that you have godparents who could not be present for the Sacrament.

Above all, I would call your local parish and see what their process. Each diocese has their own set of "rules" for baptism. I wouldn’t delay baptism if at all possible. The Sacrament of Baptism is *far* more important than waiting around on godparents.

Are you registered with your parish? Are you active? Get involved and make friends and ask them to be godparents. Don’t be shy!

Water can never purify us spiritually, that can only be done through a spiritual force. Not a physical one.

Born Again in Water Baptism
John 1:32 - when Jesus was baptized, He was baptized in the water and the Spirit, which descended upon Him in the form of a dove. The Holy Spirit and water are required for baptism. Also, Jesus’ baptism was not the Christian baptism He later instituted. Jesus’ baptism was instead a royal anointing of the Son of David (Jesus) conferred by a Levite (John the Baptist) to reveal Christ to Israel, as it was foreshadowed in 1 Kings 1:39 when the Son of David (Solomon) was anointed by the Levitical priest Zadok. See John 1:31; cf. Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21.

John 3:3,5 - Jesus says, "Truly, truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When Jesus said "water and the Spirit," He was referring to baptism (which requires the use of water, and the work of the Spirit).

John 3:22 - after teaching on baptism, John says Jesus and the disciples did what? They went into Judea where the disciples baptized. Jesus’ teaching about being reborn by water and the Spirit is in the context of baptism.

John 4:1 - here is another reference to baptism which naturally flows from Jesus’ baptismal teaching in John 3:3-5.

Acts 8:36 – the eunuch recognizes the necessity of water for his baptism. Water and baptism are never separated in the Scriptures.

Acts 10:47 - Peter says "can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people..?" The Bible always links water and baptism.

Acts 22:16 – Ananias tells Saul, “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” The “washing away” refers to water baptism.

Titus 3:5-6 – Paul writes about the “washing of regeneration,” which is “poured out on us” in reference to water baptism. “Washing” (loutron) generally refers to a ritual washing with water.

Heb. 10:22 – the author is also writing about water baptism in this verse. “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Our bodies are washed with pure water in water baptism.

2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a child. This foreshadows the regenerative function of baptism, by water and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 44:3 - the Lord pours out His water and His Spirit. Water and the Spirit are linked to baptism. The Bible never separates them.

Ezek. 36:25-27 - the Lord promises He will sprinkle us with water to cleanse us from sin and give us a new heart and spirit. Paul refers to this verse in Heb. 10:22. The teaching of Ezekiel foreshadows the salvific nature of Christian baptism instituted by Jesus and taught in John 3:5, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16.

I know that his outfit needs to white. However does it need to be a gown?? What is the full meaning of the outfit??

Wow I think people should not criticize somebody elses choice to Baptize their child as a Catholic, and no we are not satanists. What is wrong with the world? I would never tell someone their religion is wrong.

Yes a white gown would be proper attire for a catholic baptism.

We are wanting to get our son baptized in a Catholic church. I understand that at least one of his god parents (we are having 3) need to be Catholic.. but do all of the God Parents need to be baptized into some religion?
thanks

Not only baptized, but also confirmed Catholics. Godparents are technically called sponsors, and here are some of the rules (all emphasis is mine):

"There is to be ONLY ONE male sponsor or ONE female sponsor or ONE of each." (Canon 873)

"To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must…BE A CATHOLIC who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on" (Canon 874.1.3)

"A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then ONLY AS A WITNESS of the baptism." (Canon 874.2)

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM

Received an invite and dont really know what to expect as I am Baptist. Thanks!
Thanks everyone! The time states 11:30 so is that during mass or a separate ceremony?

My daughter’s baptism lasted about a half hour, but she was the only one getting baptised. In our case, mass was at 11:30 with baptism afterwards. We probably didn’t leave the church until about 1:30.

In our church, there could have been multiple babies being baptised on the same day so if that was the case it definitely would have taken longer.

I just had a baby boy and I want to baptize him as soon as possible. The only problem is I have no idea what the rules are concerning the Godparents. Since the Catholic church is constanly changing I’m confused. Are the Godparents supposed to be Catholic? Do they have to be married? Can I only choose one? If there is more i need to be concerned with PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Actually only one Godparent is necessary. You can have one godfather, one godmother, or one of each.

The role of the godfather and/or godmother is very important. They must be firm Catholic believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized—child or adult—on the road of Christian life.

To ensure this, a godparent must be at least 16 years old (for maturity’s sake), fully initiated (having received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), be someone other than the legal parents, and one who leads a life in harmony with the Church.

If you have only one Catholic godparent, then you may have a baptized non-Catholic Christian participate as an official witness. The witness will be responsible for setting a good example for the baptized person while the Catholic godparent will share the specifics of the Catholic faith.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1255: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml
and the Code of Canon law, Canon 872 and following: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM

With love in Christ.

Why does the Catholic Church teach that people can receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders only once?

Because, once you are sealed with the holy spirit, freed from original sin, or ordained, you will be for life.. If you were baptized, you will always be free of original sin and there is no need to be baptized again. If you are confirmed, you are permanently sealed with the holy spirit. And If you receive holy orders, you will always be ordained.

I will be a Godmother very soon and I wanted to know what are the "traditional" gifts for catholic baptisms from the Godparent(s). So far, I’ve picked up on: the Godparents pay for the GodChild’s outfit (dress, sweater, & shoes, etc.
And then I’m considering a crucifix necklace, engraved cross to hang on the wall above the door, and a rosary? Would a rosary even be appropriate?

A rosary would be an appropriate gift for a first communion or confirmation gift, unless you are talking about a large wall rosary that could be hung above the child’s bed. I like to give something with a guardian angel theme, such as a picture or a night light that can be placed in the child’s room.

I am new to the faith and I will be attending a catholic baptism, marriage and funeral all within a week’s time..(my life is crazy) and I kinda want to see written the ceremonies so I kinda know what to expect. I have a missal but is there something else that holds the text of these rites? Thanks and God bless!

Each denomination has their own accepted wording. Protestants are likely to be more relaxed about deviation from the script.

My boyfriend and I have been having my discussions about this- since I am Jewish and he is Catholic. We were trying to figure out that if we had a child could I, as a Jewish person, participate in a catholic baptism?

Yes. If parents choose to baptize a baby, they have made a decision about the child’s religious identity even if only for the moment. Otherwise, the parents could have chosen to wait to declare the child’s religion or for the child to grow sufficiently old to declare their own identity.

There are some Jews who would say that if a baby is born to a Jewish mother, even if it is baptized, the baby is still Jewish and the parents are sinners for doing so.

By being there, and having the baby baptized, you are agreeing to raise the child Catholic.