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What is Baptism?
Baptism is the first Sacrament of Christian Initiation whereby one becomes a member of the Christian Family, the Body of Christ, His Church!
Baptism:- Washes us clean from Original Sin--the sin all of humanity inherits from the disobedience of Adam and Eve when they ate the fruit which God had forbidden them to eat.
- Makes us sons and daughters of God by adoption by configuring us in a real and unrepeatable way to Jesus Christ, God's Only Begotten Son.
- Makes us a member of the Christian Community.
- And most importantly, cleansed from Original Sin and configured in a real way to Jesus, it opens for us the chance and reality of Heaven for the life to come!
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit... and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: 'Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1213
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Receiving Baptism
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Infants & Children
Our Collaborative parishes ordinarily schedule the celebration of Baptism for Infants and Children according to the following schedule:
- St. Anthony's: 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month at 1:00 p.m.
- St. Mary's: 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month during the 10 a.m. parish weekend Mass.
♦♦ PLEASE NOTE: Beginning January 2023, ALL Baptisms at
St. Mary's Parish/St. Ann church in Hull will take place during/within the 10:00 A.M. Sunday Parish weekend Mass ♦♦ Baptism celebrations in Hull will be limited to one child/family per Mass.
Please contact Fr. Will with any questions regarding Baptism or to register your child for Baptism at either one of our parishes!
Information about Baptismal Preparation
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Adults
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is the program for Adults wishing to come into the Catholic Church!
Please contact Fr. Will if you have questions or would like more information about RCIA and becoming Catholic! -
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Rev. Fr. William P. Sextonfatherwillchristbythesea.netParochial Vicar
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Frequently asked Questions
- What are the requirements of parents who wish to have their child baptized in the Catholic Church?
- My spouse isn't Catholic; can our child still be Baptized in the Catholic Church?
- Who can be a Godparent?
- How many Godparents?
- Is there a Cost or Fee?
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During the Baptism Ceremony, parents will take a promise before God that they will raise their child (or children) Catholic. The only requirement of parents in requesting baptism for their child is that there is a "founded hope" that the parents will raise their child as a Catholic in the Catholic Church.
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Yes! However, the non-Catholic parent must take the same promise as the Catholic spouse to raise the child Catholic or at the very least, to not interfere with or undermine the child being raised Catholic.
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The Catholic Church requires Godparents to be a Baptized Catholic who also:
- Is at least 16 years of age
- Has received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church
- Has received First Communion in the Catholic Church
- If married, should have been married Sacramentally in the Catholic Church (opposed to civilly by a JP, etc)
- and should be "living a life of Faith" (attends Mass regularly)
- Protestant or Orthodox Christians may serve as a Christian Witness, if and only if there is also one Catholic godparent who meets the above requirements.
- A Christian witness stands as an example of what it looks like to live the Christian life like a godparent, but a Christian witness is not Catholic so a standard Godparent is still needed.
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The Code of Canon Law requires a minimum of one godparent. If there will be two godparents, they must be one of each gender. If someone is serving as a Christian witness, there must be a second person who serves as a standard godparent.
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There is no cost for Baptism at either of our parishes.
Families are welcome to give a donation of their choosing to the Parish, the celebrant, or both.
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What to Expect
The Rite of Baptism consists of several parts which flow from one to the other.
First, the parents and godparents present their child to the Church and Her representative, the priest or deacon, and ask for their child to be baptized.
The Child is addressed by name and then signed with the Sign of the Cross on the forehead.
Next follows a Liturgy of the Word and homily.
After this, the deacon or priest blesses the water which will be used, and then the parents and godparents are asked to renew their own baptismal promises before they take the same promises on behalf of their child.
The child has the Holy Water poured over his or her foread, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Then the child's head is anointed on with the Holy Oil of Sacred Chrism, Priest, Prophet, and King after Jesus Christ.
The Child is clothed in a white garment, symbolic of his or her new life in Christ, and then presented with a lighted Baptismal Candle.
There is then a blessing over the child's ears and mouth that they may always hear the Word of God and proclaim His Love!
There is a final blessing over the parents and all in attendance, and the ceremony is concluded.
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