St. Oscar Romero Parish rejoices with you and offers our congratulations and best wishes to you and your family on the birth or adoption of your child! Your joy in welcoming your child into your family is echoed by our Canton Catholic parish community as we look forward to welcoming your son or daughter into our extended family of faith. 

You probably have many questions about how to proceed with planning for your child’s baptism. Below you will find information regarding the celebration of infant baptism at St. Oscar Romero Parish.

Baptism is the first of the three sacraments of Christian initiation which make us full members of the Church, the Body of Christ in the world. It is the gate to the other sacraments. Once given, it is not given again, because it seals us with a permanent spiritual character: we belong to Jesus Christ our Savior and become like him - children of God, able to enter heaven. Baptism frees us from sin and gives us new life in the Holy Spirit.   

Baptisms are currently scheduled at our church on the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 1:30 pm. 

Choosing godparents is a serious task and it is a great honor to be asked to be a godparent. In former times, people thought of godparents as someone who would take custody of your child and raise him or her in the event that you could not. This criteria is no longer helpful, as civil law governs decisions such as these. On a moral level, however, the godparent is someone who can serve as a model of faith for the child, someone who strives to live a Christian life and who is active in the life of the Church. In reflecting on this choice, consider those people in your life who are willing to share their faith with your child, both in word and by example, and who will be a part of your child’s life for the span of your child’s life. The godparent can be a relative of the child, such as an aunt, uncle, cousin, sister or brother; but the godparent can also be a close family friend who is truly that model of faith that you want your child to emulate. 

Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are at least 16 years of age and must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. If married, the godparent must be married in the Catholic Church or had their marriage blessed by the Catholic Church.

Only one godparent is required by Canon Law. However, most people do choose two godparents, and in that case, one must be male, and one must be female. Both godparents must be 16 years or older.

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The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.

At baptism, the presider prays over the water:

Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Holy Spirit give to this water the grace of your Son, so that in the sacrament of baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit. (Christian Initiation of Adults, #222A)

Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants, shortly after birth. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children who have been baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”

The Catechism teaches:

"The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ" (CCC 1279).

• Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
• Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
• Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
• White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.