Baptism is the first of the Church’s seven sacraments, and the first of the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). By Baptism we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ.
The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love. ~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Parents who wish to have their children under the age of 7 baptized at St. John's should be registered members of the parish and are required to attend our Baptism preparation class. Parents are encouraged to attend this one session class before their baby is born. Parents are also encouraged to attend the class for each child as the class is focused on the preparation parents should do to bring each child into the Church – both the universal Body of Christ and the community of St. John the Baptist.
Baptisms are held on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Sunday of each month after our 11AM Mass.
Baptism class is offered the second Monday of each month at 7PM in the church atrium. There is no cost however registration is necessary. Parents should fill out the registration form. Once the form is submitted, the parish office will confirm the registration for the class with you. You will be required to have your Godparents or Christian Witness sign a form. These forms will be explained and provided at class. For reference, copies of these forms are provided below.
Please email or call the parish office at 952-890-9465 if you have questions.
For those over the age of 7, the Church, after the Second Vatican Council, has restored the order of the Catechumen in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). There is a special program for children—the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, Adapted for Children. To learn more about these programs and to register, please contact the Faith Formation office at 952-890-9434 or email at [email protected].