Baptismal Preparation Program: Fortifying Young Souls in the Catholic Faith

The greatest gifts our Catholic Church has to offer come to us in the sacraments. With the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation — we are welcomed into the Church, receiving the abundant graces of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. What a joyous occasion it is, then, each time we can witness an infant or young child being brought into the Church with the Sacrament of Baptism!

“Baptism means that the child is cleansed of original sin, and it also imparts the unique graces that come along with the sacrament,” says Deacon Harry Cramer. “It also brings the child into the Church as a child of God, so we see that beautiful trifecta effect of Baptism. It’s such a beautiful sacrament.”

Deacon Harry, who leads the baptismal preparation classes here at St. Anthony of Padua, also recognizes the importance of a child’s Baptism in the faith life of the parents.

“I love preparing parents for the Baptism because I see it as an opportunity to do some catechesis for them, too,” he says. “We focus on what the sacrament means for the child being baptized, but we also spend time talking about what it means to parent a child in the Catholic faith. Your child is going to learn how to live God’s call to them by watching what you do. It goes beyond church attendance — your child is going to learn from you how to disagree, how to reach out to others that are hurting, how to forgive and ask forgiveness. As you prepare your child to be baptized, you have to take a look at the way you’re living your faith and whether there are any changes you need to make.”

Baptismal preparation classes are held quarterly on a Monday evening. During a typical session, Deacon Harry begins with a brief discussion of a Scripture verse about the sacrament and then recites a baptismal prayer. Next, the group learns about the sacraments as expressions of God’s love and presence in our life. Deacon Harry emphasizes that children grow through parental involvement just as our adult faith continues to grow through our own involvement with God. Then he walks parents through the history, signs, and rituals of the sacrament so that they will know exactly what to expect at the Baptism.

Guidelines for selecting godparents are also reviewed during the baptismal preparation.

“Godparents have to be 16 years of age,” Deacon Harry says. “You only need one, but if you have two, they should be one male and one female. A Christian of another faith can be a ‘Christian witness’ alongside a Catholic godparent.

“A godparent should be someone who is considered a role model for the child,” he adds. “I think the godparents become an important reinforcement for the parents, to be there and support the faith development of the child.”

Deacon Harry greatly enjoys the opportunity to journey with parents as they prepare to have their children baptized in the Catholic Church. As a parish, we can all pray for these parents and children, as well as rejoice in the blessings that come with the many Baptisms performed in our parish each year.

“The child receives grace at the very beginning of their life to reinforce the parents’ teaching to avoid sin and treat their brothers and sisters as God wants them to — with love, dignity, and respect,” Deacon Harry says. “I think the graces of Baptism fortify the child’s soul very early on, and with the other Sacraments of Initiation, it builds. It’s a joy to see a child through the baptismal process. It’s also a joy to meet the parents and talk to them and encourage them in their own faith. They are the first teachers of their child.”

Parents wishing to baptize an infant or very young child — up to about age 5 — for the first time are required to attend a baptismal preparation class. To learn when the next baptismal preparation class will take place at St. Anthony, please contact the parish office at 217-222-5996. If you have specific questions about the preparation, call Deacon Harry Cramer at 217-224-1160.