ST. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

14908 Main Street

Upper Marlboro, Maryland  20772

email:  rectory@stmarysum.org

Business Hours for the Rectory 10am - 5pm Monday through Friday

Infant Baptism

The baptism of infants is a treasured practice dating from the earliest tradition of the Church. "Our Lord said, ‘Unless a man is reborn in water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ The Church has always understood these words to mean that children should not be deprived of baptism, because they are baptized in the faith of the Church. This faith is proclaimed for them by their parents and godparents, who represent both the local Church and the whole society of saints and believers." Perhaps even more so than in the case of adult baptism, the baptism of infants most clearly affirms that it is not we who chose God, but rather God who chooses us.

The baptism of infants is to take place within the first few weeks after birth. The baptism of infants is a teachable moment. Baptismal preparation centers on God’s love, on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, on the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and on the cleansing of original and personal sin. It should reflect on all life as a gift from God, on our being created to the image and likeness of God and on the blessing we have in sharing life with God and with one another. Parents should be helped:

• to nourish their own faith life so they can support the gift of
  Faith they share with their children;

• to see Baptism as a sacrament of initiation, a first step in a journey
  of faith made with other members of the Church;

• to understand something of the history of the sacrament in order
  to grasp the Church’s present appreciation of it;

• to be familiar with the baptismal ritual and symbols, namely:
  water as life-giving and cleansing; oil as strengthening and healing;
  light as driving out darkness; the community as the setting in which
  Christ is present.

It is of great importance that parents are moved by their own faith as they present their child for the celebration of the sacrament. Godparents, along with the parents, present the child to the Church. They should be persons who:

• are Catholics, have been confirmed and who are currently
  receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist;

• are at least sixteen years of age (an exception may be made by
  the parish priest for a just cause);

• lead a life of faith in harmony with the function they are under-
  taking and have the intention of undertaking this function;

• are not parents of the child;
  are not bound by a legitimately declared or inflicted canonical
  penalty.

Catholics in irregular marriages are not to serve as godparents. There need be only one godfather or godmother, although it is common practice to have one of each. A baptized person belonging to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only as a Christian witness to Baptism; the function of the Christian witness in such a case is to attest to the actual celebration. There MUST always be at least one Catholic person who has the office of godparent.

The ordinary minister of infant baptism is a bishop, priest, or deacon. Because baptism signifies entrance into the Church, a parish church is the proper place for its celebration. Except for true emergencies, such as danger of risk to health or danger of death, baptisms at home or in any place other than a Catholic church are not permitted in the Archdiocese of Washington.

Send mail to webmaster@stmarysum.org with questions or comments about this web site.