Baptism in General

Every baptism is one more step in God's ongoing redemption of the human family.  When a candidate comes to baptism, he or she turns away from an old life and declares a change of heart.  Through baptism "a person is incorporated into Christ and accepted into the Christian community.  He or she obtains forgiveness of sins and becomes...a new creation in water and in the Spirit." (Pastoral Directory, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, p. 101)  St. Paul calls baptism dying and rising with Christ:  the old sinful creature dies and a Spirit-filled person rises to take his or her place as a member of Christ's Body (Romans 6:3 ff).

Baptism is not merely a personal experience in one's private life; it is a community event.  "Faith is a communal reality, for we are called into the people of God and saved only in the context of this community." (Pastoral Directory, p. 103)  It is Christ acting through the members of this faith community who instructs, washes, lays hands on, and anoints the person being reborn.                                                                                    top

Infant Baptism

An infant cannot turn away from personal sins and follow Christ.  An infant's baptism is a sign of the future, as well as a present reality.  It points to those years of growth and guidance in Christ provided by family and community; it begins that growth by its very occurrence.  A healing of flawed human nature takes place--only a few weeks old for the infant but very old for the human race.

The communal dimension of baptism must also be a consideration when we approach infant baptism.  During the ceremony parents speak for their children.  By their own lives they and their family will provide inspiration and an example of Christian life for the child.  The infant is born into a family, yes, but by baptism the infant is reborn into the entire community of believers.  The presence and participation of the community is presumed by the rite itself.                                    top

A Statement of Policies

The policies listed below are intended to make the baptism celebrated in Bellarmine Chapel clearer signs of the beliefs that we profess.  Moreover, these policies are intended to ensure that those who are a baptized will have sufficient help to live and grow as members of Christ's Body.

1) To emphasize that baptism joins a candidate to the community, infant baptism is ordinarily celebrated during the Sunday Eucharists.  The dates will be at fixed intervals throughout the year.

2) Everyone baptized at Bellarmine Chapel is baptized into our community as well as into the universal Church.  Only those parents who are registered members of Bellarmine Parish should come here for the baptism of their children.  Parents who are members of another parish should seek baptism there.

3)  There is a preparation program for parents of infant baptismal candidates which consists of a 2 hour session that includes information about baptism and time for reflection and consideration of how we pass on our faith.

Parents of candidates are expected to participate in the program.  Godparents are always welcome to attend.  The baptism is then celebrated during the Eucharistic liturgy on the next scheduled baptismal Sunday.  Infants are baptized only when there is an assurance that they will be reared as Catholics.  When an infant is presented for baptism, the quality of the parents' faith-commitment is most important.

4) The pastoral staff will determine, in particular instances, if pastoral reasons justify an exception to our usual practices.
 

To arrange for the baptism of a child, please contact Jim Crosby, the Director of Religious Education, at 745-3317.  Please allow adequate time to complete the preparation program prior to the baptism.                                                                                                                                             top