Baptism
Baptism, the first and fundamental sacrament is the gate to the other sacraments. Baptism is the purifying and sanctifying sacrament of rebirth and the means by which its recipients are incorporated into the Church in a bond of unity.
Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation. It is the sacrament that frees a person from original sin and makes that person a member of Christ and His Church, thus being the way to a new and spiritual life. It is administered by immersing the recipient in water or by pouring water on the person’s head “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. One must be baptized before sharing in any of the other sacraments. Baptism is the foundation for all ministry and life in the church, and confers a commitment to follow Christ and spread his message throughout the world. Furthermore, in baptism, one is incorporated into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and thus participates in the gift of resurrection and eternal life with Christ.
Infants can be baptized soon after birth. At the time of baptism, parents vow to practice their faith and provide a Catholic upbringing for the child. Adults who have never been baptized take part in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), and will typically be baptized at the Easter Vigil. The Catholic Church recognizes baptisms from other Christian denominations that baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, a person can only be baptized once.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Baptism:
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1275List Item 1
Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ.
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1276List Item 2
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20).
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1277List Item 3
Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism.
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1278List Item 4
The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
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1279
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.
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1280
Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated (cf. DS 1609 and DS 1624).
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1281
Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they have not been baptized (cf. LG 16).
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1282
Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom.
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1283
With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.
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1284
In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Baptism:
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BAPTISM AT ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH
To schedule a Baptism date, please bring the completed Baptism Registration Form (available for download at the top of the page or at the Parish office), the child's birth certificate, and Confirmation certificate(s) for both or at least one of the Godparents.
Parents are asked to pre-register at the parish office at least one month before the Baptism instruction class takes place.
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BAPTISM AT ST. JAMES CHURCH
English - 4th Sunday at 1:00 PM, on the following months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Spanish - 3rd Sunday of every month at the 11:30 AM Spanish Mass.
Only 3 children may be scheduled for Baptism at each Mass.
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BAPTISM AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH
English - 2nd Sunday during the 10:00 AM Mass on the following
months: January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Brazilian - 4th Sunday of every month after the 11:45 AM Mass.
Only 2 children may be scheduled for Baptism at each Mass.
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2026 BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTION CLASSES
Both Parents and Godparents must attend unless they have attended a class within the last three years. Documentation from the parish where they completed the class is required if either the parents or Godparents are not planning to attend the class at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish.
English: 1st Sunday of the month on the following months: January, March, May, July, September, and November
1:00 PM at St. James, lower church. (1/4, 3/1, 5/3, 7/12, 9/13, 11/1)
Spanish: 1st Saturday of every month:
1:00 PM at St. James, lower church. (1/3, 2/7, 3/7, 4/11, 5/2, 6/6, 7/11, 8/1, 9/12, 10/3, 11/7, 12/20)
Brazilian: (1/3, 3/7, 5/2, 7/11, 9/5, 11/7)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM at St. John the Baptist, lower church.
