"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. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20)
Baptism is the first of seven sacraments and the first sacrament of initiation, therefore the gateway to all the other sacraments. It is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification. 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. (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1279)
What are the benefits? Sanctifying grace, faith, hope, love, becoming a child of God, and therefore heir to the kingdom, bearing his permanent mark that says we belong to him, being washed clean of original sin, receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, participating in Jesus' mission as priest, prophet and king, born again as a new creation…receive these and other realities as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit take up residence in your soul!
Congratulations on the birth of your child! We are excited you have chosen to have your child baptized in one of our parishes in the Queen of Saints cluster. Baptism is the first step in the journey as a Catholic Christian. Infants and children are baptized into the faith of their parents, as the faith family assists them through prayer and support. If this is your first child, you will need to schedule a baptism class with Fr. Jake at (319) 228-8131 or email at DBQ150@dbqarch.org. If this is not your first child, you can visit with Fr. Jake on what the expectations are and any concerns you may have with an additional child in the family. Fr. Jake will schedule the baptism date with you. Click on Infant Baptism to complete the form.
Parent(s) must be registered parishioners and practicing Catholics. If you are not a registered member, you can register with Father at your class or request permission from your registered parish. Baptisms are not held during Lent. Below are FAQ's about Godparents.
- What are the qualifications for Godparents/Sponsors?
A godparent or sponsor must be a baptized Roman Catholic who has received both First Communion and Confirmation. She/he must be leading a life in harmony with the Catholic faith, be free to celebrate the Sacraments, and not bound by any canonical penalty.A godparent/sponsor must be at least 16 years of age unless the pastor or the minister of the sacrament considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made (Canon 874.2).Godparents/sponsors must also be ready to commit time and personal care necessary to nurture and support the child in the faith.
A godparent/sponsor cannot be a parent of the one to be baptized and/or confirmed.
- What is the role of Godparents?
In the Baptism of infants, parents take responsibility for choosing a godparent(s) who will serve as good examples for living the Catholic life. A godparent can later serve as the sponsor of the child when he/she is confirmed. The qualifications for godparents of infants or adults are always the same.Although the selection of two godparents is customary with infant Baptism, only one is required. A godparent can be either male or female. If two godparents are chosen, one must be male and one must be female (Canon 873). - Can a non-Catholic be my child's godparent?
A baptized, non-Catholic Christian can be chosen as a Christian witness at Baptism provided there is at least one Catholic godparent.
Adults and children who are not infants (IE: seven years old and up) typically go through the process of RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. For information about RCIA contact Dennis & Anita Kimm, kimm@southslope.net. The sacrament will be celebrated at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday.