Mark 10:14

 The Church teaches us that parents are the first educators of their child in the ways of the faith and no one has more influence on a child’s sense of God and the Catholic faith than the ones who love and care for them the most.

At Baptism, the faith is proclaimed for the child by their Parents and Godparents who represent the Church.  Baptism unites us with Christ and welcomes us into a community of believers.  St. Paul describes it as being “clothed” with Christ.  It is through our loving example that children, as well as adults, encounter the risen Christ and recognize Him in their daily lives.  It is in the home, the “domestic church” that a child’s faith is expressed and nurtured.   A child will grow in love for his Catholic faith by watching his family practice and celebrate their faith every day.

 

Baptism Classes

If you or someone you know needs to have a child under the age of 7 baptized, classes will be held in the Ministries Building at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31 and February 7.  (It’s a two part class)  Godparents living in town also need to attend.  Out of town Godparents need to attend classes at their own home parish.   Godparents need to be practicing Catholics, who are fully initiated into the Catholic Church, (Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation)  Call Carolyn, 723-3636, for more information.

 

Here at Our Lady of Lourdes we continue to support and encourage families by being a worshipping, faith filled and caring community.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES  

 

Parents generally have their children baptized in the parish where they are registered and are participating members.   Parents must be registered parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes.  Parishioners from other parishes may have their child baptized here if they get a letter of permission from their pastor)  

 

Parents must be registered in the parish for four months prior to the Baptism.

 

Godparents must be Baptized, Confirmed, practicing, Catholics over the age of sixteen. (A practicing Catholic is one who attends Mass regularly, lives a life in communion with the teaching of the Catholic Church and must be living in a way that demonstrates that one’s faith is strong enough to be able to fulfill the responsibilities involved with being a sponsor. A sponsor-Godparent who is married must be married in accord with the laws of the Catholic Church (Can 874).) Only one Godparent is required but the church teaches that if two are chosen there should be one of each gender.  Members of other Christian churches may serve as Christian witnesses as long as they are baptized and as long as there is one eligible Catholic Godparent.  Catholic Godparents who attend Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes must be registered in the parish at least four months in order to receive a sponsor certificate.  Godparents who are not members here are required to present a Sponsor Certificate from their own parish at the time the Baptism is scheduled.

 

Parents and Godparents must attend a two-session program before scheduling the baptism of their child.  Godparents who are not members of Our Lady of Lourdes or who cannot attend our classes, are required to attend Baptism classes in their own parish.  A letter of completion must be presented along with the sponsor certificate at the time the Baptism is scheduled. Baptisms, except in emergencies, are not celebrated during the season of Lent.

 

Baptism classes are held from 6:30- 8pm on Tuesday evenings. Check calendar for dates.  There is a $25 fee to cover the cost of materials.  Several months before the child is born, parents should call the office and sign up for these classes.

 

 Infant Baptisms are celebrated at different Masses every month.  The Baptism of older children (over the age of reason), teens or adults follows the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).  The Rite is adapted for various age groups.  Call the parish office for more information. (Classes in Spanish are also available, check Spanish section)

 

Holy Communion 

“The Liturgy is the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all the church’s power flows” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 10)

 

The primary goal of sacramental preparation is conversion.  Leading people to sacraments is about taking hold of this unique opportunity to inform, form and transform their lives. (Embracing the Vision, Linda Gaupin, CPD, Ph.D.)  When we prepare children, teens and adults to celebrate Holy Communion, we look to the Sunday Mass. Here we gather to be formed into the Body of Christ.  Here is where Christ is made present.

 

In his 1998 Apostolic Letter on the importance of Sunday, “Dies Domini”, Pope John Paul II notes that in the celebration of the Eucharist two things happen.  The Eucharist feeds and nourishes us through the Body and Blood of Christ.  At the same time, participation in this action forms the Church.  “The Eucharist feeds and forms the Church”(DD, 32) Thus, the Pope points out that “The Sunday assembly is the privileged place of unity” (DD, 36)

 

At Our Lady of Lourdes, bringing people to appreciate and celebrate Sunday Liturgy is our priority.  Our Holy Communion preparation centers on four important parts of the Mass.  In Sr. Linda Gaupin’s,  EMBRACING THE VISION, she explains the meaning and purpose of these four parts as set down in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and The Introduction to the Order of Mass.

 

·          The Introductory Rites of the Mass…  “We are the Body of Christ”

·          The Liturgy of the Word….  “God Speaks to Us”

·          The Liturgy of the Eucharist…   “We Lift up Our Hearts”

·          The Communion Rite…  “We Hunger and Thirst for God”