Baptism

Baptism

Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5)


All registrations for baptism, baptismal preparation, as well as acceptance of the baptism policy are made through the parish office at 217-546-3527. Baptisms are celebrated on Saturday evenings or Sundays after Mass, and may also be celebrated within Mass upon request. 


Prior to the celebration of baptism, parents are expected to meet with a member of the clergy at the parish. Parents who have previously participated in baptism preparation are not required to meet with a member of the clergy for preparation. We recommend that parents request this meeting prior to the birth of their child, if possible.


The clergy at Christ the King Parish look forward to assisting you as you seek for your child to be incorporated into God’s family through rebirth by water and the Holy Spirit at their baptism.


The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life

Freed from Sin

Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants, shortly after birth. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children who have been baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”


The Catechism teaches:

"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" (CCC 1279).


While in ordinary circumstances, sacraments in the Catholic Church are administered validly by a member of the clergy, in an emergency situation, the sacrament of baptism can be administered by anyone.


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 or she pours water on the person’s head while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (CCC 1284).



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