To be Christ to Everyone
To see Christ in Everyone
Congratulations! The birth of a child is always a very joyous event as you give thanks for the gift of your child. Indeed, children are a great blessing from God. But not only is this your child, God wants your child to be his child as well. That is why he gives us the Sacrament of Baptism through which we are reborn and given new life through water and the Holy Spirit. When this happens, we are made a new creation, washed clean from our sins, set free from our slavery to the devil, are claimed for Christ and become members of his Church, and made adopted sons and daughters of God. Since antiquity, Baptism has been seen as the door that leads to every other sacrament since Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation which also includes Confirmation and the Eucharist. It is also through this sacrament that we enter into a profound personal relationship with God our Father through Jesus Christ, his Son, and in the Holy Spirit. What a great gift God wants to give your child and your whole family!
We also want to thank you for considering St. Joan of Arc as the place to have your child baptized. Baptisms at St. Joan of Arc are celebrated after the 10 AM Mass on the first Sunday of the month. If this is your first child to be baptized at St. Joan of Arc, either the priest or one of the deacons will contact you about scheduling a meeting with you in your home to get to know you better and to speak with you a little more about the baptism process. At this meeting he will also give you a copy of the Baptism Booklet which we ask you to turn in to the parish office one month prior to the anticipated date of Baptism. If this is not your first child, you can pick up this booklet from the parish office or download it below. If this is your first child to be baptized at St. Joan of Arc, the parents and godparents will also have to attend a Baptism Seminar which is held on the Thursday preceeding the Baptism at 7:00 PM in the Family Life Center. Registration is required before attendance at a seminar. You may register for a seminar at the parish office. If the godparents have already attended a seminar either at St. Joan of Arc or at another parish, they will not need to attend another seminar. All they need to do is provide us with a certificate from that parish showing that they attended the seminar. Once this is completed, we can schedule the Baptism for your child.
Again, we thank you for considering us for this important and special moment in your child's life.