As summer approaches, so does my third anniversary of working at Our Lady of Peace. The time has flown by, and the experience of working at a Catholic parish has been fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging. I’ve learned a great deal about myself and the Catholic faith. One area of job responsibilities that I would have never imagined being consumed (in a positive way) by is my role in preparing individuals and families for baptism.
As stated in my sessions with individuals and families preparing for baptism, I understood baptism was important. My wife and I were excited to have both our boys baptized, but I don’t think I had pondered the wonder and awe of baptism before my time at OLP.
This fact came to mind recently while reading The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism by Fr. Michael J. Himes. In a “For Reflection” section at the end of the chapter on baptism, he writes:
“In the early church, baptism meant rejection in the secular, pagan world. Has your baptism ever put you at odds with your culture?”
Wow, that’s a doozy of a question! As I read it, I realized I’ve never asked that question in any of my baptism preparation sessions, but maybe I should start the sessions with it.
Baptism sets Christians apart—not because we’re better than those who have not been baptized, but because Christ himself says, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (Jn 3:5). When Jesus says water and Spirit, he is referencing baptism. This is truly a foundational belief.
Due to the fact baptism is the beginning of life in Christ, our preparation program focuses on two major questions:
- Why baptism?
- What is the role of parents as the primary educators of the faith for their children?
The “Why baptism” question starts with the kerygma, the initial and essential proclamation of the Gospel message. It is the Good News of Salvation, shared in a condensed version—an elevator pitch. You are not sharing all of Salvation History, just the main points:
- God Created
- Sin Entered
- Jesus Saves
- We Respond
In our sessions, we dive into each element of the kerygma and give a succinct way to share the Gospel message with others. After the kerygma, we move into what it means to be baptized.
Baptism is one of the seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church. It is the gateway to the other sacraments and marks the beginning of a person’s journey as a disciple of Christ.
A few key points about baptism that are shared during the preparation session:
- The primary purpose of baptism in the Catholic Church is the remission of original sin. We inherit Original Sin from our first parents, Adam and Eve, and baptism cleanses us of this sin, restoring our relationship with God.
- Baptism imparts Sacramental Grace, which is sharing in God's divine life. It transforms us, making us children of God and members of the Body of Christ.
Through this sacrament, several profound spiritual realities are signified:
- Death and Burial: As we go into the water, we die to our old way of life, sin, and the world's dominion.
- Resurrection: As we rise out of the water, we are raised to new life in Christ, sharing in His resurrection.
- Cleansing and Renewal: Water symbolizes cleansing and purification, representing the washing away of sin and the beginning of a new, transformed life.
We also talk about baptism’s prefigurement in the Old Testament, the fact that we become a “new creature” or a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the spiritual gifts received during baptism.
The baptism preparation sessions cover all of the above and more, with one goal: to help women and men become disciples of Christ who are ready to be rejected by secular culture because they believe in Christ's message of eternal salvation.
Nicholas Cichowicz
Director of Faith Formation
