Baptism
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We rejoice with you at the birth of a new member of your family, and wish to extend a loving welcome to you and your child as members of God’s Family and the Reading Catholic Community of St. Agnes and St. Athanasius parishes! This is an especial joyous time when new life is born calling to mind the vastness of God's goodness by witness of new life and love.We live in Hope! The baptism of your child reminds us that we, as a faith community, share this hope and joy with you, and we want to do everything possible to make it a lived truth all the days of your life, and the life of your child.
Baptism Schedule
1st and 3rd Sunday of each month - 1:00PM Service at St. Agnes
2nd Sunday of each month - 1:00PM Service at St. Athanasius
Maximum of 6 babies at the 1:00PM Baptism Service
To Get Started...
To get started please fill out the Schedule a Baptism form and we will reach out to you.
If you have more questions, call us at 781-944-0490 or come into the Collaborative office to discuss this Sacrament.
Parent Baptism Meeting1st Friday of each month, 7:00PM at St. Athanasius Parish Activity Center, 300 Haverhill Street, Reading, MA
As part of planning and scheduling your child's baptism, the office will also schedule your Parent Baptism Meeting. Parents attend the Parent Baptism meeting before the child's baptism, whether this will be at St. Athanasius or at St. Agnes. If this is the first child to be baptized, parents are required to attend. Parents that have had a child baptized within the past few years are not required to attend. Call the Collaborative office for more information. 781-944-0490
Choosing the GodparentSponsors (godparents) represent the Catholic community in Baptism and express the witness of the whole community to help the parents in their rearing of their children. They are selected by the parents of the child and should be living the Christian faith as examples of God’s love.
It is usual to have two Sponsors, but it is acceptable to have just ONE Catholic Sponsor.Baptized and confirmed, the Catholic sponsor is assumed to be living our faith. A baptized non-Catholic may be a godparent in company with a Catholic sponsor. Godparents should have the intent to take an active part in the Christian formation of the child to know God’s love for us!
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Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. Although Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin, he wanted to show his solidarity with us so that we can be reconciled with God the Father. Through baptism we are reborn to begin to live a new life with God.In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
Archdiocese Guidelines for Baptism Sponsors: Information
Baptism, the first and fundamental sacrament is the gate to the other sacraments. Baptism is the purifying and sanctifying sacrament of rebirth and the means by which its recipients are incorporated into the Church in a bond of unity. Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation. It is the sacrament that frees a person from original sin and makes that person a member of Christ and His Church, thus being the way to a new and spiritual life. It is administered by immersing the recipient in water or by pouring water on the person’s head “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. One must be baptized before sharing in any of the other sacraments. Baptism is the foundation for all ministry and life in the church, and confers a commitment to follow Christ and spread his message throughout the world. Furthermore, in baptism, one is incorporated into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and thus participates in the gift of resurrection and eternal life with Christ.Infants can be baptized soon after birth. At the time of baptism, parents vow to practice their faith and provide a Catholic upbringing for the child. Adults who have never been baptized take part in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), and will typically be baptized at the Easter Vigil. The Catholic Church recognizes baptisms from other Christian denominations that baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, a person can only be baptized once.
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