Thank-you for inquiring about having your child baptized here at St. Raphael's. The following information was designed to serve as a help for you in discerning the commitment of this Sacrament for you and your child here at St. Raphaels.

We welcome your interest in this great sacrament. Baptism is the first of the seven Sacrament of the Church. Through the waters of Baptism God continues to form for Himself a new People, called together to witness by their common faith, life and worship the marvels of God's wisdom, goodness, and power. The sacraments are God's means of entering into our lives at every stage of our human and Christian development, meeting the needs each of those stages present. The sacramental life is an integral part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Baptized into His Body, the Church (I Corinthians 12:12-13), it is only in relation to the Church that we can call upon God as Our Father, as the Lord has taught us (St. Matthew 6:9).

We ask you to consider what the Rite of Baptism asks of parents: "In asking to have your child baptized, you are accepting the responsibility of raising him/her in the practice of the faith". This means passing on the teaching and the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by His Church, by seeing to your child's religious upbringing in the home and by formal religious education; by assisting your child in the praise and worship of our common heavenly Father on the Lord's Day (Sunday), and on every Holy Day of Obligation; by your own involvement in your Parish community as examples of stewardship of your time, talent and treasure, entrusted to you by God for your own good and for the good of those whom God has intended you to enrich by them. Only those who are living their Christian calling and dignity can hope to raise a child to undertake to do the same.

Our Parish is here to help you to do that. You can rely on us to give to you what God has given to us; can we count on you to share with us what God has given to you? If so, please read through the following information and return the Baptism Registration Form to the Parish Office or hand it to one of the priests after Sunday Mass. The Celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism at St. Raphael's Parish, is designed to outline the registration process as well as to answer commonly asked questions and serve as an opportunity of dialog for parents in evaluating your commitment to your child's faith walk and to this community of faith. You will be contacted either by phone or at the Baptism Class you indicate you will be attending, to set a date for the Sacrament of Baptism.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child into this Faith Community as members of our Parish family.

Sincerely in Christ,

St. Raphael Parish