Baptism

Baptism in the Church

(1213) Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),⁴ and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”⁵

(1227) According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ’s death, is buried with him, and rises with him:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.²⁹

The baptized have “put on Christ.”³⁰ Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies.³¹ (1228) Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the “imperishable seed” of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect.³² St. Augustine says of Baptism: “The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament.”³³

The Grace of Baptism

(1279) 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. (1280) Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated (cf. DS 1609 and DS 1624).

(1281) Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they have not been baptized (cf. LG 16). (1282) Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom.

Baptizing Your Children

Baptisms for children are available in Spanish and English on Saturdays at 10:00 AM, and on Sundays at 2:00 PM. If your child is 6 years or older, he/ she must first attend catechism classes to be baptized. Please call the Religious Education Office at (661) 323-7642.

Requirements for Baptism

Please bring the Birth Certificate of your child.
The usual donation is $50.00.
Godparents must be practicing Catholics who attend Mass and can be good examples for their godchildren. They must be 18 years or older, single or married by the Catholic Church and have received all of their sacraments (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony if living with a partner).
Parents and godparents must provide proof of having attended a class in preparation to baptize, either here in our parish or in their own parish.

In English, the pre-baptismal class for parents and godparents is on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 PM in the OLG Hall.

In Spanish, we offer classes the first four Wednesdays of every month at 6:45 PM in the OLG Hall.

*You need to register for the classes at the Parish office first. — No charge if baptizing at Our lady of Guadalupe, $10/per person if baptizing in another parish

Baptism for Adults

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program is for all those candidates not baptized, who want to learn about the Catholic faith, and the baptized not catechized, but eager to know about the teachings of Jesus Christ, transmitted to the Apostles, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe invites you to meet with the living God, present in the sacraments.

CATECHUMEN: Are those who are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) not received as child.

RECEPTION INTO FULL COMMUNION: Are those who are baptized in a separated ecclesial Community, and want to be in union with the Catholic Church by receiving the sacraments.

RCIA English Schedule:

Catechumens & Candidates to Reception into Full Communion

Sunday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Rm. St. Raphael OLG California Site.

If your child is 7 years or older and is not baptized yet, he/she must first attend Catechism classes.

He/she need all 1^st. Communion requirements. (Except the proof of sacraments).
Bring the Birth certificate of your child.

Please call at (661) 323-7642 for information about the requirements and schedule.