St. Gregory the Great

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Sacrament of Baptism

Congratulations! Baptism is the first sacrament that initiates one into the life in the Church, the life of Christ!

Parents are asked to attend a Pre-Baptismal Class at least two months prior to baptising their child. Please contact Jo Pierino to register: (716) 688-5678.

Anyone who is considering Baptism as an adult is welcome to attend the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

Baptism at St. Gregory the Great

Why Baptism?

Christ taught us about the necessity of Baptism for eternal life. Baptism “signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one ‘can enter the kingdom of God'” (CCC 1215).

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit… 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” (CCC 1213).

When is a good time to be baptized?

Parents are responsible for bringing their children to be baptized within the first few weeks after birth (Can. 867), to give their children the priceless gifts of grace, eternal life, and being part of the family of God. Parents should make efforts to attend a Pre-Baptismal class before the birth of their first child.

Those in danger of death should be baptized immediately.

Adults who intend to receive Baptism are often baptized in the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, after a process of learning the Faith: the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

Selecting Godparents

A Godparent must be:

  • 16 years or older.
  • Confirmed.
  • A person who lives their Catholic Faith and attends Mass regularly.
  • If married, has been married according to the laws of the Church. If unmarried, is living an authentically single life (i.e., not ‘living together’ with someone else).
  • One male and one female are preferred, but we can proceed with one Godparent.
  • Parents cannot serve as Godparents to their own children.

 

Read more on the Canonical guidelines for selecting Godparents.

Aaron - Baptism

One Baptism

One can only validly receive the Sacrament of Baptism once, as it confers a permanent mark on the soul. If a person has been baptized into another Christian faith tradition, the process by which they become full members of the Catholic Church is RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Learn more about our RCIA program.