Baptism

Baptism

Sacrament of Initiation

Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

(John 3:5)

At Our Parish

The Church of the Nativity Parish in Menlo Park welcomes you warmly and takes delight in celebrating the Baptism of your child. We share in your joy and ask God's special grace for your entire family on this happy occasion.


Please fill out the Baptism Form online. Baptisms are celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Sundays of each month. Once we receive it, we will contact you to schedule the date. The Baptism Certificate will be handed to you immediately after the celebration.


Parents are required to attend a pre-Baptism class offered by Deacon Dominick Peloso. This class is held once a month on a Saturday morning in the O'Hare Center, located behind the church. Please call him directly (650-269-6279) for reservations and information. Godparents are also encouraged to attend this class. If you have taken a Baptism class within the last three years here or at another parish, please provide us with a letter of proof from that parish.


The child must have at least one godparent. Godparents must be baptized and confirmed Catholics who are practicing their faith. According to the Law of the Church (C.873), if there are two godparents one must be a man and one a woman. A baptized non-Catholic may act as a witness to the Baptism. Each Godparent must print, sign the Godparent Affidavit Form, and have it certified at their parish. Please send completed forms to the parish office at least one week prior to the scheduled date of the Baptism.


There is a baptism donation of $150.00. Please send this to the office as soon as possible. Make the check payable to Nativity and in the memo line write Baptism and the name of your child so it will get credited to the right account. If this is a hardship please let us know. Kindly mail the check to the parish before the scheduled date of the Baptism. Should you wish, you may also give a separate offering to the officiating priest/deacon directly to him after the celebration.

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Please do not hesitate to speak with the office staff or a member of the clergy about any of your questions or concerns. We are here to serve you in the best possible manner.

May the celebrating of the sacrament of Baptism bring your family many blessings and become a source of renewal of faith.

Nativity's Baptism Preparation Class

This class prepares parents and godparents for their child's reception of the Sacrament of Baptism. It is offered once a month on a Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.


The class is divided into 4 sections:

  • getting to know each other
  • a history of salvation (from Genesis to the current year)
  • the liturgy and principles of Baptism
  • how to raise a good Christian child


This class is open to any one wanting an overview of our faith.

For more information contact Deacon Dominick Peloso at 650-269-6279.

The Sacrament of Baptism

The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.


At baptism, the presider prays over the water:

Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Holy Spirit give to this water the grace of your Son, so that in the sacrament of baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit. (Christian Initiation of Adults, #222A)

Freed from Sin

Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants, shortly after birth. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children who have been baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”


The Catechism teaches:

"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" (CCC 1279).

Baptismal Symbols

 

  • Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
  • Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
  • Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
  • White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.

 

While in ordinary circumstances, sacraments in the Catholic Church are administered validly by a member of the ordained clergy, in an emergency situation, the sacrament of baptism can be administered by anyone.


In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pour water on the candidates head while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (CCC 1284).

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