Baptism
Office of Religious Education and Faith Formation
Contact Information:
P. O. Box 7417
Alexandria, LA 71303
Phone: (318) 445-2401, Ext. 207
Fax: (318) 448-6121
John 3:3-7 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely, he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he? “Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’
Baptism is the first of three sacraments of initiation. Only to be received once, through Baptism one is received fully into the body of Christ as a member of the Catholic Faith. Baptism of all faiths, if performed in the Trinitarian formula, are recognized as the single way one becomes a member of Christ Church. At the moment of being baptized, the individual is imparted with the Holy Spirit which will dwell within them giving them sanctifying grace.
As with all sacraments two elements, form and matter, are required for the conferring of graces to be valid. For Baptism, the form is “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” While the matter is the water that is poured over the one receiving baptism. There are other rites included in the baptism ceremony of individuals but at minimum the form and matter must exist to be a valid baptism.
For more information on Baptism, please contact your parish church office, click on the below link or call the Office of Religious Education and Faith Formation office at the St Joseph Center at (318) 445-6424, ext. 207.