Baptism Preparation for families of Young childrenBaptism is our first sacramental encounter with Christ, and we celebrate the baptisms of children with great joy at St. Thomas More. There are separate ministries for the English speaking and Spanish speaking families, to accommodate the preferred learning environment of the families and godparents of the children to be baptized. For the English speaking families, baptism preparation includes registration and church paperwork (managed by church staff), a baptism preparation class, and most importantly, the celebration of Baptism, usually at a Mass. Both the Baptism classes and the mass assistants at Mass are managed by volunteers. Baptism preparation classes are currently taught by two couples, Becky and John Cascino and Monica and Jose Gulisano. Classes are offered every other month. Additional teaching couples are always welcome! Course outlines would be provided to potential instructors, as well as guidance for beginning the process. Baptism mass assistants are present with families at the Mass at which their child is to be baptized. They assist the families with the “practical details” such as where to stand and where to have family present, and assist the priest with the sacramental details – making sure the objects of baptism including the candle, oils, etc are all in place. By easing parental concerns about 'details', Baptism mass assistants are important, calming elements in welcoming God's children to God's flock by allowing the parents and godparents to focus on God's presence at the moment of Baptism when He calls their child by name. The mass assistant arrives 45 minutes prior to the Mass he or she is scheduled for, and is done soon after Mass ends. The training for this position is “on the job”, shadowing a current mass assistant until the new volunteer is comfortable assisting alone. Currently, baptisms are scheduled twice per month, and there is one mass assistant at each baptism. It would be nice to add a few more mass assistants to the current list of volunteers. The current mass assistants, Bruce Gingerich, Ann Kilpatrick, and Karen Caira are all happy to talk about this part of the ministry further with potential mass assistants. To register your child for Baptism, contact: Ilka Cordova, [email protected], 919-942-6254. Baptism Preparation Class Contacts: John and Becky Cascino, Jose Gulisano or Monica Gulisano. For those interested in becoming Baptism class instructors, please click here. Baptism Mass Assistants Contacts: Bruce Gingerich, Anne Kilpatrick and Karen Caira. For those interested in becoming Baptism Mass assistants, please click here. | ||
Information for parents and godparents plus listings of baptism and preparation-class dates can be found on our Infant Baptism page. |