December 11, 2009
The Christian Journey
Baptism calls us into the life of the Church
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
A young person once approached me about being baptized in the Catholic Church. He said he “wanted to be baptized, but did not want to join the Church.” I explained to him that the two are inseparably linked — like the old Campbell Soup commercials — “You can’t have one without the other.” Baptism means initiation into Christ and his Body, the Church.
There are others already baptized who feel the same way about baptism. This is obvious by their non-involvement in parish life, even the minimum of participation in the Sunday Eucharist. Therefore, our faith-sharing sessions for parents of infants do not focus exclusively on the “celebration” of the Sacrament of Baptism. (We could cover that in one evening.) We discuss their commitment to Christ and to the parish as the essential requirement for baptizing their babies.
How can parents hand on to their children what they do not believe or practice? In actuality, the Church not only celebrates the baptism of infants, the church also offers the parents the opportunity to renew their own baptism. (If, as Bishop Gettelfinger encouraged in a recent column, infant baptisms were celebrated within the context of the Sunday Eucharist — as strongly suggested by the Rite itself — then the entire parish would have an opportunity to be reminded of their baptism and the responsibilities which flow therefrom. This practice needs to be seriously considered in every parish for it has the power to transform our parishes.)
One goal we try to accomplish with our parents is to form a “Parent Support Group” following their infant’s baptism. This support group becomes a “small Christian community” within the context of the larger parish. It can play a vital role in the ongoing faith development of participants, as well as creating a sense of community among us.
The “Parent Support Group” has a three-pronged approach. First, we meet on a regular basis to discuss our faith, marriage and family issues, or anything else they want. Second, we have get-togethers like going out to dinner, sharing a potluck dinner, bowling, having a weekend get-away as a group. And third, we are exploring ways to minister to other parents, especially new parents, e.g. having a meal ready when the mother comes home from the hospital, asking a husband and wife who have experienced a miscarriage to be there for a couple in a similar situation, and so forth.
The Parent Support Group reinforces the necessity of continually growing in our faith, that baptism calls us to a life of service, and provides for some level of community that many young couples express a need for. So far, four couples have decided to participate in this support group. We are hoping that with each new group of parents, others will also become part of it.
Will we be 100 percent successful in getting all parents re-connected with the parish community by offering a lengthier period of faith formation before their infant’s baptism or by having a support group? Probably not, but at least we are attempting to reach out to them. It remains my hope that by devoting more time to them, they will find us to be a caring and loving church.