Infant Baptism

Jesus voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to ‘fulfill all righteousness’. (Mt 3:15) Baptismal grace is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins (for those above the age of reason), birth into the new life by which one becomes an adoptive child of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. (see: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1279)

The practice of Infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole “households” received baptism, infants would also have been baptized. (Acts :16:15, 33; 18:18; 1 Cor 1:16)
You must be our parishioner to have your child baptized here 
or have a letter granting permission from your home parish.
All Catholic faculty, Staff and Students of University of Oregon
belong to the parish by Church law.
When can my child be baptized? 
Because baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ, “we are members of one another” (Eph. 4:25). Baptism thus incorporates us into the Church. Consequently, baptisms are held during the Sunday Eucharist approximately every two months. Once the baptism class has been completed, one can schedule their child’s baptism for almost any of our Masses.  The preparation class is required every 4 years.
Requirements
Presenting a child for baptism is a powerful manifestation of Jesus’ words, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you…” (John 15:16). During the rite, the parents are asked if they intend to bring their child up according to the Catholic faith, and the godparents are asked if they will assist the parents in this mission. This must be the firm intent of the adults who are presenting the child for baptism if the child is to “bear fruit that will remain” (John 15:16). You must be our parishioner for your child to be baptized here or have a letter granting permission from your home parish.  In choosing godparents it should be noted that a godparent must be a practicing Catholic who has received all three sacraments of initiation.  In addition a baptized Christian may be chosen as a Christian Witness.  

Preparation
Our baptism preparation are three classes, each generally takes 60 minutes total, and includes catechesis of the sacrament, and allows for a walk through of the rite.
Session One
Baptism is not an empty ritual or a mere symbol but it IS an essential part of God’s plan for our salvation.
Why Baptism is a Sacrament (May need to include a basic review of the Sacraments)
Biblical Historical significance of Baptism / Original sin
Participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus
Why we baptize/ new creation
Session Two
Baptism as an essential element in salvation
Choosing Baptism for a child means a commitment to care for the spiritual health of the child
The Rite of Baptism and the significance of each element explained
Session three 
Baptismal grace and the mission of the baptized

Catechism of the Catholic Church - Baptism
Adults seeking baptism 
should visit our Becoming Catholic page.
Note from Fr. Garry to
​prospective parents and godparents:
​When we meet I will ask you these questions.  This is not a pass or fail test!  You may not be able to answer them all right now but I would very much like you to read and study up a bit so that you can make a good try and answering them when I ask them.  – Fr. Garry Cappleman, O.P

1. Are you currently registered in our parish?  Or any parish?

2. Are you separated or divorced or unmarried ?

3. Why is important to you --  to have your child baptized?  

5. What does the word "Catholic" mean to you?

6. Are Catholics – “Christians”?

7. How important is your Catholic faith to you?  

8. How do you presently practice your Catholic faith?  

9. Why are you Catholic? How does being Catholic make any difference in your life?  Could anyone see by your life – words and actions  that you are Catholic?

10. Why should anyone --infant or adult --be baptized?  
What does Scripture say baptism does for us?

11. Why do we as Catholic Christians baptize infants?  
Why not just wait until they're adults?

12. Who has the primary responsibility to teach a child the faith?  Who helps?

13.  What is the Eucharist?  Why is the Eucharist so important to Catholics?

14. What is your favorite Scripture and why?  How do you apply it?

15. Ephesians 2:8-9 states:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--not the results of works, so that no one may boast." What does this scripture mean?

16. John 3:5-6:  "Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit."  What does this scriptrue mean?

17. John 3: 13-14:  "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."  What does this scripture mean?

18. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8b:  "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And, if i have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, i am nothing.  If i give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I can boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist in its own way; it does not insist in its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."  What does this scripture mean?

19. James 2:14-17:  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but you do not have works?  Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,' and do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no good works, is dead."  What does this scripture mean?

20. Matthew 28:18-20:  "And Jesus came to them and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  What does this scripture mean?