It has been a long time since godparents whisked infants off to the church to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism. In most instances, parents were not required to be present since the godparents, both of whom were practicing Catholics, spoke on behalf of the parents and the infant. Times have changed.
The policies from the Diocese for the “Sacraments of Initiation” begin its chapter On The Baptism of Children with the following: “Children born into Christian families are born in the ‘domestic church, ’ the fundamental cell of society and the place where both human and Christian culture are nourished.” This is the reason we ask parents to undergo a kind of formation at the time they desire to present their children for the sacrament. Parental preparation has usually taken place with Deacon Jack Layton on a monthly basis. As we revamp our entire formation program, that may change, but in the meantime, the best time for parents to attend is during pregnancy. This is a spiritual time as the coming of a new life is being celebrated with all kinds of preparations like a nursery, selecting a name and buying articles of clothing and accessories. Parents should also use this time to prepare spiritually for the new soul they are given to care for in their role. Is baptism merely something to check off a “to-do” list, or is it understood as bringing the infant to God for eternal life?
“Since the initiation of new members of God’s people is the responsibility of all the baptized, and given the rights of children to the love and help of the community, parishes should offer welcome and both spiritual and practical support to families anticipating birth and those with young children.” This has ramifications in the “when” of the sacrament and the “how” and even the “where”. It is perfectly legitimate to celebrate at the Sunday Eucharist because the parish gathered is witness and can welcome as the policy above states. But we also have to examine how we support parents and young families. Again, the hope is that through our expanded program of formation we will be able to offer this. How can parishioners offer support to young parents? We need to look at that as well.
Some of us think that our formation is over once we are confirmed...kind of like a graduation, but we never finish being formed as disciples. By offering a whole parish concept in this arena we will be better meeting the needs of all age groups.
A challenge today for some parents is finding a godparent who is a practicing Catholic. Those who are married outside the Church, those who no longer attend Mass or receive the sacraments themselves, aren’t very good examples of how to be faithful Catholics. While they may be very good people, the policy says that a godparent “leads a life in harmony with the faith.” This means following Church teachings about marriage, not away from their lived out experience of the faith. “A baptized person who belongs to some other non-Catholic ecclesial community may be asked to serve not as godparent but as a Christian witness as long as a Catholic godparent is also present. Catholics who have abandoned the faith are not to serve as Christian witnesses.”
The bigger challenge might be for parents to understand their unique role as teachers. Often it seems that people think it is the job of the parish to pass on faith, and so we end up with the scandal of parents who do the “drop off” for religious education, and believe quite seriously that in an hour a week, a child will “get faith.” We all know that this does not happen. It can’t. The very notion is flawed.
Might it be that some parents don’t really understand their own religion? Even though they have attended a Catholic school or religious education themselves, they are still called to be converted, still called to constant reflection on their identity as disciples. All of us are. The diocesan policy reminds us, “Where it appears that parents are requesting baptism simply out of social convention... leaders should provide the opportunity for basic evangelization in order to stir up a response of true Christian faith.” That’s why we are undertaking a whole parish effort to look at Christian formation. It is the role of every baptized person to continue their own formation in discipleship. The call to conversion doesn’t end or go away because we have been confirmed. God wants us intimately united with himself and that takes our entire lives.
