The Sacraments of Initiation

Christian Initiation consists of three sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion. All three sacraments work together to instill grace, conform the soul to Christ and full incorporate the whole person into the Church.

For infants, the basic path begins with Baptism. Instruction follows as the child matures. For unbaptized adults seeking to become Catholic, the path begins with instruction so that the choice of Baptism can be made deliberately and with full, complete and conscious consent. For baptized non-Catholics, instruction is tailored to the Christian experience of each interested party.

For all, the process begins with a visit to the parish priest.

Infant Baptism

Baptism is the first step on the path to salvation. It incorporates the soul into Christ and His Church. It seals the soul against Satan and washes away the stain of Original Sin leaving only the purity of God's creation. In a word, it is astounding! In seeking Baptism, for yourself or your child, you are giving perhaps the greatest gift any one can offer beyond the gift of life itself.

Parents ought to have their children baptized as soon as possible and should be careful to arrange for the best possible Godparents. The Godparent is not merely an honorary uncle or aunt. He or she takes real spiritual responsibility for the child's eternal welfare. It's big work and it has eternal consequences. As such, at least one Godparent must be Catholic, Confirmed and regularly attending Holy Mass and receiving both Confession and Holy Communion. If married, they should be in Sacramental marriages, recognized by the Church.

Baptisms are scheduled through the office, and are usually celebrated immediately after the Saturday 4p Mass or the Sunday 11a Mass. First time parents must meet with Father beforehand for an informal instruction.

This form provides all the necessary data for our records. It will be sent to the parish office which will keep it entirely confidential and pass it along to our clergy. If you prefer to have another priest or deacon perform the Baptism, that option is also available.

Baptismal Information Form

Parent \ Guardian Name

Contact Phone Number

(###)

###

####

Contact Email Address

Child to be Baptized

Remember that a child should have at least one authentically Christian name - traditionally, the name of a saint. If that isn't the case, now is an ideal time to pray and to choose a saint to associate your child with. If the saint's name is not part of your child's legal name, just put it in parentheses.

Date of Birth

YYYY

Place of Birth

Parents Full Legal Names

Please include Birth Father First & Last Name and Birth Mother First Name and Maiden Name. If the child is adopted please contact the office via telephone rather than continuing with this form (318-352-3422).

Proposed Godparents

Please list both proposed Godparents. If you have a question about one or both, list the names anyway and plan to discuss the matter with Father.

Preferred Date(s)

Please list the date or dates you'd prefer.

Preferred Clegy

The Baptism or Conversion of Adults

Adults interested in the Catholic Faith should contact the parish office (318.352.3422) to schedule a no-obligations meeting with our pastor. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) courses begin in the Fall, but can also be tailored to extraordinary or unusual circumstances.

First Holy Communion

Children in the United States usually make their First Confession and First Holy Communion in the second grade, around the age of seven. Participation in a program of religious preparation (CCD or Catholic School) is expected and required. Children with special needs ought to be discussed with pastor in advance. If your child is already enrolled in our CCD program or in St. Mary’s School, you don’t need to do anything else. If not, please fill out the form below or contact the office (318-352-3422) for more information. If you or your child "missed" First Holy Communion in second grade and would like to enter into the life of the Church, please make an appointment by contacting the office.

First Holy Communion is scheduled for the 6pm Mass on Saturday, May 13, 2023. A mandatory rehearsal and First Holy Confessions will take place at 9am on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The rehearsal will last less than an hour, but first confessions will go on longer depending on your child’s place in line.

Confirmation

The Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria has set the typical time for Confirmation in the Diocese at eleventh grade. As with Holy Communion, a program of preparation is required and special needs students should be discussed with the pastor well in advance. Students in our CCD program or at St. Mary’s School don’t need to do anything else. Adults who were baptized Catholic but never Confirmed should make every effort to receive the sacrament. Arrangements can be made by contacting the parish office (318-352-3422) for more information.

Confirmation is scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2022 at 6pm.