Baptism

Overview

We ask that families presenting their children for baptism, contact the parish office by calling 604-298-4144 during the office hours. Appointments are set by phone call only, not by email.

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: ‘Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213)

Many Catholics receive the sacrament of baptism as infants, in the presence of his or her parents and godparents. Through the saving waters of baptism, Catholics believe that we are washed clean from the stain of original sin (caused by the sin of Adam and Eve). The grace we receive in baptism also makes us children of God the Father and welcomes us into the Catholic Church.

Baptisms are performed on second and fourth Sunday in the month, following 11:30 a.m. Mass, with some exceptions due to Easter Sunday and some other Parish Activities.
Parents should be registered parishioners or living in the parish boundaries.
If they are not living in the parish boundaries, Permission letter from their territorial Pastor is necessary.
For more info about baptism regulations, please check Code of Canon law, Chapter IV, on line http://www.vatican.va/archive

Sponsors (Godparents) regulations, (Can. 873 & 874)

Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;
be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;
not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

§2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.