Baptism Celebration

November 20, 2011

Father Bill Hammer, presider

The Christian community welcomes you with great joy and in its name I trace the cross on your forehead and claim you for Jesus Christ!

I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior;  may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen

Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.  These children of yours have been enlightened by Christ.  They are to walk always as children of the light.  May they keep the flame of faith alive in their hearts.  When the Lord comes, may they go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children.  May God bless the mothers of these children.  They now thank God for the gift of their children.  May they be one with them in thanking God forever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen

God is the giver of all life, human and divine.  May God bless the fathers of these children.  With their wives they will be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.  May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen