Baptism marks the entrance into the Church. Through Baptism, a person is freed from original sin: the old self dies, and the person is reborn in Christ. The Gospel itself makes mention of Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the apostle St. Paul developed the theology of Baptism. In order to receive all the other sacraments, one must first be baptized.

Though some people get baptized as adults, most Catholics receive Baptism as young children. That is referred to as “infant baptism.” The parents’ decision to have their child baptized by a priest or a deacon of their parish is an act of true love toward their child. Baptism allows the child to be welcomed in the Church at an early age, and to grow in the love and grace of God in a very special way. In the Gospels, Jesus says that to love God one must love like children do. Baptism, hence, is a gift from the parents who wish for their child to grow in the knowledge of God and as part of the Christian community, and for their child to have the support of godparents as guides in the faith.

Parents who are registered, active parishioners, should contact the pastor at least one month prior to a desired time, to arrange for a baptismal date and preparation materials. You may contact him at [email protected] or 479-754-3610.

For choosing the Godparents, you must follow the following norms established by the Catholic Church:

To be admitted to the role of a Godparent, a person must:

• Be designated as sponsor and have the qualifications and intention of performing this role.
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken.
• If married, married in the Catholic Church.
• Not be the father or mother of the one being baptized.

Note: You must have at least one Godparent, but no more than two. If you have two, they must not be of the same sex (NOT two males or two females), but a Godmother and a Godfather. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic faith community may be admitted as a Christian witness together with a Catholic Godparent. A former Catholic who has joined a non-Catholic Church may not serve as either a Godparent or Christian Witness. If your Godparent is unable to attend the baptism ceremony, you may have a proxy serve in their place with the permission of the pastor. If you have any questions about who can serve as a Godparent, then please contact the pastor.