BAPTISM-CONFIRMATION

BAPTISM-CONFIRMATION October 7,8 and 10 Church of the Resurrection Generations of Faith

In the Nameof the Fatherand of the Sonand of the Holy Spirit

OVERVIEW • Prayer • SNL – Announcements • Age specific session ( 1 hour) • Adults with Fr. Tom -10th grade +, to include home kit discussion • Grades 1-5 • Grades 6-8 • Grade 9 • Family activity (all parents with children grades 1-10, not preschool parents) • Parents can pick up their preschoolers around the font as we gather for the closing prayer. • Closing prayer

Home Kit Materials • GOF magazine • Door knockers – Adult & children • Blessing for door • Quiz • Faith Formation volunteers will be present during donut Sunday in the Great Hall, on the stage, to demonstrate how to use the home kit materials

MAIN POINTS FOR TONIGHT • Baptism is the foundation of the Christian life • Baptism incorporates people into the life of the Church • Confirmation increases and deepens the grace of Baptism • What role do parents, godparents and sponsors play?

Sacrament Overview • CCC 1131 - Outward signs instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church to give grace. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.

Biblical references • John 3:1-6 & Matthew 28:18-20 • Mark 1:9-11 & Mark 10:13-16 • Is.11:1-4 • Is. 61:1-3 • Ez. 36:24-28 • Acts 1:3-8 • 1 Corinthians 12:4-13

Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1216 – Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift…We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift.

Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1216 –It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and a sign of God’s Lordship.

Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1257 – Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1258 – Baptism of Blood brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament. CCC 1259 - Catechumens who die before their Baptism, their desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament

Questions Why were you baptized? Do you believe that you need baptism to be saved?

Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship • John 3:5 – No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. • Understood to mean that children should not be deprived of baptism, because they are baptized in the faith of the church, a faith proclaimed for them by their parents and godparents, who represent both the local Church and the whole society of saints and believers

Ministries And Roles In The Celebration Of Baptism • Before and after the celebration of the sacrament, the child has a right to the love and help of the community • The community exercises its duty when it expresses its assent together with the celebrant after the profession of faith by parents and godparents • In this way it is clear that the faith which this child is baptized is not the private possession of the individual family, but a common treasure of the whole church of Christ

Priesthood of Believers • CCC 1268 – The baptized have become “living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are a “chosen race….that they may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.

Sacrament of Confirmation • CCC 1285 –The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched by a special strength of the Holy Spirit.

The Effects of Confirmation • CCC 1303 – Special outpouring of Holy Spirit as once granted to Apostles on Pentecost • Roots us in divine love • Unites us more firmly to Christ • Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us • Renders our bond to the Church more perfect • Special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ and to never be ashamed of the cross

Confirmation • This giving of the Holy Spirit conforms believers more fully to Christ and strengthens them so that they may bear witness to Christ for the building up of his Body in faith and love • One of the highest responsibilities of the people of God is to prepare the baptized for confirmation • It is desirable for the godparent at baptism also be the sponsor at confirmation. This expresses more clearly the link between baptism and confirmation (SC)

Questions • We often hear people say that Confirmation means “I become and adult in the Church”. In what ways may this statement be true? In what ways may this statement be false?

Conclusion • How is Baptism the foundation of Christian life? • How does Baptism incorporate people into the life of the church? • How does Confirmation increase and deepen the grace of Baptism? • What role does the community play?

Future Learning Opportunities • Going Deeper • Stations in the Great Hall • Next GOF nights on the Sacraments

BAPTISM-CONFIRMATION