Adult Baptism & Confirmation Preparation
The Call of Baptism
Welcome to the preparation for baptism. This is a truly exciting and wonderful journey
that promises to be filled with God's presence and abundant grace. What is important
to recognize is that baptism is a sacred commitment and is not to be entered into
lightly. Baptism is not something we enter because "it is what we do in our family"
and Baptism has little to do with what many of the pre-conceived notions of how
society - and even many Christians - would define baptism. Baptism is a counter-cultural
way of life that is rooted in the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptized persons are called to a radically different way of life that expresses
God's love, grace and reconciliation.
Throughout the catechumenal period we will engage in prayer and conversation to
help you better understand the gifts and responsibilities of Baptism. Baptism is
much more than a brief ceremony within The Holy Eucharist. Once baptized, we receive
God's grace in a new way and are called to a life of service as a disciple of Jesus
Christ. Baptism is full initiation into the Body of Christ - the community of Christians
known as the Church - and is only the beginning of the Christian's journey of discovering
what it means to live a baptized life.
The Catechumenate
The Catechumenate is a period of training and instruction in Christian understandings
about God, human relationships, and the meaning of Christian life, which culminates
in the reception of the Sacrament of Christian Initiation (Baptism) and receiving
of the Sacrament of The Eucharist (Holy Communion). The Catechumenate also prepares
the newly baptized adult to receive the laying-on-of-hands by the Bishop (Confirmation).
It is appropriate that Catechumens be baptized and first receive Communion during
The Great Vigil of Easter.
The Catechumenate is intended for unbaptized adults (for older teenagers, please
contact the Parish Office). The Catechumenate has been practiced since the earliest centuries
of the Church and continues as a period of instruction, discernment, and prayer.
It is the start of a formal journey of discovery about the Christian faith in preparing
to become a Christian through Baptism. The catechumenal period is marked by three
stages (you will note that there is overlap of stages as one stage is ending and
another is beginning):
This stage is the beginning of the Inquirers' Class where the person engages in
instruction about the Christian faith. At St. Paul's, this stage is the beginning
of the course Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. Please visit the
Simply Christian page
for details and to register [Register as "Catechumenate
(Baptism) & Confirmation Prep."].
Entry into the catechumenate is by a public liturgical act during a principal
Sunday liturgy. To this stage belong regular association with the worshiping
community (e.g. regular attendance at Sunday worship services) and the practice
of life in accordance with the Gospel (including service to the poor and neglected),
encouragement and instruction in the life of prayer, and basic instruction in
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
At St. Paul's, the Catechumenate begins on the First Sunday of Advent with the
Entry into the Catechumenate (one becomes a Catechumen) at the Sunday worship
service. Each person to be admitted a catechumen is presented by a sponsor at
the 1 Advent worship service. The sponsor will support the catechumen in the
journey toward baptism through conversation and prayer. At this point, the
catechumens are added to the Prayers of the People and Intercessory prayer lists
and are prayed for by name as they continue their preparation toward baptism.
Catechumens attend the Ash Wednesday service to begin the observance of Lent
and to mark that the Catechumenate is nearing completion and to prepare to be
enrolled as a Candidate for Baptism on the First Sunday of Lent.
Instruction continues in Simply Christian as well as some additional guidance
provided by the Clergy with respect to the nature of baptism, Holy Scripture,
and prayer (details are arranged in consultation during Stage One).
As the catechumens near completion of instruction for baptism they are officially
enrolled as Candidates for Baptism. Enrollment happens on the First Sunday in
Lent with a public liturgical rite during the Sunday morning worship service.
During this rite, the catechumens are prayed for and they write their names in
the book of Baptism Candidates and their sponsors join them in signing the book.
On the Third Sunday in Lent the Candidates for Baptism receive a copy of the
Apostles' Creed (Christian statement of baptismal faith and basis of the Baptismal
Covenant) and on the Fifth Sunday in Lent the Candidates for Baptism receive a
copy of the Lord's Prayer (a sign of the way in which our Lord has taught us to
pray).
The Candidates for Baptism conclude specific training with the Rector on the
nature of Baptism and continue with Simply Christian.
The Candidates for Baptism attend the Holy Week services to complete the
observance of a Holy Lent and to prepare for their entry into Christianity with
their Baptisms at the Great Vigil of Easter.
Following Baptism, the newly baptized complete Simply Christian and are now
also prepared to be confirmed by the Bishop during his visitation.
- Simply Christian: October 9, 2006 7:30 PM
- Simply Christian: November 13, 2006 7:30 PM
- Enrollment in Catechumenate: 1 Advent December 3, 2006 10:30 AM
- Simply Christian: December 11, 2006 7:30 PM
- Simply Christian: January 8, 2007 7:30 PM
- Simply Christian: February 12, 2007 7:30 PM
- Ash Wednesday Observance: February 21, 2007 Noon or 7:30 PM
- Enrollment as a Candidate for Baptism: 1 Lent February 25, 2007 10:30 AM
- Receive the Apostles' Creed: 3 Lent March 11, 2007 10:30 AM
- Simply Christian: March 12, 2007 7:30 PM
- Receive the Lord's Prayer: 5 Lent March 25, 2007 10:30 AM
- Holy Week Observances:
- Maundy Thursday, April 5, 2007 7:30 PM
- Good Friday, April 6, 2007 Noon or 7:30 PM
- BAPTISM: The Great Vigil of Easter - April 7, 2007 7:30 PM
- Simply Christian: April 16, 2007 7:30 PM
- Simply Christian: May 14, 2007 7:30 PM
- Confirmation: Bishop's Visitation - June 10, 2007 10:30 AM