Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacraments of Christian Initiation lay the foundation for the entire Christian life. The first of these is Baptism, which is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the life of grace. Through Baptism, we are freed from all sin, and born again of water and the Holy Spirit as adopted sons and daughters of God (Acts 2:3, John 3:5; CCC 1213, 1262). All sins, both original and personal, which separate us from God, are forgiven in baptism. We are made into a new creation, and are united with our Triune God. Thus, we are incorparated into God's family, the church, and we become heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you are looking to have your child Baptized at St. Michael, please read all of the instructions below before submitting any information. Parents seeking baptism for their child are encouraged to register and attend classes prior to the child's birth.

If you would simply like to learn more about Baptism, what we believe and why, please feel free to come to our Baptism class in which all of these issues are addressed. You can find more details about this class in the "Requirements" section of our baptism page (found on the left-hand side of this page). At the bottom of this page are also a list of resources you can use to continue your education on baptism.

1) you have read the paragraphs above
2) you are the parent of a child, and your child needs to receive the Sacrament of Baptism
3) your child is 6 years old or younger (if older, contact Maria Reynolds at 713-403-4121)
4) this is your first time submitting your personal information to the baptism office
5) you have read the entire Baptism "Requirements" page (link on the left-hand side of
     this page)
6) If you have been told to begin the paperwork process, please skip filling out the form
     below and click on the "Paperwork" tab instead (link on the left-hand side of the page)

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus.  Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist.  The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.  . . .  Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin.  However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.

In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.

~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español

Pray

• Thanksgiving for a Newborn or a Newly Adopted Young Child 
• Parent's Thanksgiving 
• Blessing on a Child's Birthday 

Learn

• Explore the USCCA to learn about the liturgy of Baptism and the effects of the sacrament. | en español
• A Mother's Reflection on Liturgy: Word, Sign, Symbol, Ritual 

Act

• Baptism: Incorporated into Christ's Body, Sent on Christ's Mission | en español
• What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?: Teaching our Children about the Saints | en español