Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments. Most Catholics are baptized as infants and thus this sacrament is “first”. If not an infant and the sacrament is received later in life, it is the “first” in priority as well, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it.  Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation.  The other two Sacraments of Initiation are Confirmation and First Holy Communion.  Once baptized, one becomes a member of the Church.

Preparing for Baptism

Before celebrating Baptism at St. Agnes, you will need to attend a baptism preparation session with our prep team (unless you have done so here with a previous child). Fill out and send in the Baptism Registration Form indicating on the form, which prep session you will attend. Once you have attended this preparation, you may email or call the office to book your preferred date for baptism. There is a session each month and the 2025-2026 schedule is as follows (subject to unforseen changes):

Choosing Godparents

There are specific requirements for choosing godparents; the Diocese of Hamilton notes these points to guide you in choosing a sponsor for your child:

There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each (Canons 872-873). Godparents must be no less than sixteen years of age. They must be fully initiated in the Catholic Church (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), and must be living a life of faith which befits the responsibility to be undertaken (Canon 874). Based on these criteria, parents select godparents for their child. A baptized person who belongs to another Christian denomination may be admitted, together with a Catholic godparent, as a Christian witness.

Your Baptism Celebration

Once you have completed the baptism preparation session and chosen a godparent (or two), call the parish office to have any other questions answered and finalize a date for your celebration.

To inquire about the Sacrament of Baptism at St. Agnes Church, please contact the Parish Office:  519.885.4480

A few more words on the Sacrament of Baptism from the Vatican website:

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),⁴ and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”⁵

This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”

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. 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 the sign of God’s Lordship.¹⁰