The Sacrament of Baptism
Requirements for the Sacrament of Baptism at St. Thomas Aquinas
Baptisms take place on most Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. upon availability.
The Baptism Preparation Class is held one Sunday every other month on the first floor of the Parish Center in Room B. Class times, location, and dates may sometimes vary, so be sure to contact Bianca Orbe by phone (704) 549-1607, x210 in the parish office or
email her.
We recommend that you schedule and attend the Baptism Preparation Classes prior to the birth of the child. Classes attended after the birth are valid, but it will delay scheduling the date of the sacrament. Baptisms are scheduled once all requirements are fulfilled and the necessary documentation is received by the Parish Office.
- Baptism Requirements - English Spanish
- Baptismal Form
- Godparent & Sponsor Form
- Requisitos para Padrinos/Madrinas para Bautizo y Confirmación
Clases de Preparación de Bautismo en Español:
La parroquia de Santo Tomas de Aquino ofrecerá Clases de Preparación de Bautismo en Español a solicitud de los interesados. La clase en Ingles se ofrece un domingo cada mes a la 1:00 p.m. Los padres deben ser paraqueños. Para hacer los arreglos necesarios contactarse con la oficina de la parroquia en anticipación del día del bautismo.
Celebrating Baptism: The baptismal candles that we use at St. Thomas Aquinas reflect the great reality that takes place when the Sacrament of Baptism is received. Baptism conforms our bodies and souls to be able to breathe the air of Heaven. Without Baptism, we are in far greater danger of losing our Heaven. Baptism gives us the grace to live as God's sons and daughters. The candles we offer for those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation are not cheap, poor quality objects to be thrown away or shoved in a closet afterwards. They are a visible reminder of the incredible event that has taken place in the life of a person. The are meant to be used at various points during the year to visible remind the new Christian of who they are. They can be used annually to celebrate with gratitude and joy the day of Baptism.
More important than our real birthday, the anniversary of the moment when our mother gave us our physical life, is the anniversary of the moment when we received the life of our soul as children of God. Why should we not start a new tradition in our young families, following an ancient custom of the first centuries where the Christians were much more imbued with awe for that great Sacrament of Baptism?
The candles we use are handcrafted by one of our own parishioners, Tricia Kent, who also decorates and designs our Paschal Candle each year. They are 100% beeswax, and beautifully designed with images of Our Lord or Our Lady. The suggested donation for these candles is $35.