Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.
Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast. It is not a private affair, but that is not to say it is inappropriate in certain pastoral circumstances to baptize someone desiring that sacrament outside the usual forum. Faith and pastoral need always take precedence over tradition.
Traditional Sunday feasts at which baptisms take place are The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (early January), Easter Vigil (late March – mid-April), Pentecost (Mid May-early June), Our Patron Saint’s Feast Day – St. Luke (Mid October), and All Saint’s Sunday (the first Sunday in November).
The Rector of the parish (or a Bishop, when present) is the celebrant and is expected to preach the Word and preside at the Baptism and the Eucharist.
Each candidate for Holy Baptism is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. The entire congregation present also commits itself to supporting the baptismal candidate in his or her journey with Christ.
If you wish to receive Holy Baptism at St. Luke’s, please contact our Rector, The Rev. Neil Tadken at revntadken@saintlukesmonrovia.org
Download the baptismal application (MS Word format)
