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Welcome to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament parish and the information area concerning having your baby baptized. We hope this information is helpful. Feel free to contact us at 202.449.4618.
“Jesus sent the disciples out to baptize and from that time until today, there is a chain in the transmission of the faith through Baptism. Each of us is a link in that chain. We’re always moving ahead like a river. Through Baptism, we enter the people of God. We transmit our faith to our children, and when they are grown up, they transmit the faith to their children. And that is how God’s grace works. This is most important: We are the people of God who walk and transmit the faith.”
Pope Francis on Baptism, January 13, 2018
COVID-19 UPDATE
Until further notice, we will have private baptisms on Saturdays only (no group baptisms), with a limit of 2 baptisms each Saturday, in the Chapel (the Church is reserved for Masses). Please select one of the following times: 9:00AM or 12:00PM or 10:00AM or 1:00PM (we will need 3 hours in between baptisms for cleaning the Chapel).SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES FOR BAPTISMS:
- A total of 10 people will be permitted for the entire baptism in the Chapel. The priest, 2 parents (any children living in the same house as parents is counted under parents) and 2 godparents will make up 5 people; the remaining 5 people will be the number of guests that you are allowed to invite, for example aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends.
- All entering the Parish Center and Chapel must wear a mask and keep it on for the entirety of the baptism. Children 2 years and under will not need to wear a mask.
- Hand sanitizer will be available upon entering the Chapel; please wash your hands as you enter.
- There will be designated markers on the floor in the Chapel for social distancing.
- If you wish to take photographs, we recommend going outside of the Parish Center to take the photos if you want to take your masks off.
- Please ask the presiding priest or deacon whether they feel comfortable to take a photograph without their mask with your family before taking any photographs.
REQUIREMENTS
During COVID-19, we will follow these Social Distancing Guidelines as our requirements for baptism:
- Complete Baptismal program, attend 2 sessions: 1 Zoom parent-led, 1 Zoom clergy-led (sign up for sessions by contacting Rosalie Days: baptism@blessedsacramentdc.org or 202.449.4618 with the dates of the sessions you wish to attend).
- Provide 3 possible dates for a private baptism (Chapel only); we will try to match a date with one of our clergy
- Fill out Baptismal form, which will be sent to you, once you know what date your child will be baptized and once you've chosen the godparents. The baptism is not complete until the form has been returned to the office.
We will follow the COVID-19 Social Distancing Guidelines until further notice.
SCHEDULE OF BAPTISMAL PREP SESSIONS FOR 2020-2021
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ALL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM
Zoom Session led by a priest or deacon: deals with the meaning of baptism, the Rite of Baptism, and the symbols in the rite.
- Sunday, October 2020 with Deacon Jason Allan (Date TBD)
- Sunday, December 2020 with Fr. Foley (Date TBD)
- Sunday, February 2020 with Fr. Magro (Date TBD)
- Sunday, April 2021 with Deacon Jason Allan (Date TBD)
- Sunday, June 2021 with Deacon Leo Flynn (Date TBD)
Zoom Session led by parents (maximum 4 couples for each date): deals with the faith journey of the parents, the rituals and traditions of the Catholic faith, and the responsibility and job of being the first teachers of the children in matters of faith.
- November 8 - 4:00PM (CLASS IS FULL)
- January 12 - 8:00 PM (sign up by December 29, 2020)
- March 7 - 1:00 PM (sign up by February 21)
- May 3 - 7:30 PM (sign up by April 19)
The clergy-led and parent-led sessions can be taken in any order. Please contact Rosalie Days at baptism@blessedsacramentdc.org to sign up for a session.
GROUP BAPTISM
We will not offer group baptisms until further notice.
PRIVATE BAPTISM
We are currently only offering private baptisms until further notice. Private baptisms are available on Saturdays, 9:00AM or 12:00PM; 10:00AM or 1:00PM (we will need 3 hours in between baptisms for cleaning the Chapel). Please email baptism@blessedsacramentdc.org with your desired dates. Due to the large number of requests, we cannot guarantee the dates you select, so please be patient as we coordinate schedules until we find a date/time that works.
BAPTISMAL FORM
***Baptismal forms will be emailed to you from Rosalie Days
Once you have the date of the baptism and the godparents, you will need to fill out a baptismal form.