From the Catechism

"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life."

The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

(CCC 1210, 1257)

Baptism for Teens

Baptism begins our life in the Church: through Baptism we are free from original sin. Baptism takes away any personal sins and starts us on our journey of faith in the Church. We are reborn of the water and the Spirit and share in the life of the risen Jesus. Baptism is the most important gift we can give our children. It gives them “new life” in the water and Spirit and affirms them as members of the parish community.

Teenagers who have not been baptized, yet seek entrance into the life of the Church need to attend special preparation classes which we call the R.C.I.T. or the Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for Teens. The clases pan a school year. The classes will help them understand the meaning of baptism and how they can live out their lives as Catholics. In addition, due to the maturity of their age, these teenagers will also receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

After the completion of the classes, if the teen is ready, typically they will be baptized during the Easter Vigil Mass along with the teens and adults who have also been preparing throughout the year.

Requirements:

The person is age 13-17 years of age.

Attend special classes geared especially for teens.

Godparents must be a fully initiated Catholic (Baptism, Confirmation, & Eucharist), be at least 16 yrs old, and living in harmony with the Church.

Contact Information:

For more information and details about preparation classes, contact Hans Mueller, our Coordinator of Youth Ministry: 541-476-5802. See the Contacts link for his e-mail address.

"Incorporated in the Church through baptism, the faithful are destined by the baptismal character for the worship of the Christian religion; reborn as sons of God they must confess before men the faith which they have received from God through the Church" - Lumen Gentium 11