You Have Been Baptized in Christ 9th Grade At Home Retreat Participant's Journal You Have Been Baptized, an at -home retreat for 9th graders, was developed by Barbara Ballenger, Director of Faith Formation at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, State College, PA. 2007. 12
Refrain: Opening Prayer Living Water by Robert Killoren 1990. Rain down your blessings on us. Shower us with your love. Grants us fullness of being, The promise of eternal life, so (R) Closing Prayer Light the baptismal candle again. Make sure there is a bowl of water on the prayer table. Leader Our closing prayer is adapted from the final blessing in the Rite of Baptism. At Good Shepherd, when we stand for the communion prayer after Communion, the parents and godparents come forward and place the infant on the altar. Is a gift for the spirit, We shall never thirst again, so (R) Is a fountain within us, Living water for eternal life, so (R) Brings salvation to sinners The promise of redeeming life, so (R) Brings new life to the spirit Like a desert springs to life again, so (R) Calls us each to renewal In this water we are born again, so Scripture: 1 Peter 3: 13-22 Symbols of Ourselves; Symbols of Christ I chose a as a symbol of myself because: 2 Parent(s): May God the almighty Father, who filled the world with joy by giving us his only Son, bless (child s name). May he/she grow to be more fully like Jesus Christ our Lord. Dip a finger in the bowl of water on the prayer table and make the sign of the cross on your child s forehead. Child: May almighty God, who gives life on earth and in heaven, bless my parents. As they have thanked God for me, so I thank God for them. May we always show that gratitude in action by loving and caring for one another. Dip a finger in the bowl of water on the prayer table and make the sign of the cross on your parents forehead. May almighty God, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, generously bless all of us who are his faithful children. May we always live as his people, and may he bless us with his peace. 11
BAPTISM Leader: This is where the priest immerses or pours water over the head of the child three times, indicating that our sins are washed away when we die with Jesus, and we are filled with divine light as we rise from the water. Celebrant: Is it your will that N. should be baptized in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you? This I Believe As you listen to the This I Believe essay by Josh Rittenberg, write down any important ideas that you hear or things that strike you: Parents/Godparents: It is. Celebrant: N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Journal and Discuss: In baptism we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus. But it is not the last time a Christian must die to an old life and accept a new one. What attitudes or challenges do your baptismal promises call you to die to in order to be the kind of person God needs you to be? 10 Discussion Questions: Did you write down anything that struck you from Josh s essay? What symbols connect Josh to the hope his family has had over the generations? Josh talks about the world his parents are handing over to him. Parents: when you had your child baptized what sort of world, what sort of vision, were you handing to your child? Students: How have you experienced the world your parents handed you in your baptism? In Josh s essay, everyone in the family helps each other to believe in some way. Parents: how do the kids in your family help you to believe? Students: how do the adults in your family help you to believe? 3
Tell me About the Day I was Baptized Quick reflections: Journal and Discuss: This list sums up the faith of the church, the faith that you were baptized in. Is there anything in this list that challenges you? Where can you get help when you are facing doubt? Parents: What are your most cherished memories from your child s baptism? Student: What part or parts of the story of your baptism did you hear for the first time? 4 9
We do. Celebrant: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? Parents/Godparents: We believe. Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Baptism Flash Back The following prayers are from the Rite of Baptism. Read through the sections together. After the section, stop and answer the questions that follow, first in your journals and then discuss them. QUESTION OF THE PARENTS Leader: The Rite of Baptism begins after the homily and starts with the questioning of the parents. Celebrant: What name do you give your child? Parents/Godparents: We believe. Parents: Child's first & middle name Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? Parents/Godparents: We believe. Celebrant: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Celebrant: What do you ask of God's Church for your child? Parents: Baptism. Celebrant: You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? Parents: We do. Celebrant: Are you ready to help these parents in their duty as Christian mother and father? Godparents: We are. Celebrant: Are you, the parish community, ready to provide these parents and godparents with a living faith community in which to raise their child? Congregation: We are. 8 5
Journal and Discuss: The priest asks the parents do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? Parents: Has your understanding of the undertaking changed over the years as you have supported your child in the faith? What has worked great and what has been challenging? Students: Parents, godparents and the church community all vowed to help you grow in your faith. How have you experienced that over the years? RENUNCIATION AND PROFESSION OF FAITH Leader: This follows the anointing before Baptism. The Profession of Faith contains our baptismal promises and our core beliefs. Celebrant: Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he/she is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him/her up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives him/her is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his/her heart. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which this child is about to be baptized. Celebrant: Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God's children? Parents/Godparents: I do. Celebrant: Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? Parents/Godparents: I do. Celebrant: Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness? Parents/Godparents: I do. Celebrant: Do you, the members of this parish community, also make these promises? 6 7