Baptism
This is where you'll find all relevant information for your upcoming baptism.
The Rite of Baptism for Children includes these words, "The Christian community welcomes you with great joy." And it is also with great joy that St. Columba helps parents prepare for the baptism of their child. If you’ve been away from the Church and your faith for a while, welcome back! If you’ve been walking with the Lord closely every day, praise God! Whatever your circumstances, we are always excited to welcome another child into the family of Jesus Christ and His Church. In bringing forward your child for baptism, you seek to make a permanent connection between your child and Christ with the Christian community. No matter how close or distant your own relationship with God, the new life of your child has stirred a desire in you to seek baptism for him or her. In this sacrament, the Christian community promises to walk beside you in nurturing the faith of your child. Our prayer is that God may richly bless you through this process and give you strength in your baptismal call as parents to nurture the gift of faith in your child’s life.
Sacramental Preparation for Baptism for Catholics
For a child to be baptized in the Catholic Church, there must be a basis for hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith.
In practice, this generally means:
At least one parent is Catholic.
Parents participate in Baptismal preparation before the Baptism.
At least one godparent who is a confirmed, practicing Catholic age 16 or older.
Participation at Sunday Mass regularly.
What is involved in having my infant child baptized?
If your child is between the ages of 0-6, at least one parent needs to be a Catholic and have a full understanding of the requirements outlined above.
What if my child is over the age of 6?
Children between the ages of 7-18 will participate in OCIA and Family Faith Formation.
What if neither of us (parents) are Catholic?
Parents who are not Catholic are welcome to participate in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) as part of this sacred journey and are encouraged to enter the Church as a family at Easter committed to raising the child in the Catholic faith.
What are the requirements for Godparents?
Any Catholic who serves as a godparent must be at least 16 years old and a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church, meaning that they have celebrated Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. If there is only one Godparent, he or she should be a practicing Catholic. If there are two godparents, one must be a practicing Catholic. The other may be a non-Catholic Christian witness, as long as he or she is a baptized Christian. This video gives a great explanation on The Role of Godparents.
How soon can I schedule the baptism?
In conjunction with St. Columba’s faith formation and Mass schedule, you are welcome to choose the date and Mass time that works best for your family. Please note: no baptisms occur during the Lenten season.
We’re here to support you every step of the way!
Steps for Baptismal Preparation:
- Schedule an Initial Meeting
Begin by contacting our Faith Formation Director to schedule an initial meeting. This is an opportunity to learn about the Baptismal process and ask any questions you may have. - Complete Baptismal Preparation
Parents (and godparents, if possible) are required to participate in Baptismal preparation. This formation session helps you understand the significance of the sacrament and your role in nurturing your child’s faith. - Meet with the Pastor
Before the Baptism, you will have a conversation with our pastor to reflect on the meaning of Baptism and discuss the commitment to raising your child in the Catholic faith. - Celebrate the Sacrament
The Sacrament of Baptism takes place during a Sunday Mass, allowing the faith community to welcome your child into the Church.
We look forward to celebrating this special moment with you and your family! For more information or to begin the Baptismal preparation process, please contact Julie Romero at jromero@stcolumbacatholic.org .
First Communion
The Eucharist is essential to our identity as Catholics; it is the source and summit of our faith. Sunday Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life when the faith community comes together to commemorate the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the main event in one’s life that centers the week. The breaking of bread is what Jesus did with his apostles the night before he died at the Last Supper. Jesus offers us his Body and Blood in the appearance of bread and wine. When we receive this Sacrament, we are united with Him and the entire Body of Christ, the Church. The purpose of this Sacrament is to continue the Catholic initiation begun at a child’s Baptism. It marks a step along the way of coming to know God: The God who gives us life itself and provides the very nourishment that strengthens us to live as His children.
Formation takes place within family life with the support of the parish staff. The Family of Faith program supports families on the path of the Sacraments.
Confirmation
At Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon us, filled us with divine life, and transformed us into a temple of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism. We are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands and anointing with Holy Chrism. In union with Christ, we sent forth to be a witness to the Gospel in word and action.
A personal relationship with Jesus and regular participation in Sunday Mass is essential to our identity as Catholics and necessary for Confirmation and beyond. In addition, being engaged in the parish’s faith formation, which involves prayer, study, community, and service, supports youth in preparing for the sacrament. As primary educators, parents and youth prayerfully discern when Confirmation should occur beyond the age of reason in collaboration with the pastor and faith formation director.
All Confirmation candidates are required to actively participate in Community Meetings as part of their preparation. This includes attending VITA Life Nights following the 4:00 PM Youth Mass, from 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM. VITA Life Nights provide a dynamic environment for teens to deepen their faith, build community, and grow in their relationship with Christ through engaging discussions, prayer, and fellowship.
Adult Confirmation: Are you a baptized Catholic who has been actively involved in parish life but have not yet completed your sacraments of initiation—Eucharist and/or Confirmation? It’s never too late to begin your journey toward receiving these sacraments and deepening your faith.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation celebrates and reminds us of God’s mercy and helps us to experience divine forgiveness, to forgive ourselves, and to become reconciled with others. Currently, reconciliation is being offered on Fridays from 4:30-5:30 in the sanctuary.
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage Guidelines for St. Columba
Matrimony joins two people in marriage for a lifetime of dedication to each other’s well being and the well being of their children and the community.
Weddings are special and joyful times for the bride and groom, their families and friends, and for the parish community. The new beginning, the love, the promise and hope of a marriage make the celebration of a wedding ceremony a grace filled time. Great care is taken to see that the prayer for this special occasion is reverent, graceful, beautiful and open to the movement of God’s Spirit among those gathered.
Within the Catholic tradition, the celebration of the sacraments, marriage included, is rooted in hearing sacred scriptures so that we can be nourished and strengthened by God’s Word. We celebrate the sacraments as a community. We gather with our brothers and sisters in faith and ask for their prayerful support.
The sacrament of marriage is both a personal and a public testimony of the special love two people hold for each other. This love, shared in the sacrament, “becomes the mirror of God’s everlasting love and symbol of Christ’s love for his Church”. Hence, the music and readings chosen for a wedding are selected as a sign to the worshipping community that the love being celebrated reflects God’s loving presence.
The following themes are present in the Church’s Rite of Marriage:
+ praise and thanks to God for his gift of love.
+ petition to God for blessings on the couple about to share their life and love.
+ recognition and expression of marriage as a sign to the whole community that God loves us.
+ pledge of the community’s support to the newly married couple in their vocation.
+ the importance of God-centered, Christ-centered life.
+ the celebration of love which finds its foundation in God’s love shown to us through Jesus.
The Church believes Marriage is a life-long commitment, deserving of reflection and prayer. Therefore, couples are asked to consider the following guidelines when preparing for marriage.
PREPARING FOR YOUR MARRIAGE
Contact the church office (970-247-0044) at least nine months to a year prior to your intended wedding date. Interfaith couples may marry in the Church. A dispensation from the bishop’s office needs to be obtained under the guidance of the pastor.