Baptism

Baptism is the first of the seven Sacraments, the “gateway” Sacrament that opens us up to Life in Christ.

Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist constitute the Sacraments of Initiation by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit and is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ.

The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Scheduling a Baptism at St. Ambrose

To schedule a Baptism at St. Ambrose Church, please complete and return the Baptismal Form to Kim Boatman by email at kim@stambroseonthehill.com or by mail to St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110-attention Kim Boatman. Upon receiving the completed form, Kim will contact you to confirm the date you requested for your child's Baptism and discuss any other details.

If this is your first child being Baptized, you must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class before the Baptism. Baptismal Preparation Class is held the second Sunday of the month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass Polizzi Hall (Church Hall). There is no charge for this class; but registration is required. To register for the class, please email Kim at kim@stambroseonthehill.com or call the parish office at 314-771-1228.

If you are not a registered parishioner of St. Ambrose, you will need a letter from your parish Pastor approving the Baptism to be performed at St. Ambrose.

Godparents

To be a Godparent is both an honor and an awesome responsibility, as it calls one to draw even deeper into the heart of Christ to gain wisdom in guiding the spiritual life of the candidate in the ways of Christ and His Church. The Godparent together with the parents, must be willing to help the baptized grow in love for Christ and neighbor. By word and example, the Godparent will encourage the candidate to live the Christian life and fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it (cf. Code of Canon Law, c. 872). Church law permits two godparents for Baptism. Only one is necessary. If two are chosen, there must be one of each sex (cf. Code of Canon Law, c. 873).

Godparents should complete the Godparents Form and confirm they understand the responsibilities and are willing by prayer and example to encourage and instruct the candidate in living their Catholic faith. Godparents should:

Have received the Catholic Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
Attend Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
Attained the required minimum age of sixteen years.
Not be the parent of the candidate to be baptized.
Lead a life that is in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken.
If married, marriage should be canonically valid and recognized as such by the Catholic Church.

Baptism Times

Baptisms are typically celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 12:00 PM. Please note that when planning your child’s Baptism, Baptisms are not scheduled on the following Sundays:

LaFesta (Typically the first Sunday in May)
The Feast of Corpus Christi (Typically a Sunday in June)
The Giro Della Montagna Bike Race (Typically the Sunday of the Labor Day Weekend)

To ensure that your preferred date is available, it is best to call the office at 314- 771-1228.