"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.  Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission..." 

Please contact our parish office at 845-356-0311 and speak with one of our Priests. Please bring your child's birth certificate when meetings one of our priest's to schedule the date for your child's baptism. 

Parents and Godparents are required to attend one Baptismal Preparation Class. Please see below. 

• English Baptismal Class - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in rectory chapel. 
• French Baptismal Class - 3rd Friday of the month at 4:30 p.m. in the rectory chapel. 
• Spanish Baptismal Class - 4th Friday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the school. 

Infant and Adult Baptism

Since baptism removes both the guilt and punishment due to Original Sin, delaying baptism until a child can understand the sacrament my put the child's salvation in danger, should he / she die unbaptized. In the case of an adult, they should be asked to give their consent and be given sufficient instructions. 

Necessity of Baptism

Christ Himself ordered HIS disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In HIS encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: "Amen, Amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian, because it brings us into new life in Christ. 

Duties of Godparents

A godparent serves a special role for one to be baptized, wheather it be a child or an adult. Godparents are to represent the Christian Catholic Community, the Church. They are to assist in the prepartation of adult candidates for Baptism and to be supportive of them afterwards. When it comes to infant Baptism, godparents are to assist the child's parents in raising their child in our Catholic faith, so that the child may profess and live it as an adult. 

• Hold or touch the child during Baptism. 
• Keep a note of the date of the Baptism and on each anniversary celebrate the day with a visit, a card, or and appropriate gift. 
• Try to be present for his/her reception of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation.

Conditions in Choosing Godparents

A Godparents is to be 14 years or above by the Mother Church, while in the United States, the age is 16 by the Bishops' Conference. 

• Must be baptized. 
• Must be practicing communicate Catholic. 
• If married, it must be in the Church. (Matrimony) 

Effects of Baptism

• The removal of guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all manking by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and person sin, the sings that we have committed ourselves. 
• The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal, in this world and in Purgatory, and eternal, the punishment that we would suffer in hell. 
• The infusion of grace in the form of sanctify grace, the life of God within us; the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the three theological virtues; Faith Hop and Charity. Cardinal Virtues; Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. 
• Become a part of Christ and the Children of God. 
• Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth. 
• Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace. 
• Confers sacramental grace, which gives us right to actual grace to fight against concupiscence and to fulfill our Christian duties. 
• Imprint and indelible character to differentiate us from all who are not Christian. The rite of reception of the children.