Catholic Baptism Preparation Program for Parents and Godparents

Program Overview and Adult Learning Principles

This document outlines a baptism preparation program intended for parents and godparents of a child to be baptized in the Catholic Church. The program consists of three sessions of one hour each, held on Saturday afternoons following Mass at Felton Hall, Old St. Mary's, Cincinnati, OH. Printed materials — including prayer cards and an information booklet on baptism — will be made available to all participants.

The adult learning principles applied throughout this program are based on andragogy — the theory of adult learning — which specifies that adults learn differently from children. Adults engage in self-directed learning, are self-motivated, and bring with them experience and tacit knowledge that children do not yet possess.¹ Recognizing and respecting these characteristics is essential when designing instruction for adult participants. Sessions are structured to draw on participants' existing experience with faith and sacramental life, inviting reflection rather than passive reception of information.

Session Goals and Outcomes

Session 1 aims to teach the purpose and meaning of baptism from the Catholic perspective. It focuses on the definition of the sacrament of baptism with references to Holy Scripture, the joy of baptism because it removes the stain of Original Sin, and the indelible character of baptism that marks a soul entering the Body of Christ. The three main points are: (1) the origins of baptism, (2) the fruits of baptism, and (3) the demands of baptism. By the end of this session, participants will understand that baptism is a sacrament for our healing,² that it brings the baptized into the life of Christ by removing the stain of Original Sin, and that it initiates the baptized into the Church, which is the Body of Christ.

Session 2 aims to teach the role and duties of the parents of the baptized child. Parents are to be the primary educators and role models of the baptized child; they must raise the child in the Faith and serve as examples of Christian fidelity and virtue. 1 Timothy 4:12 states: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." The Lausanne Occasional Paper (2004) similarly notes that "God works in and through young people. If we are to do what we see the Father doing, the church must make it a priority to draw youth into His Kingdom and train them up as disciples."³ By the end of this session, each parent will understand his or her role and duty towards the baptized child.

Session 3 aims to teach the role and duties of godparents. The godparent must pray continuously for the child and serve as a model of Christian virtue. It is good for the godparent to commit to making some sacrifice for the child.⁴ By the end of this session, each godparent will understand that his or her role is not passive or merely symbolic, but active and essential: the godparent is responsible for educating the child in the Faith if, for some reason, the parent is unable to do so.

Bibliography

Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica.

Bunge, M. J. "Christianity's Commitments to Nurturing and Protecting Children: Biblical Foundations: Children are neighbors worthy of love and respect." Child Abuse & Neglect 38, no. 4 (2014): 576–584.

Cooke, Bernard. Sacraments and Sacramentality. CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999.

Daly-Denton, Margaret. John, An Earth Bible Commentary: Supposing Him to Be the Gardener. New York, NY: T & T Clark, 2017.

Fanning, William. "Baptism." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed September 8, 2021.

Forrest III, Stephen Paul, and Tim O. Peterson. "It's called andragogy." Academy of Management Learning & Education 5, no. 1 (2006): 113–122.

Lausanne Occasional Paper 52: The 12/25 Challenge Reaching the Youth Generation. 2004 Forum on World Evangelization, Pattaya, Thailand.