BAPTISM IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Baptism is not just a ceremony; it is the beginning of a new life in Christ. Through water and the invocation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a person is cleansed from sin, reborn as a child of God, and welcomed into the family of the Church. The Catholic Church baptizes infants because Baptism is a gift of grace, not a reward earned. Parents and godparents promise to raise the child in faith until they can own it personally. Baptism is once and for all. It le