Be Real Superheroes of God; Not Just Watch 'Avengers' Superheroes (Homily #133 for Baptism of 12 Babies, Including Baby of My Former St. Pat's High Student)

I baptized 12 new babies today.  I used the ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ movie to make some points about the Gospel for the young families that were present.

(Recording of Homily #133 for Rite of Baptism of 12 New Babies) 

One of the babies is the baby of my former St. Pat’s High student from over 16 years ago.  My former student’s married name is Mary Jane Paningbatan Gatmaitan.

The 1^st photo you see here is Mary Jane and her brother Alan on my right.  And then on my left is my other former student John Salangsang.  I still remember both Mary Jane and John in my Religion class like it was yesterday.  Ahhh, those were the days….my early 20-something years.  It is a joy when I see former students still love and serve God.

I joked with Mary Jane before the Rite of Baptism started that I was going to pick on her.  She smiled and replied, “Oh, that’s nothing different.”  Ha!  Great come-back line, M.J.   I didn’t have her brother, Alan, as a student b/c I left St. Pat’s to finish my dissertation— I left school to go to school. Alan is engaged.  He reminded me about doing "spoiler alerts" and joked that if people haven't seen "Avengers: Infinity Wars" by now then they missed out.  Of course, not everyone watches TV or movies, so this needed to be designed in such a way that those who have not seen the movie clip or piece of literature understands the idea being conveyed.  After the baptism, it was funny and neat seeing John S. cuz I had just listened to one of his podcasts the day before, and here I am running into him today.  The second photo is Mary Jane with her family.  Actually, this baby is her second child.  (more commentary below)

When I took roll call at the very beginning, I explained to a pretty well-attended church event that the reason the Catholic Church baptizes is b/c the first Twelve Apostles did it.  In the Bible (Acts of the Apostles), entire households were baptized like with Cornelius, and so the Catholic Church has retained this 2,000 year practice of infant baptism.  When the Protestants came along in the 16^th Century, and the Fundamentalists that came from them in the 19^th/20^th Century or so came along, this practice was protested.  But the newly baptized babies are the Elect and chosen from a young age, just like many prophets were chosen at a young age.  Parents and godparents need to cultivate faith that was planted in babies’ souls in baptism as they grow, esp. w/the graces that are given in the Seven Sacraments of the Church.

Mary Jane’s relative, Jessica, was phenomenal singing/chanting the Responsorial Psalm “The Lord is My Shepherd,” and someone named Rick read from the First Letter of Peter.  I read the Gospel from Mt. 28 which is the Great Commission.

I am deeply honored and privileged to have baptized 86 since my ordination 4 years ago.  Five of these 86 were former students’ babies. 

Please remember in prayer the families of the following:

Julian Alexander

Maddox

Galatea

Malachi

Arya Reign

Kenjie

Zachary Noah

Samara Bailey

Lorenz

Naiyah

Ariana Catherine

Skylar Paige

One of the babies was crying a lot, so I waited on one of them for a while before baptizing him.  It was fine with me, because I understand when kids cry we have to adjust sometimes to them.  It turned out fine in the end.

Some of the babies were asleep, some were curious, one blocked me when I went to make the Sign of the Cross on his forehead.  I am amazed with how the parents take their children’s baptism seriously.  Thank you, parents, for bringing your children to the saving waters of life!

Among those who asked to take photos, a mother came up to ask me afterwards to take a photo with her twin daughters who were also baptized at St. Catherine’s.

When families were asking me for picture poses with them after the Baptism, I reminded them to post these on social media.  Posting events like this is a great way to spread the Gospel online and how it is practically lived in every day family life. 

People kept calling me “Father,” even though I explained to them that I was only a deacon. 

I’m sure I’m forgetting some other events in Catholic culture, but these give you a snap shot of a Catholic infant baptism ceremony.  I cleaned up as much as I could, and then I ran into the sacristan, Fred, who said that he would help.  Thank you, Bro. Fred!

After I unvested, and before I left the church, I knelt down in the back of the church with my attention to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  I also entrusted the families to Mary’s Immaculate Heart and consecrated them to Jesus through Mary.

As I knelt and bowed my head, I thanked Jesus in my heart briefly and then left to go home. 

When I got home, my kids told me I smelled like Sacred Chrism.  Then, one of the kids said, “Chrism is royalty!”  I said, “That’s right, you are a prince of the Kingdom.  You are a princess of the Kingdom.”  Mariana said that I “smelled like St. Catherine’s” as we sat down for lunch.  I guess I had holy water, candle smell, and sacred chrism all over me.

As we celebrate the Solemn Feast of Pentecost this weekend, may the Mother of Jesus who was with the Eleven be with us today.

Thank you for reading all the way down this blog.

If you'd like more information on baptizing your baby at any Catholic church in your area, please let me know, and I will send you the right information if you do not know how to move forward.

 At St. Catherine's Church in Vallejo, we have the baptism class for parents and godparents every 1st Sat. of the month from 9am-12pm.  And we have community baptisms (outside Mass) every 3rd Sat. of the month at 1130am.  The parish office number is (707) 553-1355.

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(I forgot to record Homily #132, but I am noting it here.  It was for a house blessing followed by deliverance prayers for someone who experienced an evil presence.  This house blessing was not the same as the house blessing for my childhood friend which I recorded here.)