G’s Baptism was this past Sunday. Since there wasn’t much to prepare, I was hoping to get a bit of a break. I wasn’t expecting a day all to myself, but I thought I might get a chance to watch something besides P.J. Masks. But the little ones would have none of that. JP’s cold got worse and he hated having a runny nose. He also hated having his nose wiped so he spent the weekend hating everything.

The night before G’s big day was a marathon of interrupted sleep. K woke up screaming from a nightmare, G had a stuffy nose, and JP was irrational. Monica bought a booger-sucker thing, to help with G’s congestion, so I got to successfully clear her sinuses with my man-lungs. That was the only highlight of a night that consisted of tears, more Moana, and four hours of sleep. Needless to say, we did not feel ready for G’s Baptism the following day.

The Baptism was scheduled for 6:15PM. We’re grateful our church offers a 5PM Mass on Sundays, because by 12 O’clock no one was showered, everyone was crying, and Monica and I were on our second pot of coffee.

After Mass we gathered at the entrance of the Church for G’s Baptism. We decided to do something small and low-key, which is more our style. And she’s our third child.

The ceremony started with our friends and family greeting G and welcoming her into the church as a community of faith. After the opening prayers we made our way to the pews and as we settled in, I snuggled G and hoped she would save any bowel movements for after pictures.

Thankfully, the Baptism went without incident. It was a very simple moment in her little life, but still beautiful. As Catholics we believe a lot happens when you are Baptized, but as the water hit her little head I was reminded that she was being made new right before my eyes (CCC 1265).

Not that G isn’t a perfect little Peruvian Chalupa, but the belief that we are made new at Baptism struck me and it reminded me of another Baptism that I was a part of.

Earlier this year, one of my youth group teens expressed a desire to become Catholic. After some counseling and preparation she was Baptized and welcomed fully into the life of the Church. She asked me to be her sponsor so I got a front row seat. As we sat in the pew afterward I reminded her that she was now a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). I’ll never forget how she responded to those words. I was privileged to witness God’s Mercy in action.

I know, one day, life will happen to G, and she will need to hear those words too. But she won’t want to hear them from me. I can assure you that I will tell her and show her that I love her, and the Jesus loves her. But I know that, at some point in her life, it will all be background noise.

She will need other people, that she trusts, to tell her that she is deeply loved and deeply valued. That’s why she has God-parents, and the rest of the Church.

I hope that everyone present at G’s Baptism is still in her life years from now.  If she ever has a moment where she feels like a failure, or that she has fallen too far away from God, I hope someone can look into her eyes and remind of her Baptism, God’s Mercy, and that He makes all this new (Rev 21:5).

I’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village.”

I’d like to think, “It takes the Church.”

Welcome home G.