Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of the forgiveness of sins: it unites us to Christ, who died and rose, and gives us the Holy Spirit. – Catechism of the Catholic Church #985
Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” – John 3:5
Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
Congratulations on the birth of your child! The Church shares your happiness. Through Baptism, the human person is washed clean of original sin, receives the gift of sanctifying grace, and becomes a member of God’s Church.
Parents
Parents must be registered, practicing members of St. Ambrose parish. Practicing the faith includes active participation at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, making a regular Confession, and being married in the Catholic Church.
First-time, expectant parents must attend a Baptism Instruction Class prior to scheduling the baptism. Please call the Parish Office, 703-280-4400, to make the necessary arrangements. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays following the Noon Mass.
A Baptism Registration Form must be completed and submitted to the Parish Office. This information is used to identify the child to be baptized, to prepare the baptismal certificate and to record the Baptism in our sacramental record book. Please be accurate with the information and the spelling of names.
Baptism Instruction Class
Parents seeking to have their child baptized at St. Ambrose must attend a Baptism Instruction Class. Baptism Instruction Classes are held on the third Saturday of every month at 11 am in the Parish Library. The Parish Library is located in the Parish Office building, which is on the far right side of the campus as you drive in.
Please note that a date for the baptism will only be secured with one of our priests once the Baptism Instruction Class is completed in person. The Class can be taken by the couple at any time.
Upcoming Baptism Instructional Classes are on the follow dates:
- 17 October 2026
- 21 November 2026
- 19 December 2026
- 16 January 2027
- 20 February 2027
- 20 March 2027
- 17 April 2027
- 15 May 2027
- 19 June 2027
Godparents
The godparents (one male and one female) of the child to be baptized must provide either one of the following original documents and submit it to the St. Ambrose Parish Office. Emailed, faxed, or photocopied documents are not accepted.
- Godparent Eligibility Statement
- Must be completed in full, signed, and stamped with the godparents’ parish church’s seal.
- Parish Pastor’s Letter
- Must include a statement that the godparent is a Catholic in good standing.
- Must include the parish pastor's signature and the parish church’s seal.
For more information, please contact Donna Vasilakos at the Parish Office at 703-280-4400.
