Cozies 4 Chemo - Our Lady of Good Counsel

18 | The Good Counsel Courier Vol. 4 | Issue 3 | June 21, 2012www.olgcnj.orgChapter V: Registration and Proof of BaptismCanons 875-878treats the meansof establishing thefact of baptism, inother words proofof baptism. Canons875-876 deal withproof of baptism,and canons 877-878 with theCanon Law registration andrecording of theCornerfact that baptismBy Father Arnold Rosney took place.Canons 875-876Canons 875-876 are concerned that there beliving witnesses of the baptism to verify that ittook place. In contemporary society, witnessesare particularly important forms of proof in civil,criminal, and ecclesiastical trials. Otherwise,documents or certificates which attest the eventtook place are preferred. The two canons onproofs reflect a cultural milieu where proof bydocuments is not the rule but the exception,and where witnesses are the usual means forproviding proof. Nevertheless, the canons havepractical relevance for those situations in whicha baptismal record cannot be produced.Canon 875 concerns a baptism where therewas no sponsor, who is ordinarily the principalwitness to the baptism. This is likely to occurin danger of death situations. The canon placesthe responsibility on the minister to see thatsome other witness is present to verify thebaptism did take place.Canon 876 concerns the testimony of awitness to prove the baptism took place. Thecanon is an exception to the general rule. Thecanon adds for the testimony of a single witnessto provided full proof of baptism, the witnessmust be above suspicion. The declaration of thewitness to the baptism is generally sufficient,but the canon notes in prejudicial cases inecclesiastical trials the testimony of one witnessmay not be sufficient and more proofs needed.Canons 877-878 deal with the personcharged with recording the fact of thecelebration of baptism and the kind ofinformation to be recorded.Canon 877 deals with the recording ofbaptism when the pastor and associate is theminister of the baptism. Whether the person isan adult or infant the following information is tobe recordedName of the person baptizedName of the minister, parents, sponsors andwitnessesPlace and date of birth of the baptizedpersonDate and place of baptismThe canon goes on to treat special situationswhich pertain to the baptism of children.Canon 877.2 explains the kind of information tobe recorded or not recorded when the parentsof the baptised child are not married. Canon877.3 deals with information to be recordedIn April, the fifth and sixth gradeBattle of the Books teams traveled toBurlington to take part in the regionalcompetition. This is the first time thatGood Counsel has had two teamsparticipating. We are very proud of ourenthusiastic and dedicated readers.Here are our two teams proudlydisplaying their medals. Picturedaround the table are Paul ChristianStowell, Anthony Berna (6th gradecaptain), Philip Sobocinski, OliviaHansen (5th grade captain), DanielaHernandez, Isabel Kuzy, HelenCloskey, Brigit Corej, Cory Gaulrapp,and Ellen Annas.Battle of the Booksor not recorded when the baptized child isadopted.Canon 878 treats a situation when someoneother than the pastor was the minister ofbaptism. The baptism may have been conferredlawfully in an emergency situation or in a nonparochialChurch or oratory with the parishterritory. It may also have been conferredunlawfully by a family member without thepermission of the pastor. The point of the canonis to ensure, in these situations, the fact of thebaptism is recorded in the register of the parishin which the baptism took place.Although not explicitly stated in the canons,the baptismal register is primary, since all othersacraments for whose celebration proof maybe needed (confirmation, marriage, orders) andother events affecting a person’s ecclesial status(religious profession, declaration of nullity ofmarriage) is recorded in the baptismal record.Baptismal records must always be kept in theparish where it is celebrated, and accessed bythose authorised by the pastor.Children in the Early Childhood Center gathered to pray and lay flowersat the statue of the Blessed Mother during the month of May.