My Baptism Story
By Gabrielle Vanderham
The Sacred Chrism
The Baptismal Candle
My Welcoming Into the Church
My Baptism Day
I was baptized in December of 2000 when I was only five months old. It was a small gathering with only my closest family there to witness me begin my journey as a Catholic. I wore a beautiful little while dress that my grandma bought me. A priest, Father Steve, presided at my baptism. After the ceremony my parents had a nice celebration at our house, with all of our family and friends.
My Name
My name, Gabrielle, was picked quite spur of the moment. My parents had made a giant list of names they liked but mine was not one of the names on their list. When the day of my birth finally came around my parents still had three names that they wanted to pick from, but there was a problem. None of the names fit me. They went through the list again but nothing stood out, when all of a sudden my dad mentioned the name Gabrielle. At that moment it stuck and it was apparent that I was meant to be a Gabrielle.
In French my name means "Woman of God" and at my baptism the priest told my parents that my guardian angel is The Archangel Gabriel.
My Godparents
My parents chose my Grandma and Grandpa on my mom's side to be my Godparents. I was very close to my Grandpa and am still close with my Grandma. When I was a baby my grandpa was the only person who could manage to get me to sleep and from the very beginning my mom said that we had a connection. Although I don't remember him much because he passed when I was two, I still feel him in my heart. My grandma and I are quite close and I always love listening to her many stories about her childhood.
My grandma has taken an active role in my spiritual life by always reminding me to pray when in the midst of hard times and to put full faith in God.
Gospel
If I had to choose a passage from the Gospel to read at a child's baptism I would choose, Mark 10:13-16. I would choose this passage because I believe that it fully represents the welcoming of us into the Church and the love that Jesus has for us. A quote from this passage of Mark that represents this is, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them. It is to just such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I assure you that whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter into it.”