Baptizing Sammy - Part I

Well, we took a bit long to get Sammy baptized. The church we belong to in Minnesota...it's priest is on sabbatical for six months and the deacon wasn't really available. So we procrastinated...and procrastinated.

When Michele's grandfather died a few weeks ago, we all went back east for the funeral. The priest who peformed the funeral really made an impression on Paul. They spoke for a couple of hours after the funeral about everything from Palm Pilots to liberation theology. After the funeral we returned home, but a week after that Michele had already planned on coming back east for a week to visit again. So we asked Father Thomas Ward if he'd baptize Sammy. He agreed and thus we were all back in New York for the third time this year.

Sammy was baptized at Saint Josephs in Oxford, NY by Father Ward. Paul's family for the most part lives in either Minnesota or Texas now, so it was Michele's side of the family who was able to be there and celebrate with us. Sammy's Great Uncle "Don" Andrew was his Godfather and his Aunt Sharon was his Godmother. Sammy wore a white baptismal gown he received as a gift from his Aunt Jacci and Uncle David (Paul's brother).

Most of the baptisms we've been to are usually included in the Sunday mass and last about 3 minutes. Father Ward did an exceptional job. The service for Sammy's baptism lasted 45 minutes! We wish we had video taped it. Since most of the people there had been at Sammy's Great Grandfather's funeral little more than a week earlier, Father Ward tied it all together (life, death, etc). To try to summarize the what he said here wouldn't do it justice. We will just leave it with saying that we are glad to be so fortunate as to haveFather Ward baptize our son. He really made it a special moment and impressed upon us the responsibilities we have to raise Sammy in the Catholic Church.

After the batism we gathered at Sammy's Great Grandma's in Mount Upton for a macaroni and meatballs meal...which included eggplant parmagiana by Great Aunt Diana, garlic nuts by Great Aunt Liz, and imported Locatelli cheese (Pecorini Romano)...which is considered to be the world's finest grating cheese (made from 100% pure sheep's milk).

Father Ward with Sammy and Michele

Father Ward baptizing Sammy as Michele holds him.

Father Ward blessing Sammy with holy oil.

Father Ward with newly baptized Sammy.

From left to right....Godparent Aunt Sharon,
Godparent Great Uncle Andy, Father Ward, Paul, & Michele

Baptizing Sammy - Part II

Here's some pics of Sammy with family immediately after his baptism.

Sammy's Godparents...Great Uncle Andy and Aunt Sharon

Great Grandma, Sammy, and Michele

Geat Grandma & Sammy

Grandpa Rothdiender, Michele, Sammy, Grandma Rothdiener, & Paul

Great Aunt Diana, Great Uncle Andy, and Sammy

Josh, Todd, Great Aunt Liz, Justin, Great Uncle Jimmy...and Sammy

Laura, Mary, Great Uncle Chris, Scotty, & Great Aunt Brenda with Sammy

Great Aunt Suzie, Sammy, and Great Uncle Ron

Great Uncle Pete, Sammy, and Great Aunt Terry

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

The Godfather...really

Well, the moment was almost upon us to have Sammy finally baptized. Here's a pic we took of Sammy with his Godfather to be...Great Uncle "Don" Andrew. We're not sure of the significance of the apple in Aunt Diana's hand...but we'd much prefer it to a horse's head.

Don Andrew has cotton balls in his cheeks for the Brando effect...can you tell?

Who's afraid of the big bad...red dog?

Paul remembers a cousin who when a baby used to cry uncontrollably whenever the song "If" was sung. Well, it appears we have found little Sammy's Achille's heel...a stuffed red dog that Michele bought for him. When he sees it, our otherwise intrepid young man's face opens wide in horror and he starts to shriek and cry uncontrollably. So the red dog has been exiled to the top of our bed (where our cat Veto used to sleep...until all 17lbs of him fell on us one night).

Next to Red Dog in the photo below is the first ever picture taken of Sammy when he was still in Michele's tummy.

Who's afraid of the big red dog
Big red dog, big red dog?
Who's afraid of the big red dog?
Tra la la la la!