Fr. Charbonnet: Celebrate your baptismal day!

Question: Do you remember your very first baptism of a child upon being ordained a transitional deacon or priest?

Answer: I was ordained a transitional deacon on April 20, 2002. My first baptism was for my cousin, Elise Landrum, eight days later. A few months later, I celebrated my first wedding for another “Elise” – my sister! Both sacraments were special to me because they were family.

Q: Do you have a favorite part of the Rite of Catholic Baptism? 

A: The act of baptizing. It is the moment when the person being baptized becomes a child of God. I always check my watch right before I baptize to record the specific time of baptism. When a child is born, we record the time of day for the birth certificate. Recognizing the time helps everyone see the importance of the moment.

Q: Is this sacrament one that you always look forward to as a priest?

A: Yes. I see it as an opportunity to not only honor the baptism taking place, but also to inspire those attending to think about their own baptism. In baptism, we receive a new identity: as a son or daughter of God the Father. We also receive the power to overcome death itself. When a deacon or priest points out these facts in the ceremony, people may walk away from baptism seeing themselves in a new light.

Q: Do you have any funny or heartwarming stories to share about a baptism you performed?

A: During my diaconate internship at St. Margaret Mary in Slidell, I baptized a 3-year-old boy who did not want to be there. To give you an idea of how it went, imagine trying to get a cat to hold still so you can pour a cup of water on its head. Then add in a large group of people. I remember that the boy’s great-grandfather recorded the event and gave me a videotaped copy. To this day, I have not watched the tape. 

Q: Do you have an estimate on how many people you have baptized over the years? 

A: I have heard that some priests keep a personal record of the children they have baptized. Great question! A lot!

Q: Do babies you have baptized ever come up to you to thank you for baptizing them?

A: Every now and then I will run into families that will introduce me to their child and say that I baptized them. It’s truly an honor to have been a part of such a special event in their lives.  

Q: If you could give one nugget of wisdom to parents and godparents about this sacrament, what would it be?

A: I would tell the parents and godparents to celebrate the date of baptism like a birthday – because it is a birthday. It’s the day that their child became a child of God. Bake a cake, have a special meal, get a gift that will help them grow in faith. Your baptismal date is more important than your biological birthday. Many people get that mixed up. 

Q: Who baptized you, and do you celebrate your own baptismal date?

A: I was baptized by Jesuit Father John Bahan on June 8, 1969 – three weeks after the day I was born. Years later, I was ordained by Archbishop Alfred Hughes on June 7, 2003, and my first Mass took place the next day at St. Peter Church in Covington. It was the 34th anniversary of my baptism! No coincidences, only God’s Providence.

Q: Finally, let’s look at the institution of baptism by Christ in Scripture: What stands out to you about this particular Gospel?

A: When Jesus is baptized by John, we hear the voice of the Father say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). What I like about this passage is that we hear the voice of God the Father relating to his Son, Jesus. Many people see God the Father as being silent, distant and cold, but to hear the specific voice of the Father is a gift. At every baptism, the love of the Father for this new child should echo in the church!

Father C. Beau Charbonnet is the pastor of St. Angela Merici Church in Metairie. Questions and comments may be forwarded to [email protected]. Next month: Eucharist.


Father C. Beau Charbonnet’s family captured the moment he was baptized by Jesuit Father John Bahan on June 8, 1969, at Holy Name of Jesus Church. “My mom’s first cousin, Gayle Gelpi, is holding me, while my Uncle Donald – standing proxy for my Uncle Billy, who was in the military at the time – stands by,” Father Charbonnet said. (Photo courtesy of the Charbonnet family)