Baptism

In order to respect your request for the baptism of your child, you are invited to follow closely the stages of preparation offered below:

• Contact the parish office and express your desire to have your child baptized.
• Introduce yourself to the parish priest if you do not already know him personally.
• Open yourself to the invitation to actively join the faith community of your parish. If you are not registered parishioners, please consider becoming involved in the prayer and celebration of the Sunday Eucharistic community.

You will be asked to participate in some manner of faith formation prior to the baptism of your child.  This ordinarily takes the form of a baptismal preparation session for the parents and godparents.  If anyone has completed such a faith formation within the last three years, he/she may forgo this step provided proof of the formation is supplied to our parish from the parish where it was received.  Baptisms will not be scheduled until both parents and godparents have completed the faith formation.

It is extremely important to take your faith-life seriously because, before God, you have taken on an awesome responsibility for the salvation of another—your own child! Your commitment and openness to baptismal preparation will help develop the faith-life of your child as they mature.

Learn More:

Code of Canon Law, c. 851

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 843

Parents are responsible for bringing their child to the Sacrament of Baptism as soon after birth as possible. Except in case of necessity, the church is the usual place of baptism.

In order that a child be baptized, it is necessary that the parents consent, or at least one of them, or someone legally standing in their place, and that there is reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith. (A copy of the child’s birth certificate is necessary if the parents aren’t married).

Learn More:

Code of Canon Law, cc. 867-868

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1251

A person may only have one or two godparents (also called sponsors); if two are chosen, one must be male and the other female. In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent they must:

• be chosen by the parents
• have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role
• be at least 16 years of age, and be a confirmed Roman Catholic, who:
  • has already received the Most Holy Eucharist,
  • is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith (including a valid Marriage within the Catholic Church)
  • will be a good role model for the one being baptized
  • and be neither the father nor the mother of the child

Godparents will be required to have this eligibility form completed by the pastor of their home parish and marked with that parish seal.  The original completed form (including the parish seal) is to be mailed or delivered to our parish office before baptism will be scheduled. Godparents will also be asked to participate in some manner of faith formation. This ordinarily takes the form of a baptismal preparation session for the parents and godparents. If anyone has completed such a faith formation within the last three years, he/she may forgo this step provided proof of the formation is supplied to our parish from the parish where it was received.

Nota Bene: A Roman Catholic not in good standing with the Church (i.e., not validly married within the Catholic Church or baptized but who now considers him or herself a member of another ecclesial community) may not serve as a “Christian witness”. 

Code of Canon Law, cc. 867-868

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1251