Thank you for your inquiry about arrangements for the Sacrament of Baptism for your child.

 

Passing on the Church’s faith in the love of God and the values taught to us by Jesus Christ are among the most important things you can do as a parent to help your child develop into a healthy adult and to become the person that God has created your child to be.

Because a sacrament is a special encounter with God, meant to strengthen our life of discipleship, the Church needs to prepare the person celebrating the sacrament to be properly disposed to experience it. In the case of baptism of a child, we need to make sure that the child’s parents/grandparents and godparents fully understand the significance of the sacrament and their duties to help the child grow into a serious Christian who actively practices the faith of the Church. For this reason, the church must ensure this preparation.

Research shows that you (parents) are the number one influence on your child’s faith formation and in practicing the faith as they grow to adulthood. Preparation for Baptism can help parents more fully embrace their role as primary teachers of the faith, and to raise their child to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Bringing up your child in the Catholic faith is an exciting journey and the Church is eager to assist you!

The following guidelines are presented to help you embark upon this journey of faith with Christ and his Church.

+ In order for a child to be baptized, it is necessary that parents’ consent to the Baptism Celebration, and must agree to raise their child in the practice of the Catholic Faith.

“To fulfill the true meaning of the Sacrament, children must later be formed in the faith in which they have been baptized.” (Rite of Baptism, no. 3)

+  GODPARENTS/SPONSORS:

• According to Canon Law: cc 872-874, you are required to have at least one active and confirmed Roman Catholic Godparent who agrees with the teachings of the Church. One male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.
• If two Godparents are chosen, they must be of the opposite sex, a male and a female.
• They must have received the Catholic sacraments of Baptism, the Eucharist (1st Communion), and Confirmation.
• They must be 16 years of age or older.
• They must be practicing Catholics who attend Sunday Mass on a regular basis.
• If married they must be married in the Catholic Church.
• Parents can’t be the Godparents / Sponsors of their own child.

+  CHRISTIAN WITNESS: A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community can be chosen only as a witness of the baptism along with a Catholic Godparent/Sponsor, which will accompany the ceremony and must be of the opposite sex of the Godparent/Sponsor. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness.

+  BAPTISM PREPARATION COURSE

• Parents & Godparents must complete the (on-line or in-person) Baptismal Preparation Course

“The parents of an infant to be baptized and those who are to undertake the function of the sponsor are to be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it.” Canon Law c 851.2

Baptism Registration Form

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