"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galatians 3: 26-27
Parents must come with a birth certificate to make arrangements prior to Baptism.
- Baptisms in Spanish are on the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 p.m. One or both parents must visit our rectory to register the child. At the time of registration parents will be given the date of Baptismal Instructions class.
- Baptisms in English are on the Second Saturday of every month at 1:00 p.m. One or both parents must visit our rectory to register the child. At the time of registration parents will be given the date of Baptismal Instructions class
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made shares in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the world." - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC, 123)
The desire to have your child baptized is a great and important moment. The name of a saint is given in Baptism in order that the person baptized may imitate his/her virtues and have him/her for a protector. In order to enter into this sacrament in a spirit of joy and understanding, it is necessary to fulfill the requirements:
- Attend a baptism class.
- Selected Godparents for your child(ren).
What are the requirements for godparents and sponsors?
When a child or an adult is to be baptized, he or she must have at least one godparent or sponsor (the terms are interchangeable). It is customary to have two godparents. When there are two, one must be male and the other female. Godparents must meet all of the following criteria, which are established by universal Church law and which do not vary from place to place. Godparents must:
- Catholic
- Have been baptized, confirmed and receive Communion.
- Be 16 years or older (although there may be exceptions to this rule at the discretion of the bishop).
- Must be living a life consistent with their own baptismal vows.
- This means that they must be practicing the faith, cannot be engaging in notorious sin, and cannot have taken public positions in opposition to the Catholic faith or morals. If a sponsor is married, their marriage must be recognized by the Church. In general, if a potential sponsor is not a member of the parish where the baptism is to take place, he or she must obtain a letter or certificate from their own pastor which affirms that they meet the above requirements.
People sometimes object to the requirements for a sponsor. They argue that parents should have freedom to choose the sponsor of a child who is to be baptized. In order to understand the Church's position, several points must be kept in mind. Baptism is not a private act. It is a public, official liturgy of the Church and welcomes someone into the Catholic Church. Therefore, the Church has the duty and obligation to require reasonable criteria for being a sponsor. The sponsor is to assist the parents and the child in living a Catholic life. In order to do so, the sponsor needs to provide a good example of living that life. A person who is not Catholic, or who is not living in a way consistent with the faith, obviously cannot provide the example that is part of the task of being a godparent.
The role of godparent is a role of service done in the name of the Church, and the person who is a sponsor should be capable of performing that service. If there is one godparent, Church law does permit, but does not encourage, the appointment of one 'Christian witness' to the baptism ceremony. This witness must be a baptized, upright, non-Catholic Christian. The 'Christian witness' takes part in the ceremony but is not a godparent. A former Catholic, a non-baptized person or someone who does not live a virtuous Christian life can never be a Christian witness.
Preparing for Baptism
If you are an adult and would like to prepare for baptism, the ordinary course for receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. RCIA is typically a two-year long process in which one engages with a group of other believers as they break open the Scriptures, and understand how Christ has spoken to us, and what the demands are of the Christian faith. When a person feels that they are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, they then receive it together with the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ.
If you have a child over the age of seven but not more than 18 years of age, that child would go through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC). This typically is a several years-long process by which the child learns about the faith, is able to make a mature decision to embrace the Christian faith and living as a Catholic, the child is then Baptized, and then receives Confirmation and Holy Communion.
If you have a child under seven years of age, including newborns, your child may be baptized directly by a priest or deacon.
The Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament by which one is freed of sin and brought into the life of the Church. Baptism washes away original sin, and incorporates one into the body of Christ.
Would you like to register yourself or your child for a baptism?
- Complete the form below.
- Once your form is received and approved by the parish, you will receive an email or phone call with next steps for an in-person appointment.
- Locate yours or your child's birth certificate and make sure you bring that to the meeting with the parish.