The Sanctifying Role of the Church
Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Baptism becomes our commitment to grow in this new life and to strive to acquire spiritual maturity. By baptism, God purifies us from sin.
Baptism is the sacrament of faith which has the Risen Christ as its source, and it is the offer of salvation for all people. Intimately linked to Confirmation and to Eucharist, Baptism is, with these two sacraments, Christian Initiation. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents and of the Church.
Parish Guidelines and Information for Infant Baptism
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. Parents must be members of the Parish. If parents are not members, please click here to register.
To Schedule an Infant Baptism:
Please contact Paulyna Rivera, [email protected] Please provide by mail or email:
- Birth certificate (copy)
- Sponsor letters from church that they attend
- Complete parent baptism class (see below)
- Complete registration form: https://forms.gle/hGKjkTtJNBATfpKz8
Baptism Class Requirements:
- An in-person Baptism class is required for parents seeking the Sacrament of Baptism for children under the age of 7. The class is normally held the Second Saturday of the month in the Adult Education Room from 9am – noon. Please contact Paulyna Rivera, [email protected], for the class dates and to register.
Godparent (Sponsor) Requirements:
- Taken from the Archdiocesan Guidelines for the Sacraments of Initiation 2017-09-08 document A sponsor assists the person, who is to receive Baptism and Confirmation, to lead a Christian life;
- There may be only one male and one female sponsor;
- A sponsor must be designated by the parents of an infant, by an adult himself or herself, or by the Pastor or other cleric who administers the Sacrament;
- A sponsor must have completed his or her 16th year;
- A sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist;
- A sponsor must be a practicing Catholic;*
- A sponsor, if married, must have been married by a catholic priest or deacon
- A mother or father may not be a sponsor for their child; and
- A baptized non-Catholic may only act as a witness where a Catholic sponsor has been designated.*
*For the Sacrament of Baptism, one sponsor may be a practicing non-Catholic Christian. For the record they will be listed as a Christian Witness. They need to obtain a letter of eligibility from their church.
*Baptisms are currently being scheduled Saturday mornings or weekday afternoons We are only baptizing one child at a time and ask that family groups be kept to 15 people and everyone wears a mask.
For more information on Infant Baptism contact Paulyna Rivera at [email protected]