The Sacrament of Baptism
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Welcome! We welcome your family on this joyous occasion of the celebration of your child’s baptism! We look forward to assisting your family in preparing for the baptism of your child. The baptism preparation session at St. John of God is designed to provide the formation and information needed to fully understand the Sacrament of Baptism and your role as a Catholic parent/godparent.
We hope here to provide you with some basic information about the preparation process and requirements. It will outline the parish’s approach to infant baptism. If you have some questions about Baptism in the Catholic Church in general, please watch this video which gives an introduction to the Church's teaching on the sacrament. |
What are the requirements for parents presenting a child for baptism?
-At least one parent must be a practicing Catholic, who is committed to raising the child in the Catholic faith. A parent that is not Catholic has to express a willingness to help and create a home where a child will receive an environment to grow in faith as taught by the Catholic Church.
-The family asking for their child to be baptized at any of the three Parishes must be a registered member of the Parish. If not, you can print and fill out the registration form at home by clicking here. Printed forms are also found in the three Churches. You can bring the completed form to the Parish Office during business hours Either way be certain to introduce yourself to Fr. Babiczuk or Fr. Costa.
-At least one parent must be a practicing Catholic, who is committed to raising the child in the Catholic faith. A parent that is not Catholic has to express a willingness to help and create a home where a child will receive an environment to grow in faith as taught by the Catholic Church.
-The family asking for their child to be baptized at any of the three Parishes must be a registered member of the Parish. If not, you can print and fill out the registration form at home by clicking here. Printed forms are also found in the three Churches. You can bring the completed form to the Parish Office during business hours Either way be certain to introduce yourself to Fr. Babiczuk or Fr. Costa.
What are the requirements for godparents/sponsors?
It is important to realize that in the Catholic Church a Sponsor/Godparent is just not an honorary title that we bestow on close friends. This is how it is viewed in our culture, but not in the Catholic Church. The Church looks upon a godparent/sponsor as an important vocation. Godparents are members of the Christian community who, by their lives and their faith, set a good example for the child whose initiation into this community they are sponsoring. They should be able to stay in communication with the child as he or she is growing up. To put it in contemporary terms they are mentors in the ways of the Catholic faith.
Based upon this theology of what it means to be a godparent/sponsor the following are the requirements
-Usually a child has two godparents, but only one is necessary. If there are two, they can not be of the sex.
-Godparents must be at least 16 years of age, practicing Catholics, and have celebrated the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation themselves. If they are Catholic and married, they must be married in the catholic Church. They can not be the parents of the child to be baptized, but can be the grandparents.
-It is possible for a non-Catholic Christian to be a Christian witness as long as one godparent is Catholic. A catholic who has left the faith can not be a Christian witness.
-Finding a godparent in some circumstances may be difficult. In such situation, we ask that parents speak to either the pastor or the baptismal team member who will be more than willing to assist in any way possible.
-If Godparent(s) cannot be present for your child’s baptism, you may choose others to stand in as proxies for the Baptism ceremony. Only the names of the chosen (actual) godparents will appear on the Baptism certificate.
It is important to realize that in the Catholic Church a Sponsor/Godparent is just not an honorary title that we bestow on close friends. This is how it is viewed in our culture, but not in the Catholic Church. The Church looks upon a godparent/sponsor as an important vocation. Godparents are members of the Christian community who, by their lives and their faith, set a good example for the child whose initiation into this community they are sponsoring. They should be able to stay in communication with the child as he or she is growing up. To put it in contemporary terms they are mentors in the ways of the Catholic faith.
Based upon this theology of what it means to be a godparent/sponsor the following are the requirements
-Usually a child has two godparents, but only one is necessary. If there are two, they can not be of the sex.
-Godparents must be at least 16 years of age, practicing Catholics, and have celebrated the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation themselves. If they are Catholic and married, they must be married in the catholic Church. They can not be the parents of the child to be baptized, but can be the grandparents.
-It is possible for a non-Catholic Christian to be a Christian witness as long as one godparent is Catholic. A catholic who has left the faith can not be a Christian witness.
-Finding a godparent in some circumstances may be difficult. In such situation, we ask that parents speak to either the pastor or the baptismal team member who will be more than willing to assist in any way possible.
-If Godparent(s) cannot be present for your child’s baptism, you may choose others to stand in as proxies for the Baptism ceremony. Only the names of the chosen (actual) godparents will appear on the Baptism certificate.
How to Register for Baptism at all three Parishes.
First step in having your child baptized is to call the Parish Office and make an appointment with Fr. Costa or Fr Babiczuk. This initial meeting is with both parents. You can bring the baby to the meeting. Part of the purpose of this meeting with a priest is for Fr. Costa or Fr. Babiczuk to meet you since Baptismal Preparation is conducted by the deacons. At this time we will discuss sensitive issues such as being married outside of the Church, picking a Godparents, and returning to Mass if you have been away. You should not ask anyone to be a sponsor before this meeting because we will discuss the requirements and vocation of being a Godparent/sponsor.
First step in having your child baptized is to call the Parish Office and make an appointment with Fr. Costa or Fr Babiczuk. This initial meeting is with both parents. You can bring the baby to the meeting. Part of the purpose of this meeting with a priest is for Fr. Costa or Fr. Babiczuk to meet you since Baptismal Preparation is conducted by the deacons. At this time we will discuss sensitive issues such as being married outside of the Church, picking a Godparents, and returning to Mass if you have been away. You should not ask anyone to be a sponsor before this meeting because we will discuss the requirements and vocation of being a Godparent/sponsor.
Baptismal Preparation
It is necessary to attend a baptismal Preparation session before celebrating the sacrament. No exceptions. Baptismal Preparation is conducted in the Church at St. Anthony by Deacon Medina on fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. Baptismal Preparation is conducted by Deacon Bedard at St. Jude on the third Saturday of the month at 3pm. You can choose either session for Baptismal Preparation, but you must indicate at the time of registration which Session you will attend so that the deacons have the appropriate paper work. You can change your session by calling the Parish Office in advance.
It is necessary to attend a baptismal Preparation session before celebrating the sacrament. No exceptions. Baptismal Preparation is conducted in the Church at St. Anthony by Deacon Medina on fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. Baptismal Preparation is conducted by Deacon Bedard at St. Jude on the third Saturday of the month at 3pm. You can choose either session for Baptismal Preparation, but you must indicate at the time of registration which Session you will attend so that the deacons have the appropriate paper work. You can change your session by calling the Parish Office in advance.
Baptisms at St. Anthony
The Sacrament of baptism is celebrated by Deacon Medina on the first Sunday of the month. It is celebrated in English after the 9am Mass and in Portuguese after the 11am Mass.
Baptism at St Jude
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated by Deacon Phil on the last Sunday of the Month at 11:15 AM. We are no longer doing baptism during Mass. Baptisms during Mass are impossible because Fr. Costa or Fr. Babiczuk do not always celebrate the 10:15am Mass.
Baptism at St. Mary
Baptisms at St. Mary are celebrated on the Second Sunday of the month following the 10am Mass.
The Sacrament of baptism is celebrated by Deacon Medina on the first Sunday of the month. It is celebrated in English after the 9am Mass and in Portuguese after the 11am Mass.
Baptism at St Jude
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated by Deacon Phil on the last Sunday of the Month at 11:15 AM. We are no longer doing baptism during Mass. Baptisms during Mass are impossible because Fr. Costa or Fr. Babiczuk do not always celebrate the 10:15am Mass.
Baptism at St. Mary
Baptisms at St. Mary are celebrated on the Second Sunday of the month following the 10am Mass.
Further Reading
Understanding the essential role of godparents and sponsors Since the early Church, sponsors and godparents have held an important role in passing on the Faith
By D.D. Emmons OSV Newsweekly
Click here to read
By D.D. Emmons OSV Newsweekly
Click here to read