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“Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Baptism is the sacrament of new life in Christ, washing away original sin and marking us as children of God. Through the waters of baptism, we are united with Christ, welcomed into His Church, and called to live as His disciples.It is the role of the father and mother, accompanied by the godparents, to present the child to the Church for baptism.
With this in mind, we offer you some guidelines below to help make the preparation for your child’s baptism fruitful and joyful.
“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.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
FAQ
What obligations do parents take upon themselves when asking to have their baby baptized?
In choosing to have your child baptized in the Catholic Church, you are accepting the responsibility of raising him or her in the practice of the Catholic Faith. The preparation process is conducted under the assumption that at least one of the parents is a believing and practicing Roman Catholic. It is an occasion to reflect on your faith, the faith of the Church, and how you live it out and hand it on in the life of your child. Whether you have been away for a while, or you have a pew at Church that practically has your name on it, your child’s baptism is an opportunity to rediscover and renew your commitment to your Faith in Christ by deeper engagement with the Church. It is as much a chance for a new beginning for you as it is for your child, as you introduce him or her to the full sweep and significance of the Gospel which, if it were all recounted, “the world itself could not contain all the books that would be written”. (John 21:25)
When are baptisms held?
Baptisms in English
Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays at the following churches:
St. Joseph: after the 8:30 Sunday Mass
St. Michael: after the 9:30 Sunday Mass
St. Stanislaus: after the 10:00 Sunday Mass
St. Mary: after the 11:00 Sunday Mass
Due to the number of baptisms requested at our churches, there may be other children scheduled for baptism on the day you prefer.
If this is your first child, both parents need to attend a 30-minute baptism preparation class, which Deacon Ernie Scrivani facilities via Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 7PM twice a month. We also encourage godparents to participate in the class, although it is not mandatory.
Bautismos en Español
Los bautizos son el 3er sábado de cada mes a la 1 PM y el 2do sábado de cada mes en la iglesia de San Antonio. Las conferencias de bautismo son el primer domingo de cada mes a las 12:30 PM en el salón de actividades de San Francisco de Asís.
Chrzty w języku polskim
Po niedzielnej Mszy o godzinie 10:00 w kościele św. Stanisława
Who will administer the Sacrament?
Ordinarily, one of the parish deacons will celebrate baptisms in the parish. If a family has a special relationship with a priest or deacon from outside the parish, he is most welcome to come and celebrate the baptism.
If you are interested in having a particular deacon or priest from the parish baptize your child, feel free to let the Parish Staff know. Visiting priests or deacons must obtain the necessary permission from the parish to conduct the baptism. We will do our best to accommodate your requests.
How do I select a Godparent?
Each child must have at least one, but may have two godparents or sponsors. If there are two godparents, they must be a godfather and godmother. One godparent must be a practicing and believing Roman Catholic who has received the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation, be at least 16 years old, and (if married) in a valid Catholic marriage recognized by the Church. Canon Law sets these expectations and expects godparents to be good witnesses of Catholic faith, because it is through baptism that one enters the Church.
If someone close to the family is a great example of Christian faith, but is not Catholic, there is the possibility of having such a person act as a Christian Witness to the ceremony in a role similar to that of a godparent, but distinct from it.
Godparents may be represented by proxies if they are unable to be present for the ceremony. Those serving as proxies must fulfill the same requirements as godparents.
Catholic godparents need to obtain a Sponsorship Certificate from the parish where they are registered. The certificate verifies that they meet all the requirements outlined in the Archdiocesan Sacramental Guidelines, and is due at least one week before the baptism.
What if I am an adult and would like to receive Baptism?
You are invited to find out more about the Roman Catholic Church by participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).