I want to baptize my baby, what are the necessary requirements that I should meet?

• Please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate and information about the godparents.
• Choose godparent(s). Look at guidelines below for selecting godparents before making a decision.
• Attend a baptism preparation class. (No children)
  Baptism Classes are First Thursday of Every Month from Class time 6:30pm-9:30pm
  We ask for a donation of $35.00 for the process.
• Invite godparents(s) to attend the baptismal preparation class with you or at his/her church if they have not done so within the last 3 years.
• Schedule the Baptism after attending the class. Baptisms are celebrated the third Saturday of each month.
• You do not have to bring anything with you the day of baptism except the Baptism Donation envelope.
• Please dress your child in white and arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time.

Guidelines for choosing Godparents / Requirements
Godparents are official witnesses of those sacraments, which involve the “irrevocable marking of a Christian” (i.e. baptism and confirmation).
The sponsor makes a public promise that “by my word and example, I will foster the active practice of the Catholic Faith in the life of the young person I am sponsoring.”

An individual who is not a practicing Catholic is hardly in a position to make such a promise. An individual who is not attending Mass regularly, who is not altogether a convinced Catholic, who is not in a sacramental marriage within the Churchmarriage is a sacrament and thus, part of “living a sacramental life”- is not in a position to make such a promise before God and the world.

For this reason, sponsors selected must be:

Practicing Catholics and must produce verification of their good standing within the Church.

There is, however, some flexibility within this parameter. A baptized member of a non-Catholic Christian denomination may participate as a “Christian witness” with the Catholic sponsor at the Baptism.

Beyond this, there will be no exception to this legitimate guideline of the Catholic Church.

Godparents must be:

• At least 16 years of age
• Fully initiated into the Church, having been baptized, confirmed and received 1st Holy Communion
• If married, in a sacramental marriage
• If single, living in harmony with the Catholic faith.
• Prepared through a Baptism class within the last three years.
• Paperwork:
  1. A letter from the godparents’ home parish saying they are active in the Church.
  2. Proof of completed baptismal preparation class within past 3 years. Paperwork can be dropped it off at the parish office or faxed to 480-888-1159