Baptism
Baptism Requirements
** Please note that beginning January 2010 Pre-Baptism Classes will be held on the first & second THURSDAY of the month.
o Class two is held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Parish Center
♦ Proof of completion of pre-baptismal classes for the parents and godparents
♦ Completed Baptism Registration Form
♦ Copy of the child’s Birth Certificate
♦ Copy of godparents Marriage Certificate if applicable.
♦ Parents must be practicing Catholics and registered with St. Joseph Parish. The Church believes that the commitment of the parents to practice their faith in the Church is essential before a child is baptized
The Church is required for infant baptism because to fulfill the true meaning of the sacrament, children must be formed in the faith so that they may ultimately accept for themselves the faith in which they have been baptized. The child is baptized based on the strength of the faith of the parents, godparents, and the entire Catholic Christian community.
The Church has a serious moral obligation to discern that a child will be brought up in the Catholic religion before baptism is administered to an infant. The active involvement of parents and godparents in the life and ministry and support of their parish gives the Church a concrete sign and assurance that this will be the case.
It is active involvement we mean when we say that parents & godparents must be registered, practicing, and contributing members of a Church parish. In the renewal of baptismal promises, which is part of the Rite of Baptism, parents and godparents especially are promising to God, to the Church and to their Child that they will continue to live their own lives as Catholic witnesses to the attitudes, values, teachings, practices, and traditions of the Catholic faith.
If the parents or godparents do not practice their faith on a regular basis, then the pre-baptism classes are an opportunity for you to discuss your reasons for not practicing your faith. We are as interested in you and your faith as we are in your child’s Baptism and faith.
♦ Parents and godparents are required to attend pre-baptism classes prior to scheduling the Baptism
God-parents who are not living in the parish boundaries or are not parishioners may take the baptism classes in their local parish
God-parents who are not living in the parish boundaries or are not parishioners may take the baptism classes in their local parish
♦ Pre-baptism classes are conducted in a two part series
♦ A $50.00 donation for the pre-baptism classes, which is intended to help offset the costs of materials needed to prepare your family better understand the Sacrament, must be paid at the time of registration.
♦ Registration for pre-baptism classes must be done 2 days prior to attending the classes; no registrations will be taken during the class.
o Class one is held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Parish Centero Class two is held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Parish Center
♦ Proof of completion of pre-baptismal classes for the parents and godparents
♦ Completed Baptism Registration Form
♦ Copy of the child’s Birth Certificate
♦ Copy of godparents Marriage Certificate if applicable.
♦ Parents must be practicing Catholics and registered with St. Joseph Parish. The Church believes that the commitment of the parents to practice their faith in the Church is essential before a child is baptized
♦ Godparents must be practicing active Roman Catholics (Have been baptized Roman Catholics, received first communion and confirmation) and are over the age of sixteen.
♦ Godparents must either be married through the Catholic Church or single (civil marriage/living together does not meet the Catholic Church requirements).
♦ Two godparents per child
♦ Two godparents per child
The Church is required for infant baptism because to fulfill the true meaning of the sacrament, children must be formed in the faith so that they may ultimately accept for themselves the faith in which they have been baptized. The child is baptized based on the strength of the faith of the parents, godparents, and the entire Catholic Christian community.
The Church has a serious moral obligation to discern that a child will be brought up in the Catholic religion before baptism is administered to an infant. The active involvement of parents and godparents in the life and ministry and support of their parish gives the Church a concrete sign and assurance that this will be the case.
It is active involvement we mean when we say that parents & godparents must be registered, practicing, and contributing members of a Church parish. In the renewal of baptismal promises, which is part of the Rite of Baptism, parents and godparents especially are promising to God, to the Church and to their Child that they will continue to live their own lives as Catholic witnesses to the attitudes, values, teachings, practices, and traditions of the Catholic faith.
If the parents or godparents do not practice their faith on a regular basis, then the pre-baptism classes are an opportunity for you to discuss your reasons for not practicing your faith. We are as interested in you and your faith as we are in your child’s Baptism and faith.