Request for Baptism

General Information

Baptism is the Gateway to all other sacraments.  You must be baptized in order to receive First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders. Baptism brings the Holy Spirit upon the person and fills him or her with grace. A permanent mark is placed on the soul and the person becomes a child of God. The virtues of faith, hope, and love are given in God's supernatural act of grace.

To comply with Archdiocesan guidelines regarding COVID, baptisms will be adminstered for only ONE child in a given date and time slot.  The schedule through the first half of 2021 is:  

It is required for parents and godparents to have instruction in the sacrament of Baptism. Normally a class is offered on the Thursday evening preceding the Baptism in the Linse Room of the lower Church. For the time being, preparation for Baptism will be done virtually using Zoom. If you have attended Baptismal instruction in the recent past then you do not have to attend again.

Requirements for Godparents

Godparents play an important role in the spiritual life of the child. They should have the time, willingness and faith to live out this sacred vocation. They should be someone special to the child who will set an example of Christian living, help teach the Catholic faith, and instill a lifelong relationship of prayer, faith sharing, and love. Specific requirements for godparents:

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be fully initiated into the Roman Catholic faith, which means the person has received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.  
• Needs to be a practicing Catholic.
• If married, godparents need to either have been married in the Catholic Church or have obtained the appropriate dispensation for another type of ceremony.

There can be one or two godparents. Only one godparent is required.  If a person does not fulfill the requirements noted above but is a baptized Catholic or Christian of another denomination, he or she may still participate in the Baptismal rite. The person would be referred to as a “Christian Witness” on the Baptismal record instead of godparent. The expectation is that a Christian Witness will be a Christian role model for the child.