Baptism

Congratulations on your decision to have your child baptized. Every baptism must have the consent of the guardians of the child and at least one godparent to proceed.  Further requirements include:

Infant Baptism, or more accurately, Baptism before the age of reason.  (0-7 years of age)

• Consent of the guardians
• At least one godparent.  A second godparent or Christian witness is allowed.  Godparents must be male and female when two godparents are named.
• Guardians should attend a prebaptism course before the baptism of their first child.  This course will take about one hours.

Adolescent Baptism, baptism after the age of reason but before adulthood (8-17 years of age)

• Candidate must attend religious education courses to get an age appropriate fundamental understanding of the Catholic faith.
• At least one godparent.  A second godparent or Christian witness is allowed.  Godparents must be male and female when two godparents are named. 
• Guardians should attend a prebaptism course before the baptism of their first child.  This course will take about one hours.

Adult Baptism (age 18+)

• Please refer to the section on Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)

As stated in the Code of Canon Law, a godparent must:

• Be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function; 
• Have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another  age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause; 
• Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
• Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared; 
• Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
• Godparents will be asked to provide a recent baptismal certificate from the church where they were baptized and a letter of recommendation from their current church of registration.  

The qualifications for a Christian Witness are:

• Must be baptized into a Christian faith
• Cannot have left the Catholic faith to join the Christian faith.
• A Christian witness will be asked to provide a baptismal certificate.

Please contact Fr. Jerry to schedule your child's baptism and prebaptism course.