BAPTISM POLICY
The Baptism of your child is very important to you and to our parish. Through water and the Holy Spirit she/he will become a member of God's family and share in His life of love. Your child will experience Christian love through you, your family, friends, and our parish. We are privileged that God will use us for such an important task.
Baptism is also a responsibility for the parents, godparents and parish. Our parish pre-baptism program is designed to help all of us prepare for that special moment and do the best possible job of sharing our faith in the months and years ahead. For this reason we offer the following policies and program.

  1. Since you will be the first teachers of your child, we ask all parents to participate in a pre-Baptism program as soon as possible. Attendance is required before Baptism for all who have not participated in a previous Baptism program. Please call the Parish Center 931-1628 as soon as possible. Classes are scheduled four times a year.

  2. If you are not a member of our parish, we ask you to register and become involved in the parish closest to you. Members outside of our parish need a letter from their pastor authorizing us to baptize your child. Attendance at a pre-Baptism program is also required.

  3. Baptism implies that parents take their faith and involvement in the church seriously. We never refuse to baptize a child, but if parents have not been active in the church, they may want to delay the Baptism until they have their questins resolved.

  4. Godparents may be of either sex, at least sixteen years old, confirmed and at least one of them must be Catholic. The reason for this is the fact that being a godparent means rearing the child in the Catholic Tradition in case something happens to the parents. Godparents are also encouraged to attend the pre-Baptism program.

  5. Baptisms are celebrated at Saturday or Sunday masses. We believe the parish should be present at the Baptism because the parish is welcoming the child into God's family. The exeptions to a Baptism during a mass would be:

  1. A grave danger of death for the child.
  2. The parents are not married.
  3. Godparents have to travel over 50 miles on the day of Baptism.
  4. An ecumenical marriage where a spouse has valid reasons for not wanting a Baptism during mass. This is seen as a temporary exception until the ecumenical climate improves.