The Sacrament of Baptism is conferred on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month (except during Lent) after the 10:30AM Mass for active, registered  parishioners by pre-arrangement.


A required pre-baptism class is offered quarterly (January, April, July and October) to highlight the parents’ sacred commitment to practicing the Catholic faith, to familiarize them with the Rite of Baptism, and to instruct them on godparental requirements so that godparents can indeed serve as fitting role models and good examples of the practice of the Catholic faith for the newly baptized.
 

QUALIFICATIONS for SPONSORS and GODPARENTS for CONFIRMATION and BAPTISM

To avoid embarrassment or hard feelings (which happens almost once a month it seems,) please consider these requirements before asking someone to serve in this not just honorary, but critically important role:

1. be at least 16 years of age and have received all the Sacraments of Initiation:  Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
2. if there are two godparents, one must be male and one female, corresponding to biological parents.
3. currently registered and active in a parish. That is, you attend Mass weekly; are involved in the life of the parish; and support the church monetarily according to your means. (An offering envelope, even an empty one if finances warrant, dropped in any local Catholic church, is a good indication of regular attendance at weekly Mass, especially when you are not known or recognized by parish staff.)
4. if married, celebrated a valid Catholic marriage.

Please note that being baptized, confirmed and/or receiving Holy Communion at a church years ago does not equate with current active membership.  Catholic godparents/sponsors are asked to provide a Sponsor Certificate from the parish where they practice their faith weekly in order to attest to their suitability to serve as a godparent or sponsor.  This is not done to create unnecessary hurdles for parents or godparents or sponsors. And this is not a case of “the Catholic Church has too many rules.”

Holy Mother Church desires the best, the absolute best for her children, particularly in matters of faith, the most important and vital concern.   She wants to ensure that the child has a godparent/sponsor who can indeed serve as a good role model and fitting mentor for the child in his/her life of faith.  Parents would never entrust the health of their child to a pediatrician who did not actually practice medicine, nor to a teacher who did not know the subject matter.  Similarly, children, our most precious from God, should grow, develop and be nurtured in the Catholic faith by those who know "The Way.”