BAPTISM

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word." (CCC 1213)

Sacraments are not merely family traditions or symbolic events; they are important sacred moments of grace in the life of a Christian. When parents ask the Church to baptize a child, they should do so fully aware that they are making a commitment to God to raise the child as a Catholic Christian; this means bringing the child to Mass each Sunday, ensuring the child receives religious formation during childhood, and being models of faith for the child by accepting and living the teachings of the Church.

The pastor needs assurance that you are ready to have your child baptized and that you will nurture the child’s faith. One way in which he has this assurance is by the parents' regular attendance at Mass. If you have fallen out of the habit of regular Mass attendance, we urge you to begin. Jesus said “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Mt 19:14. Often it is our desire for our children to have a relationship with Jesus that spurs our own return to the faith. If this is the case for you, welcome back. When you contact the office about baptism, please feel free to schedule reconciliation for yourself so that you, too, may fully participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

Eligibility to be baptized in our parishes:

We are excited to welcome you to our parish and to support you in raising your child in the Catholic faith.

• Baptism preparation is for children under age of seven. Parents of children who have celebrated their seventh birthday should contact Amy Julian for further information about the sacraments of initiation.

• We anticipate that persons requesting baptism for their infants and children are registered members of our parish who are practicing and participating in the sacramental life of the community. Parents are the proper persons to request an infant to be baptized, however, another member of the family who can give assurance of rearing the child in the faith may request Baptism, as long as the parents promise not to interfere with the person making this commitment. Other members of the family may contact the church for informational purposes.

• If you live in our area, and you are not yet a member of our parish, welcome! If you would like your child to receive the sacrament of baptism, your first step is to join our parish. You can register with our parish using this link. If you have any questions about joining our parish please call Amy Julian.

• Ideally all children are baptized in their home parish, however with the permission of your pastor of your home parish, exceptions may be made for special circumstances. Parents from out of town will need to provide a letter from their home parish attesting to (1) their active standing in the home parish, (2) acknowledgement that that Baptism preparation has been completed in their home parish and (3) the pastor has given permission for their child to be baptized in our parish.

Baptism Preparation:

Parents must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class prior to the baptism of their child. We strongly encourage godparents to attend classes with the parents.

Baptismal preparation is held regularly at St. Joseph for members of both St. Joseph and St. Paul parishes. Because we encourage baptism as soon as possible, parents who wish to baptize their child shortly after birth may begin this process at any time prior to the birth of their child. ​Parents who have unbaptized children under the age of reason may attend classes at any time.

Preparation for Baptism consists of three, one hour classes taught by a trained Core Team, which prepare and equip both the parents and godparents to raise the child to be baptized in the Catholic faith, and cultivate holy friendships alongside other parents in the parish. The class is required of first-time parents and remains current for a period of three years following for active, registered members of the parish.

Godparent(s)/Sponsors:

Godparent(s), together with the parents present an infant for baptism. A godparent is not a symbolic or honorary role.They assist the newly baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. There is to be only one male godparent or one female godparent, or one of each.

To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must

• be at least 16 years of age,

• be confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist

• be actively living the Catholic faith. The godparent, if married, must have been married in the church; if single, the godparent must be living a chaste life.

We ask the prospective godparents to each register here.

Godparents must be present at the baptism or proxies must be arranged. If Godparent/s is not registered with St. Joseph’s Parish they must provide a letter of good standing from their home pastor.

Scheduling of Baptisms:

Baptisms at St. Joseph Church are normally celebrated outside of Mass on Saturday or Sundays. Baptisms will be scheduled upon completion of classes and the reception of all necessary documentation.