BAPTISM FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN

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Member Requirements for Parents:

  • Be a registered member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
    • If you would like to join St. Joseph Catholic Church, complete our Registration Form.
  • The norm for parents presenting children for baptism is that they give their consent for the child to be baptized in the faith.

Parent Baptism Class:

  • It is strongly encouraged that parents requesting Baptism for their child to both attend a Baptism Preparation Class prior to scheduling and celebrating the baptism of each child.
  • We highly recommend you attend a class while still pregnant, so your child can be baptized as soon as possible.
  • This class is required if this is your first child baptized in our parish or if your last class attended in our parish was more than 5 years ago. The class is normally scheduled the xxxxx of each month at xxxpm here? How long does the class last?
  • Please call the parish office or complete the form below to register for this class in advance.

Birth Certificate:

  • A copy of a state issued birth certificate (issued through a county) or the birth record for children must be in the parish office prior to scheduling the baptism.
    • It is important that the parish be able to properly identify and verify the child’s birth information (i.e. parent’s names, legal name of child, etc.) when preparing the Baptism Certificate.

Sponsors (Godparents):

  • You must choose one or two sponsors (Godparents) for your child. If you choose two, it must be a man and a women. A sponsor must be an active, practicing Catholic. The sponsor must meet the following criteria:
    • Be at least 16 years of age.
    • Be a fully initiated Catholic (one who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation).
    • Leads a life of faith and in good standing with the Catholic Church (i.e. actively practicing the faith, attending Mass regularly).
    • If married, his/her marriage was celebrated by a Catholic Priest or Deacon in a Catholic Church (unless otherwise dispensed)
    • If not married, he/she is not living in a relationship of cohabitation.
    • if he/she has children, the children are being raised in and actively practicing their Catholic Faith.
    • Your Sponsor(s), must complete a Sponsor Certificate of Eligibility Form (provided at the baptism class or from the parish office).
    • Sponsors are often from out-of-town. If they are unable to be present on the day of the Baptism, they can be represented by proxy. A proxy can be a family member, a friend or a parishioner who will stand in for your official Sponsor on the day of the baptism.
    • Along with one Catholic sponsor, a baptized non-Catholic can be a Christian witness to the baptism. (Families will often call the Christian witness a “Godparent”.)

Fee:

  • A $25 donation to help cover costs of supplies is appreciated. Please make checks payable to St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Contact:

  • You may contact Deacon David Krajewski for more information or if you have any questions/concerns with the requirements listed for baptism.