New Child Baptism
Pre-register for class held the second Monday of the month. Regular attendance at Sunday Mass and registration in the parish is required.
Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments and is one of the sacraments of Initiation along with Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism.
God calls each of us by name. Everyone's name is sacred. The name is an icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of dignity of the one who bears it. Therefore, much thought should be put into the naming of your child.
The baptismal name can be the name of a saint or an expression of a Christian mystery or Christian virture. Parents, sponsors and the pastor are to see that name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment.
There are many resources on names and lives of saints in the parish library that can be used to help you decide on a name for your child.
Sponsors or Godparents for Baptism
Canon law permits only one godparent of each gender, a godmother and a godfather. For a child or adult to be baptized these sponsors -
- Cannot be the parents of the one being baptized
- Must be 16 years or older
- Must be practicing Catholics, going to Mass every week.
- Be already confirmed.
If someone can't find two practicing Catholics to be the godfather and godmother, then one sponsor can be Catholic and the other a Christian witness if that person is a baptized Protestant Christian in good standing.