Baptism Preparation Guidelines

Congratulations! We share your happiness and pray that God will bless you abundantly as you present your child for the Sacrament of Baptism. You are giving your child a life-long gift—the gift of faith and membership in a community that will help foster that faith.
You are making a commitment as you present your child for Baptism. The words spoken at the ceremony by the priest or deacon make this very clear:

“You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so, you are accepting the responsibility of training this child in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring this child up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand this?”

As you prepare for this very special day, you will be asked to meet certain requirements. These requirements are outlined below.

1. You must be a registered member of Holy Family Parish who regularly participates in our Sacramental life for 6 months. (If you are new to our parish but were active at a previous parish, you may have a letter sent from their Pastor indicating that you were a registered and active parishioner there.)

3. Baptism Preparation Class: If you are having your first child baptized, or if this child will be your first child baptized at Holy Family, you are required to attend a baptism preparation class.

Classes are usually held on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

We usually have communal baptisms on the last Sunday of every month.

Other arrangements may be made in the case of an emergency or very special circumstances.

Due to holiday schedules or special events, the date of the baptism preparation class and/or baptism ceremony may change. Please call ahead to verify the schedule.

Selecting Godparents for your child is an important step in your child’s faith formation. The Godparents make a commitment to raise your child in the Catholic Church, promising that your child will receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation if you are unable or unwilling to fulfill your commitments.

Therefore, at least one Godparent must be Catholic who participates in the sacraments and is registered and active at a Catholic Church. The other may be a practicing Catholic or a baptized Christian.

In addition, the Catholic Godparent must:

• Be 16 years of age or older

• Be a fully initiated Catholic ( through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)

• Attend a baptism preparation class at Holy Family or their home parish

• Return a Godparent form signed by their pastor ( if they are not members of Holy Family)

• A child may have one or two Godparents; If two, Godparents must be one male and one female