Baptism
For Baptism of children 0 to 6 years of age please see requirements below.
Parent requirements:
- Complete our BAPTISM REGISTRATION FORM (if baptizing more than one child, please submit one form per child)
- Complete a Baptism class. If a class was completed within the last five years, this requirement is temporarily suspended. If the class was completed outside of this parish, then a letter or certificate acknowledging completion is required.
- Parents that are members of this parish must be registered.
- If you are not yet a registered member, please use the following link to access our CHURCH REGISTRATION FORM
- Parents from another parish who wish to have their child baptized here must obtain a letter of permission from their parish stating that they are registered members, they have permission to baptize their child here and that they have met any Baptism requirements that their parish may have for them. Must be stamped with the Church’s seal.
- All documents must be turned in by parents and godparent(s) and all requirements met before a Baptism can be scheduled. (Baptisms are not scheduled during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. Baptisms done during the Easter season will be held in the main church.)
- Please make sure godparent(s) meet all requirements before asking them to be a godparent.
Godparent requirements: IN ACCORD WITH CANON LAW 874.
In order for someone to be eligible to serve as a godparent they MUST MEET ALL of the following:
If they are unable to meet all requirements listed below they are ineligible to serve as godparents until they meet them.
1. Cannot be the child's parents or stepparents.
2. Only one godparent is required but there may be two (one male and one female).
- If you have two Catholic godparents, both must meet all requirements.
- A baptized non-Catholic Christian may serve as a Christian witness next to a Catholic godparent that meets all requirements.
(A Catholic who does not meet the requirements to serve as a godparent or now practices in another Christian denomination, may not serve as either a Godparent or as a Christian witness.)
3. Must be at least 16 years of age.
4. Must be fully initiated in the Catholic Church by having received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
5. Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church.
- Actively lives their faith in daily life in accordance with the Church's teachings and traditions.
- Attends Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
- Regularly participates in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation (confession).
- Follows the 10 Commandments.
6. Regarding the 6th Commandment, a godparent must be in good standing with the Catholic Church and living according to Church teaching (living in a way that is consistent with the Catholic faith).
- If married, it means being validly married according to the laws of the Catholic Church.
- If single, it means living a chaste life and not living with a partner outside of marriage (cohabitating).
Catholics who are living with a partner outside of marriage (cohabitating/common-law marriage), married only civilly or in another religion without special permission from the bishop, DO NOT meet the requirements of this role. Therefore, are UNABLE to serve as a godparent/sponsor until married according to the norms of the Catholic Church.
7. Has the ability and the intention to fulfill the godparent role and responsibilities.
8. If Godparents are unable to attend the Baptism: you may have proxies (stand ins) for each godparent but the original godparents must still meet all the requirements. There are no requirements for the proxies except needing their full names for our record.
ADDITIONAL ST. JOSEPH CHURCH REQUIREMENTS FOR GODPARENTS:
1. Catholic godparents need to complete the GODPARENT/SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY FORM. The completed form(s) will need to be taken to their parish and have it signed and sealed by their pastor or his designee. Once signed by the pastor, please have it returned to the church where the baptism will be taking place.
2. Complete a Baptism class. If a class was completed within the last five years, this requirement is temporarily suspended. If the class was completed outside of this parish, then a letter or certificate acknowledging completion is required.
3. If they are members of this parish, they must be registered.
4. They understand that proof of their sacraments may be requested from them at any time at the church’s discretion. *We recommend that godparents provide a copy of thier confirmation certificate and, if they are married, their church marriage certificate.
