Baptism

Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5)

The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.

At baptism, the presider prays over the water:
Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Holy Spirit give to this water the grace of your Son, so that in the sacrament of baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit. (Christian Initiation of Adults, #222A)

Freed from Sin

Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants, shortly after birth. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children who have been baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As we say in the Nicene Creed, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”

The Catechism teaches:
"The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ" (CCC 1279).

Baptismal Symbols

  • Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
  • Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
  • Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
  • White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.
While in ordinary circumstances, sacraments in the Catholic Church are administered validly by a member of the ordained clergy, in an emergency situation, the sacrament of baptism can be administered by anyone.

In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pour water on the candidates head while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (CCC 1284).

Baptismal Requirements and Registration

  1. Parents must be registered parishioners of Corpus Christi and actively attending mass for at least six months prior to registering your baby for a baptism. If you need to register with us, you can do so by clicking here.
  2. If you are a parishioner with us and looking to baptize your child, please complete our Baptismal Registration Form.
  3. After completing a registration form, a member of our office will reach out to you soon.  Please note that both parents and godparents are required to attend a Baptismal Preparation Class at Corpus Christi prior to their child being baptized (the expectation being if you have already attended one within the last three years.)  If godparents cannot attend due to distance, there are online options available, which we will be happy to discuss with you. 
Upcoming Baptismal Class Dates:
September 23 at 7:00 pm in the Old Church Building

Please contact Maria Coller at the Parish Office if you plan on attending an upcoming class. 

Baptism Schedule
Baptisms will take place on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. or on Saturdays during the 7:00 p.m. Spanish Mass if requested.

For Godparents/Sponsors

 If you are a sponsor for a friend or family member, or a parishioner of Corpus Christi has been asked to act as a godparent, please use fill out a 
Sponsor Request Form to request a godparent sponsorship letter. The purpose of this letter is to confirm that you are a practicing Catholic who has received the three (3) Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. If you have any questions about the form or about the roles and responsibilities of a godparent or sponsor, please contact Maria Coller at the parish office.

Frequently Asked Questions About Godparents

  • What are the requirements to be a godparent?

    A godparent should be a confirmed, Catholic Christian who is at least 16 years of age,  faithfully practices and believes in the Catholic faith, and if married, is married within the Catholic Church.

  • How many godparents should there be?

    Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two. If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female.

  • Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent?

    A baptized, non-Catholic may serve as an “official witness” to the baptism, only if there is a proper Catholic sponsor who fully meets all requirements of a godparent. 


    The non-Catholic who is selected as a witness should be an active and participating member of his/her church community. 


    During the baptism, a non-Catholic witness may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. His or her name will be entered into the Sacrament Record Book as an “official witness”, together with the name of the godparent.

  • What is the difference between a godparent and a witness?

    Canon (Church) Law describes a witness as “A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community.” A godparent is a confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.

  • What if a godparent cannot attend the baptism ceremony?

    If a godparent cannot attend the baptism ceremony, a proxy can stand in the place of the missing godparent. The name of that person will be entered as “proxy” in the Sacramental Record Book, along with the name of the missing godparent.