CHILD'S BAPTISM
Beginning the Journey
Would you like to have your child baptized at Corpus Christi? We would be so honored to provide this opportunity for you and your family, and we hope it will be the beginning of many sacraments for your child here.
We celebrate infant baptisms for children under seven years old. Children ages seven and older are invited to prepare for and celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism through our Religious Education program. If you are an unbaptized adult, our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process might be right for you.
Preparation: Growing Together
We are committed to giving parents, the first educators in the faith, the tools to help them raise their children in the faith, and godparents an understanding of how to support the parents in this glorious task.
WHEN SHOULD WE REGISTER?
Because the Church recommends that the baptism take place shortly after the birth of a baby, parents are encouraged to register for Baptism preparation during pregnancy. We encourage parents to sign up at least three months before the desired baptism date.
HOW DO WE PREPARE?
When you register for Baptism preparation in the form listed below, parents will schedule a Baptism Preparation Course, a 90-minute session offered by Corpus Christi.
WHO ATTENDS THE SESSION?
Corpus Christi baptism session is designed for families baptizing their child at Corpus Christi. We require registration in the Parish and actively attend Mass for a minimum period of three (3) months in order to seek baptism. Both parents should attend the session and in the same month. We also require godparents to attend the session with the parents or at the local parish to prepare for their important role in the child’s faith journey. For registered parishioners who have been asked to be a godparent of a child whose baptism will take place at another parish, please use the form listed below to request a godparent sponsorship letter.
If you are not registered at Corpus Christi and are looking for a baptism class to attend in order to be a godparent at another parish, there are several online class options available. Please check with the parish where the child is being baptized to explore options.
SHOULD WE RETAKE THE SESSIONS?
If you and/or the godparents have already taken a Baptismal Preparation Course at Corpus Christi or another parish within the past three years, you do not need to retake the class. Just let us know when you register.
Choosing Godparents
Godparents have an essential role in the lives of those receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. Following are some helpful guidelines to remember as you select your godparents.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GODPARENT?
The role of the godparent is to be a Christian role model for the child. He or she should be a mature Christian who will establish a lifelong faith relationship and will be willing to walk with the child on his or her faith journey.
WHO CHOOSES THE GODPARENTS?
The parents of the child select the godparents. The parents of the child are not permitted to act as a godparent for their child’s baptism. A godparent should be someone who will be a part of the child’s life on a continuing basis, and be an excellent example of living the Catholic faith.
HOW OLD SHOULD GODPARENTS BE?
Godparents should be at least 16 years old. The role of godparent is an adult role, so be sure that if you ask a young person to carry out this duty that he or she is mature enough to fulfill the tasks.
MUST GODPARENTS BE CATHOLIC?
Yes, only fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) Catholics who attend Mass regularly and can receive the Eucharist are eligible to be godparents. An unbaptized or non-Christian person may not be a godparent for Baptism. If you have potential godparents who have not been confirmed, please let us know and we can work toward helping them to be fully initiated into the Church.
MUST GODPARENTS BE MARRIED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Yes, if married, the godparent’s marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church. If they are married civilly or in another Christian tradition, they are not eligible to serve as a godparent until their marriage has been validated by the Catholic Church. God uses moments such as the baptism of a new baby in the family to bring about unity to the broader family with the Church. There are many different marriage situations and much confusion about teachings of the Catholic Church in this area. We are always interested to help work toward unity and reconciliation with families and the church, so please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help.
HOW MANY GODPARENTS SHOULD WE HAVE?
We recommend selecting two (2) godparents for your child, but you may decide to have only one. If you choose two (2) godparents, one must be male and the other must be female, and both must meet all the requirements.
“For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godparents, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized child or adult on the road of Christian life. ”
— CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1255)
Taking That First Step
After you have reviewed all the information above, the next steps are:
STEP 1
SIGN UP FOR AND ATTEND BAPTISM PREPARATION COURSE
STEP 2
PREPARE AND RETURN PAPERWORK
You will need to gather information about your baby, your family and godparents. You may bring this information to the Parish Office during office hours.
STEP 3
SCHEDULE BAPTISM DATE
Once the parents and godparents have attended the Baptismal Preparation Course, and you have returned all required paperwork, we will schedule your baptism date at the Parish Office.
We at Corpus Christi are excited for you and your family as you take this next step in your journey of faith as a family in our community and in the Catholic Church. Let us know how we can support you along the way.
