In Baptism, the foundation of all other sacraments, we receive new life in Christ, and with the waters of baptism, all the effects of original sin are washed away. It is in baptism we are handed the promise of eternal life with God in heaven and are given the access to his grace that will sustain us in our life as Christians and members of the body of Christ. Our faith journey begins, is carried with us all our lives and never ends in Baptism.
For the baptism of infants (children who have not obtained the age of reason, considered to be the age of seven): the parents and, secondarily, the godparents have a duty to share their faith through this sacrament. In the celebration of this sacrament, the parents and the godparents are challenged directly to ask the Church for the gift of faith for the child and must promise to raise this child according the teachings of the Catholic faith.
As parents, when considering baptism for your child, you should reflect on what you are asking of God’s church and the effect of your own baptism on your life.
- What has baptism meant in your own life to be a member of the Body of Christ?
- How do you live out your baptismal commitment today in love and service to God and neighbor?
- Are you ready to be a Catholic Christian parent, training your child in the active practice of the faith, teaching them to keep God’s commandments?
When you choose to baptize your child, you should fully understand what baptism is truly about and that you intend to live the Christian life in such a way that your child will grow in faith and love and come to know the Lord Jesus. This is why parents and godparents prepare for Baptism with the parish priest.
When bringing your child to the parish to be baptized, we must affirm you are a faith-filled member of good standing; you share regularly at the Sunday liturgy; you accept the teachings of the Catholic Church; and you are committed to a way of life that is guided by the Gospel of Jesus, valuing prayer and service to others.
Baptism is a sign of our unity with Christ’s community, and a witness to our desire to be a disciple of Christ. In baptism, we become a new creation, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, sharing in God’s own life. We are formed into God’s people and are incorporated into the Body of Christ.
“The mark of baptism is indelible: there is nothing we can do to lose the promise of salvation gained for us in those holy waters, though it is the beauty of the Church which offers us more sign posts along the way to that salvation to keep us on the right path. These are the other sacraments. We gain access to these sacraments through our entrance into the body of Christ at our baptism and we are reminded of that baptism each time we bless ourselves at the entrance of Church in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati website)
The godparents’ role: It is the duty and privilege of Catholic parents to pass on the gift of faith to their newly baptized child, and likewise, it is the duty and privilege of godparents to assist the parents with this all-important task.
To be a godparent, the person must be a fully initiated Catholic, one who is baptized and has received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. In order to be of sufficient maturity and capacity, the godparent must be at least 16 years of age. And very importantly, it should be a person “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on” or, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, the godparents “must be firm believers.”
There are several other considerations. There may be one or two godparents: one male sponsor, the godfather; or one female sponsor, the godmother; or one of each. According to the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, “A sponsor who is married must be married in accord with the laws of the Church.” Additionally, canon law states that a baptized person from a different Christian denomination may only serve as a witness and not as a godparent. A parent may not be the godparent of his or her own child, and anyone bound by a canonical penalty may not serve as a godparent.
If you would like to have your child baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church, we need to obtain information about you, your child, and the godparents you have selected, before we can schedule a date.
Please complete and return the form below to the parish office or print the attached .pdf form, complete it fully (print), and return it to the parish office.