Baptisms

Download the Infant Baptism Registration Sheet.
Download the Godfather Baptism Form.
Download the Godmother Baptism Form.

Congratulations, you are a parent! As you will see, the liturgy of baptism invites you to reflect on your hopes and dreams for your child as well as on the values you communicate in everyday life. These hopes, dreams and values are expressed in the choices you make as a parent, the traditions you foster in your family, and the habits and interests you cultivate in your child. Together, we will help make the celebration of your child’s baptism an affirming experience for you as a Catholic parent and a welcome from your parish family.

All sacraments require preparation. Following are the guidelines that our Pastor, Fr. Pat, has laid out for the Sacrament of Baptism. Please read them carefully, and, if you have questions, contact the Coordinator of Baptisms.

Infant baptisms are for children up to age 6. If you child is 7 years of age or older, contact the Religious Education Office.
In the case of adoption, the child’s birth certificate and proof of adoption is required.
Parents must be registered parishioners of St. Peter and St. Paul for at least 3 months prior to requesting baptism. All faithful Catholics should attend Mass on a weekly basis.
You must have at least one godparent for each child to be baptized. Under Canon law, a godparent can only be a practicing a Catholic, who is at least 16 years of age, and who MUST have received all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
Both parents and all godparents must complete a pre-baptism class prior to setting a baptism date. We will accept a certificate from another parish’s pre-baptism program as proof of attending a class. There is no need to repeat the class if a person has attended one within the last 2 years, but proof of class participation must be provided to us.
Our class space is limited; we suggest you register for a class in advance.
We do not have childcare available at pre-baptism classes; therefore, please do not bring children to the pre-baptism class.
ALL forms are to be turned in and proof of pre-baptism class must be completed before a baptism date can be chosen.
In order to preserve an intimate atmosphere at the Baptisms liturgy, we limit the baptisms to a total of 6 children at each liturgy. There is one liturgy at 9 a.m., and a second at 10:30 a.m., on the second Saturday of the month (dates below).
We do not have private baptisms, and baptisms are not held during the Lenten Season.
The suggested donation for Baptism is $100.00 and is given at the time of the Baptism.

Baptism classes are held the FIRST SATURDAY of the month, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Religious Education Office (John Paul II Pastoral Center, 1st Floor, East End).

Class dates for 2010 include:

FEBRUARY 6; MAY 1;
JUNE 5; JULY 3; AUGUST 7; SEPTEMBER 4;

OCTOBER 2; NOVEMBER 6; DECEMBER 4

* NO CLASSES DURING LENT (MARCH, APRIL)

Baptisms are held the SECOND SATURDAY of each month at 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. The following dates are reserved for baptisms in 2010:

JANUARY 9, FEBRUARY 13, MAY 8,
JUNE 12, JULY 10, AUGUST 14,

SEPTEMBER 11, OCTOBER 9,

NOVEMBER 13, DECEMBER 11

* NO BAPTISMS DURING LENT (MARCH, APRIL)

o Before reserving a baptism date, ALL paperwork must be completed and submitted, and ALL parents and godparents must have attended a baptism preparation class at any Catholic Church within last two years of prospective baptism date.

o Paperwork is available in the Parish Office or in the Religious Education Office. Forms may also be downloaded via our web site (www.stpeterstpaul.com).

o Basic paperwork includes: Baptism Information Form, as well as a Godparent Form for each Godparent.

o Other forms might include: Letter of Permission for us to baptize if you are registered with another parish or if child is not your biological child; Birth Certificate if child is adopted; and/or Certificate of Class Completion if baptism class has already been completed.

o Call (909) 980-9423 and request a class date. We need parent’s names, child’s name, contact phone number, and number in attendance. (Classes fill up quickly)

o Good chance you will get the following month’s baptism date. However, please do not go and buy plane tickets for family members or send out invitations until we have confirmed a baptism date and time with you.

o If you need a timeline of a prospective date, before all paperwork is in, know that you will definitely be able to get the date two months after taking the baptism class. However, we will still not sign you up until all paperwork is in.

o Under Canon law, a godparent is only a person who is a practicing Catholic with all Sacraments of Initiation.

o Those who are not Catholic can still participate in the baptism ceremony as a “Christian Witness.” They will still need to attend a class and will function like a Catholic godparent, and they will be listed as a “Christian witness” on the baptismal certificate. However, we respect others’ beliefs and we would not want to put them in a position that is conflicting to what they believe.

o NOTE: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: ”For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized child on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial (church) function. The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism. (CCC 1255).” Therefore, the role of godparent is not simply an honorary title but an important role in the development of a child’s faith in which the parents and godparents promise to raise the child.

o If you are ready, then classes have been completed and all paperwork is turned in. If you have the paperwork ready, but we do not have it in our possession, you must bring it in before we can sign you up.

o If all paperwork is present, and the class requirement is met, we are ready set a date!