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General Information
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Checklist
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FAQs
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Forms
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General Information
Parents and Guardians
- In order that a child be baptized, it is necessary that the parents (legal guardians) consent, and that there is reasonable hope that
the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith. - Arrangements for Baptism may only be made by the parents or legal guardian of the child to be Baptized
- Catholic parents must have received First Communion and Confirmation.
- Parents/Guardians must be active, registered parishioners for at least 3 months prior to scheduling Baptism
- If you are a registered member of another parish, but wish to have your child baptized at St. Ann, you must obtain permission from your pastor
- If this is your first child, if you have never attended a Baptismal Preparation Class, or it has been more than two years since attending the class, you must attend and provide proof of attendance prior to scheduling the Baptism
- Only one Godparent is required for Baptism, but you may choose to have two
- If there are two Godparents, one must be male and the other female
- Godparents must be at least 16 year of age, have received First Communion and Confirmation, be a practicing Catholic and registered and active member of a Catholic Church
- If married, Godparents must be married according to the norms and rites of the Catholic Church, either having been married in the Catholic Church or by having a convalidation of their marriage by a priest.
- St. Ann parishioners must be a registered and active members at least 3 months prior to serving as a Godparent
- Godparents must attend a Baptismal Preparation class if you have never attended a Baptismal Preparation Class or it has been more than two years since attending the class, you must attend and provide proof of attendance prior to scheduling the Baptism
- Complete the Godparent Eligibility Form, obtain signature of your parish pastor and submit
- A copy of the Birth Certificate must be provided. The "Mother's Copy" is acceptable if an official one is not yet available from the state
- If you are a member of another parish, you must obtain permission from your pastor to have your child Baptized at St. Ann
Checklist
- Contact Melodee Pohl to get started (901) 373-6011 or [email protected]
- Complete Baptism Preparation form
- Submit copy of Birth Certificate of child to be Baptized
- Attend Baptism Parent Class if needed; Class is required if this is your first child or if it has been more than 2 years since you have had the class.
- Complete Godparent Eligibility Form for each godparent, to be signed by pastor of Godparent(s) church of registration
- Submit all completed paperwork and attend all classes needed
- Schedule date for Baptism with Melodee
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can Baptize?
Any validly ordained Deacon, Priest or Bishop can baptize. In extreme cases, when death is eminent, any person can baptize (Canon 861).
Can I have my child baptized if I am not a registered parishioner at St. Ann?
Parents/Guardians must be active, registered parishioners for at least 3 months prior to scheduling Baptism
How much does it cost to baptize my child?
The church does not charge for any sacramental celebration. Families may donate to the parish to help cover any of the incidental costs of the preparation and celebration of Baptism.
If the parents are not validly married in the Catholic Church, can the child be baptized?
There is nothing that prevents a child born to parents who are not married or not validly married in the Catholic church from being baptized. This is provided that the parent(s) of the child have been properly prepared, understand the responsibilities that come with having the child baptized and are willing to fulfill the commitment undertaken to raise the child in the rich principles of the Catholic faith.
My spouse is not Catholic, must he/she attend the Baptism class?
Yes, it is important that both parents understand the responsibilities of baptizing a child in the Catholic Church.
How many godparents should I select?
Only one godparent is required, but if there are two godparents, one must be male and one female. In some cultures, it is common practice to have many godparents. If the child is to have more than two, only two are listed on the record and on the baptismal certificate.
Is it ok if one of the godparents is not Catholic?
To be a godparent, one must be Catholic, at least 16 years of age, and have received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. A family member or dear friend who is a member of a different Christian faith tradition may be a "Christian Witness" to the child's Baptism.
Who is a Christian Witness?
A christian witness is a non-Catholic of a different Christian faith tradition who may stand as a witness in addition to one godparent.
What if the godparent is not married in the catholic church? Can they be a godparent?
Someone who has received the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church, and the Church consider him/her to be Catholic, must either be married by a priest or deacon, married by a minister with the proper dispensation or have their marriage validated by the Catholic Church.
Can I change the name of a godparent after the fact?
No, what is entered in the Sacramental Register is a historical 'snapshot' of the facts on the day of baptism. Occasionally a godparent dies or is no longer able to fulfill their role - in these cases the family is free to name a new person to fulfill this role, but the Sacramental Register (and certificates) are not changed.
Why is the presentation of a birth certificate important for issuing a Baptism certificate?
It is important that the parish be able to properly identify and verify the child's birth information (i.e. parents' names, legal name of child, custody, etc.) when preparing the Baptism certificate.
Any validly ordained Deacon, Priest or Bishop can baptize. In extreme cases, when death is eminent, any person can baptize (Canon 861).
Can I have my child baptized if I am not a registered parishioner at St. Ann?
Parents/Guardians must be active, registered parishioners for at least 3 months prior to scheduling Baptism
How much does it cost to baptize my child?
The church does not charge for any sacramental celebration. Families may donate to the parish to help cover any of the incidental costs of the preparation and celebration of Baptism.
If the parents are not validly married in the Catholic Church, can the child be baptized?
There is nothing that prevents a child born to parents who are not married or not validly married in the Catholic church from being baptized. This is provided that the parent(s) of the child have been properly prepared, understand the responsibilities that come with having the child baptized and are willing to fulfill the commitment undertaken to raise the child in the rich principles of the Catholic faith.
My spouse is not Catholic, must he/she attend the Baptism class?
Yes, it is important that both parents understand the responsibilities of baptizing a child in the Catholic Church.
How many godparents should I select?
Only one godparent is required, but if there are two godparents, one must be male and one female. In some cultures, it is common practice to have many godparents. If the child is to have more than two, only two are listed on the record and on the baptismal certificate.
Is it ok if one of the godparents is not Catholic?
To be a godparent, one must be Catholic, at least 16 years of age, and have received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. A family member or dear friend who is a member of a different Christian faith tradition may be a "Christian Witness" to the child's Baptism.
Who is a Christian Witness?
A christian witness is a non-Catholic of a different Christian faith tradition who may stand as a witness in addition to one godparent.
What if the godparent is not married in the catholic church? Can they be a godparent?
Someone who has received the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church, and the Church consider him/her to be Catholic, must either be married by a priest or deacon, married by a minister with the proper dispensation or have their marriage validated by the Catholic Church.
Can I change the name of a godparent after the fact?
No, what is entered in the Sacramental Register is a historical 'snapshot' of the facts on the day of baptism. Occasionally a godparent dies or is no longer able to fulfill their role - in these cases the family is free to name a new person to fulfill this role, but the Sacramental Register (and certificates) are not changed.
Why is the presentation of a birth certificate important for issuing a Baptism certificate?
It is important that the parish be able to properly identify and verify the child's birth information (i.e. parents' names, legal name of child, custody, etc.) when preparing the Baptism certificate.
Other resources
The Ultimate Guide to Catholic Baptism https://media.ascensionpress.com/2020/11/07/the-ultimate-guide-to-catholic-baptism/
Melodee Pohl [email protected]