Infant baptisms are celebrated throughout the year. They include children seven years and younger, though of course infants should be baptized in the first few months after birth. Continue reading below.
For the baptism of children from eight years through eighth grade, enrollment in the parish religious education program is required. After two years of study, the child should be ready for baptism at the Easter Vigil, celebrated annually on Holy Saturday night (the night before Easter Sunday). That night, they will also receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist (First Holy Communion). Start a conversation with Dolores Mozzillo, Director of Religious Education.
For the baptism of high school students and adults, they are normally prepared by the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), which meets weekly from September through April, or in extraordinary circumstances through regular meetings with a priest or other member of the OCIA team. Once prepared, they will receive the sacraments of baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Start a conversation with Fr. Jon, the pastor.
Infant Baptism Procedure
Children ages 7 and younger may be baptized at the request of the parents or legal guardians only, who must promise to raise the child Catholic by enrolling him or her in Catholic school or a religious education program.
The first step is to complete the baptism inquiry form.
If this is your first baptism in the parish, we will ask to meet you to offer instruction in the meaning of the sacrament and the format of the ceremony.
The form will ask you to identify two sponsors. Please add their full names and email addresses when submitting your form. You might want to learn more information about sponsors first.
After you submit the form, we will share the next steps.
Infant Baptism Schedule
Baptisms are celebrated on the first, second, and third Sundays of every month after the final Mass. You are encouraged to attend that Mass and remain in the church after Mass for the baptism ceremony. To keep the ceremony reasonably personal, we allow no more than four children. If you have more than one child being baptized, please complete one form per child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child have more than two sponsors?
You must have at least one Catholic sponsor. Two sponsors can be recorded in the parish’s baptismal register. In some cultures and situations, it is common to have more than two sponsors (godparents). The parish will record only the names of the sponsors in the baptism inquiry form. Others are welcome to sit in the pew with the parents and child and stand with them around the baptismal font as space permits.