Baptism

PARISH GUIDELINES FOR BAPTISM

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of faith, commitment, and discipleship. Therefore, it is very important for parents to know what they are undertaking in asking that their child be baptized in the Catholic Faith.

The following are the guidelines established by St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Parents

Parents seeking baptism for their child(ren) must be registered and active with the parish at least 6-months prior to scheduling the baptism.
Parents must also attend a baptismal preparation class with the Pastor or his delegate.
Members of another parish requesting baptism at St. Francis of Assisi Parish must obtain a letter of permission from their own pastor for the baptism to be performed at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Sponsors/Godparents/Padrinos
One or two godparents (sponsors) may be chosen. In selecting godparents for the Baptism, parents should keep in mind the requirements of Canon Law:

A godparent must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic who has received First Holy Communion;
A godparent must be at least 16-years of age;
A godparent must lead a life of faith in keeping with the role, including attending Mass every weekend and practicing the Catholic faith with integrity;
If married, the goparent must be married validly according to the laws of the Catholic church;
A godparent cannot be the parent of the child to be baptized.
If the godparents are not active members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, they will need to complete our Godparent/Sponsor Eligiblity Form and have it signed by their parish priest (or obtain a letter from their parish priest attesting to their eligibility and practice of the Catholic faith).

Scheduling a Baptism
Baptisms are held on Saturdays at 3:00 PM or 6:00 PM and must be scheduled at least 1-month ahead of time. To schedule a baptism, please call the office at 336-246-9151.

Paperwork

Required paperwork includes: Baptismal Information Sheet, Sponsors/Godparents Eligibility Form (if godparents are from another parish) and Parishioner Update Form (if applicable). Paperwork may be obtained from the parish office.
All paperwork must be submitted to the parish office no later than seven (7) days prior to the baptism.

Baptism

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