Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Baptism becomes our commitment to grow in this new life and to strive to acquire spiritual maturity. By baptism, God purifies us from sin.

 A pre-Baptism class  is required for first-time parents or those who have not taken a class in the past three years.

Godparents commit to helping the parents raise the child in the Catholic faith, acting as spiritual mentors and exemplars of virtue.

Requirements to be a Godparent:

• be chosen by the parents, have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role 
• be a confirmed Roman Catholic, who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist
• receive a letter from their home parish stating that they are active in their Faith
• if married, be in a Sacramental marriage blessed by a priest or deacon
• will be a good role model for the one being baptized
• be neither the father nor the mother of the child

A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community may be admitted only as a “Christian witness” (not a godparent) provided that there is at least one Roman Catholic godparent who fulfills the above criteria. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness.

Those who wish to begin the process of baptizing a child should contact the Central Office at 716-822-1250.