BAPTISM
What is Baptism?
Through baptism, we become part of the royal, priestly people of God, called to holy lives of prayer and service. At Saint Francis of Assisi Church, the sacrament of baptism is celebrated communally, in the context of the Sunday Eucharist.
Baptism is first and foremost a sacrament of initiation. By deciding to have your child baptized, you are choosing to initiate him or her into the Christian way of life. Baptism is the way that a Catholic Christian officially and formally brings a child into the embrace of the parish community. For this reason, it is fitting that baptism occurs in the presence of this community.
Baptism for the children of currently active, registered parishioners takes place on Sunday's at the 10:00 and 10:30 liturgies. We baptize a maximum of two children per Mass. Parishioners also have the option of baptizing their children at a communal celebration (outside of Mass) held on the first Sunday of the month.
First-time parents/guardians are asked to participate in a baptismal preparation class to update their understanding of baptism and the important responsibilities of Christian parenting. To schedule an initial interview and reserve a date for your child’s baptism, please contact the Parish Office via phone or email. In order to secure the date you wish, we recommend that you inquire about booking at least two months in advance in order to leave time for your baptismal preparation class prior to the date. Baptismal preparation classes are by appointment only.
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Are there any requirements in order to have my child baptized at Saint Francis of Assisi Church?Parents/Guardians are required to be registered parishioners at Saint Francis of Assisi Church. There are a number of other circumstances in which a baptism might possibly take place at Saint Francis of Assisi Church. Perhaps you have recently moved to the Englewood area or are a former parishioner with ties to our parish. Maybe you have parents who are registered parishioners here. Or perhaps Englewood is a convenient central location for family and friends coming from different directions. We are open to trying to accomodate you in these unusual circumstances. However, it is vastly preferable that you baptize your child in your own parish church. As non-parishioners, you would not have your child baptized during a Sunday liturgy since you have no current connection to the parish community. As an alternative, we celebrate baptism on the first Sunday of every month.
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Who can be a godparent?Church law requires that there is at least one godparent for the child baptized. Godparents need to be active, practicing, and confirmed Catholics at least 16 years of age.
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Can a non-Catholic be a godparent?No, only a Catholic can be a godparent because they are asked to promise to help support raising the child in the Catholic faith. A non-Catholic Christian can witness the baptism as long as there is one Catholic godparent. A non-baptized person cannot be a godparent or a witness.
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What if the godparents can't come to the actual celebration?You can have a proxy stand-in for the godparent(s). It is important to know this so that we can record the name of the proxy on the baptismal certificate.
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Can I schedule a private baptism?No, unless there is an exceptional circumstance. Baptism celebrates the initiation of a child into the parish community and it is very important that the community is present at the time of the celebration. If exceptional circumstances warrant a private baptism, you could procure the services of your own priest or deacon. A priest or deacon from another diocese or from a religious community must provide us with documentation of his good standing from his bishop or religious superior.
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What information does the parish need to schedule a baptism?Baptisms are recorded in our sacramental register. The information that we need for this permanent record is as follows: 1. Baby's full name 2. Date of birth 3. Birthplace 4. Father's full name 5. Mother's full name including maiden name 6. Godfather's name 7. Godmother's name If you would like more information or would like to register for a baptismal preparation class, please contact the Parish Office.