Infant Baptism: Congratulations on your new addition! What an exciting time for you and your family! As your parish family, we look forward to welcoming your new little one. While you are learning who you are as a family with a new member and trying to get some sleep, you are also thinking of your child’s future and all the things that need to be done. We are delighted that amid your new joys, challenges, responsibilities and exhaustion, you have chosen to include your Catholic faith and the Sacrament of Baptism for your child.
Please take a few minutes to look over the Baptism information on this page, and if there is anything that we can do for you as you adjust to your new way of life (and beyond), don’t hesitate to contact us.
We baptize infants (children under the age of 7) most Sunday’s of the year with a few exceptions at holidays. Baptisms occur at 1:00 pm. Parents are asked to attend a Baptismal Preparation Class, and should register for the class by contacting Monica at the parish office (ext. 118). Godparents are required to provide certificates of eligibility before a Baptism date is given. The requirements for godparents (and Confirmation sponsors) are as follows:
A Godparent or Sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation is a most important person in a child’s (or an adult’s!) life. Their purpose is not (by Church standards) the person who is going to take care of the child if, God forbid, something happens to the parents. Their purpose is to be a living, active model of faith for that child (or adult) every day. It’s the duty of the Baptizing parish to make sure that every child had a godparent who will faithfully fulfill their role. The requirements for Godparents (and Sponsors) from Canon Law are:
If the family has one eligible Catholic godparent, they may have a second “Christian Witness” who is a Baptized member of a mainstream non-Catholic Christian tradition. It’s not appropriate to ask a non-Christian to be a Catholic godparent because they cannot, in good conscience, make the Baptismal Vows and promise to live a Christians faith publicly that they don’t believe in. They must also be practicing, registered members of a Catholic parish with regular attendance. It is the responsibility of the Godparents to supply a letter of eligibility from their home parish (the one they currently attend) verifying that the individual is eligible. It truly takes a community to raise a child in the Christian way of life. They need to see people besides their own parents who are living and professing what their parents believe. Therefore, choosing good godparents is paramount.
Congratulations on the occasion of your wedding! We at St. Robert Bellarmine look forward to preparing you for the Sacrament of Marriage and the life you two will share afterwards. Couples planning a marriage must notify the Parish Office one year in advance to reserve a date and begin preparation which includes Pre-Cana. At least one party must be a registered member of the parish.