• Do not schedule any dates or receptions without first talking to the priest.
• Baptism needs to be scheduled at least 2 months in advance.

• No programe ninguna fecha o recepción sin antes hablar con el sacerdote.
• El bautismo debe programarse con al menos 2 meses de anticipación.

Congratulations! Whether you are an adult studying for your own Baptism or you are preparing for the Baptism of your child, you take an extremely important step in you and your family's spiritual life. Baptism is necessary for salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted Baptism as the means of removing original sin from our souls, of being born again and incorporated into His Mystical Body, and of becoming members of His Church. There is nothing else more important for you right now than to ensure that you and your family members are baptized.

• Infant baptism is for children from birth until generally their 4th - 7th birthday.
• All children who are baptized must have at least one godparent. See below for more information
• The parents must intend to raise the child in the Catholic Faith
• Infants must be generally baptized in the parish that at least one of their parent's attend. For Baptisms at a different church, shrine, or oratory, a permission letter from your pastor may be needed
• The child's birth certificate should be available for presentation to the parish
• The parent's marriage certificate should be presented to the parish. However, even for parents married outside of the Church, Baptism is not to be denied to the infant. If you are currently married outside of the Church, this is an ideal time to have your marriage blessed to rectify this. The process is rather simple. Contact your local parish to learn more on how to do this.
• Each parent must also generally attend a Baptism Preparation Class.

Children who have reached the age of reason, which is generally around 11 years of age, can no longer be baptized as infants. The Rite of Baptism is the same for everyone, but the process differs slightly. These children, since they have the knowledge of right and wrong, must generally take an RCIC (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) class to understand what the Church teaches.

Adults who have not yet received the Sacrament of Baptism must go through instruction in the Catholic Faith in order to receive Baptism. This will often take the form of RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). These classes ordinarily begin around September of each year and end at the Easter Vigil when the adult is baptized, receives our Lord's true Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and receives the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

All baptisms (infant, older child, or adult) require a godparent. Being a godparent is both a great honor and a serious responsibility. For that reason, the Church has put several laws in place regarding who may rightfully serve as a godparent.

• Godparents must be baptized, have attained the use of reason, and have the intention of fulfilling their role as a godfather of a godmother.
• A godparent must be a confirmed Catholic and have received their First Holy Communion
• A godparent must be Catholic. A godparent may not be protestant or any other denomination than Catholic. A person who is not a baptized Catholic must first convert to Catholicism through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults to become Catholic.
• A godparent must be actively practicing the Catholic Faith. What does that mean? A godparent must live a life in conformity with the teachings of the Church including weekly attendance at Mass, rejection of artificial contraception and abortion, and a godparent must not support politicians who promote and support abortion, et cetera.
• Godparents cannot be the father or mother or spouse of the person to be baptized.
• The godparent must, either in person or through proxy, physically hold or touch the one baptized, or receive him immediately after baptism from the sacred font or from the hands of the minister.
• The godparent must be at least sixteen years of age, unless for a just reason the minister admits younger persons or unless a different age is stipulated by the bishop.
• The godparent must know the rudiments of faith. They must intend to help teach the godchild the Catholic Faith.
• The godparents must not be married outside of the Church, unless they have since had their marriage recognized in the Church. However, marriage is not a requirement. A single Catholic may serve as a godparent, assuming all other requirements here are met, of course.