The Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the entire Christian life. It is the first of the seven Sacraments Jesus instituted as a means of receiving divine grace. By means of baptism, a person is freed completely from sin, becomes permanently united with Christ and His Church and can receive the other Sacraments to grow ever stronger in the understanding and practice of the Catholic Faith.

First-time parents seeking to present their child(ren) for baptism prepare for the momentous occasion of God’s design by participating in a helpful session designed to help them grow in confidence as Christian parents and to familiarize them with the many offerings that are available to parents through the parish.

To support the parents in helping the child to grow in their Catholic faith, one or two godparents are chosen to be additional models of the faith. Requirements for godparents are:

• Actively living their Catholic faith.
• Fully initiated Catholic: have received Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
• At least 16 years old.
• If married, be married in the Catholic Church or had their marriage recognized in the Church.

The Diocese of Toledo requires that any individual serving as a godparent for Baptism must complete the form below and have it signed by the pastor (or pastor’s designee) of their parish.

GODPARENT FORM: Godparent or Sponsor Eligibility Form

Please allow adequate time to complete this form, have it signed, and obtain baptismal certificate. Forms should be submitted to our parish office at least two weeks prior to the scheduled baptism.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• May a parent of the child serve as a godparent?

No, parents are not to serve as godparents for their child.

• If there is only one godparent, must they be the same gender as the child being baptized?

A godparent need not be the same gender as the child.

• May two godparents both be male or both female?

When there are two godparents, one is to be male and one female.

• May someone who is Christian but not Catholic serve as a godparent?

As long as there is one godparent who is Catholic (and meets the criteria), the second can serve as a “Christian witness.”

• May someone serve as a godparent if they are not able to be present at the Baptism?

If a godparent cannot be present for a serious reason (military deployment, illness, great distance, etc.), it is possible to have a proxy stand in for them.

In accordance with the teaching of Sacred Scripture, we joyfully celebrate baptisms of infants and children. Baptisms are typically scheduled on the third Sunday of each month, following the 11:00am Mass. With special permission, non-members may also be baptized.

Adults desiring to be baptized are prepared through their participation in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) during which they learn the teachings of Christ and His Church and develop a wonderful sense of belonging with the parish family of faith.