Baptism information and policies for children under 7 years of age

Sarah Hubalik
Sacramental Prep. /Volunteer Ministries Coordinator

(602) 954-9089 x5222

Hello,

My name is Sarah Hubalik; I assist in baptismal preparation here at St. Thomas the Apostle. It is always a joyous occasion when a new Catholic comes into the Church. Below I have listed the requirements to get you started and I’ve provided you with a brief overview. Please remember that in order to begin baptism preparation; you must contact me by phone or email to schedule your introduction meeting with a Deacon. All class schedules, forms, and baptism schedules will be provided at your introductory meeting.

General Policy for Baptism of children at St. Thomas the Apostle

1. 1. Parents, living within our parish boundaries, must be registered and actively participating members of St. Thomas the Apostle Church before beginning the Baptismal process.
2. 2. Parents living outside the parish boundaries must be registered and actively participating members of the parish for a minimum of 3 months prior to beginning preparations for Baptism.
3. 3. If registered in another parish and the grandparents of the infant to be baptized are registered parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, the parents must have a letter of permission from the pastor of their home parish.
4. 4. *Parents are REQUIRED to attend an introduction interview with a member of the baptismal team.*
5. 5. To schedule a meeting and/or reserve a spot for formal baptismal class please contact Sarah Hubalik in the parish office.

Godparent requirements and information.
Godparents are to be chosen for their faith commitment and ability to assist the Godchild and parents with the faith journey. It is customary to have two Godparents, however only one is required for baptism.

A Godparent may be either male or female. If two are chosen then one must be male and the other female. Only one of each gender may be listed as Godparents. Godparents may be required to attend one formal baptismal class.

*Godparents must meet the following requirements:

• 16 years or older.
• Fully initiated Roman Catholics.
• Practicing Catholics.
• To be chosen as a godparent is a special honor and is not to be taken lightly.

Ceremonial procedures
The sacrament of baptism is a community sacrament. It allows the Catholic community to welcome your baby into the family of the Church. For this reason, we only offer group baptisms. Baptisms are held the first Saturday of every month at 10:00AM, unless there is a conflict with another schedule. (Please refer to the baptismal schedule that will be presented at the personal interview for beginning Baptismal preparation.) *Please note that all requirements and necessary paperwork assigned by the member of the Baptismal Team, MUST be met and completed no later then one week before the baptismal date.*

Helpful Links About Baptism

Q & A about Baptism
Understanding the Rite of Baptism
The Role of the godparent