BAPTISM

Life is a blessing and gift from God, and we rejoice with you in the life of your child! Thank you for taking time to prepare for the baptism of your child. The Sacrament of Baptism is the gateway to the spiritual life: it frees us from sin, gives us new birth as children of God, and unites us with Jesus and his Catholic Church. The following are some of the frequently asked questions about baptisms at our parish.

It is best to have the child baptized sooner rather than later. The Church recommends baptism of infants in the first few weeks following birth. However, if your child becomes ill or is in danger of death during those first weeks, call a priest right away for an emergency baptism. If your child is baptized in an emergency, at a later date we can celebrate a ritual of welcoming in the church, which provides the ceremonies and blessings that were missed in the emergency baptism.

Baptisms can be scheduled through the parish office for celebration in a group with other children or as an individual baptism. The date cannot be confirmed until all documents have been received and preparation requirements have been completed. A pre-baptismal interview is also part of the process, and if the parents are not married in the Catholic Church, they will meet with a priest or deacon of our parish for the interview.

Yes. Parents and godparents are required to attend a pre-baptismal class that explains the Sacrament of Baptism and the important responsibilities of parents and godparents in the child’s spiritual life. Please contact the parish office to register for the in-person class; online classes are not allowed. If you cannot attend our in-person class, we will accept a certificate or letter for the class from another Catholic parish. You may wish to complete the pre-baptismal class before the birth of your child, so that the child can be baptized at the earliest opportunity.

If you have attended a Catholic baptismal preparation class within the last three years, you do not need to attend the class again. Please provide us a certificate/letter of attendance.

Registration as a member of the parish is not required, but strongly recommended, since the parish provides vital resources and a supportive environment that will help you to nurture your family’s spiritual life. The registration process is simple; please contact the parish office for information. If you are not a member of our parish, we will need a permission letter from your parish to celebrate the baptism at Holy Family Church.

Please pray about your selection of a godparent. It is a great blessing to surround your children with authentic witnesses to the Catholic Faith who will help you in your responsibility as Catholic parent(s). You must choose at least one godparent who is a practicing Catholic and who meets all the following qualifications:

• Must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist.

• Must be at least 16 years old.

• Cannot be the parent of the person being baptized.

• Must not be under any penalty of Church law, such as excommunication.

• Attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation; regularly receives Holy Communion & Reconciliation (Confession).

• If married, must be married in the Catholic Church and living according to Church teaching. If single, must be living according to Church teaching.

• Catholics married in a non-Catholic ceremony without special permission of the bishop, and those cohabiting (living together) do not meet the requirements of this role.

  It is customary for children to have two godparents (one male and one female). As noted above, only one Catholic godparent is required. You may choose a “Christian witness” in place of a second godparent to support your child to live as a disciple of Jesus. This “Christian witness” must be a baptized Christian (at least 16 years of age) who is an active, participating member in the Christian community which he or she attends.

You will need to download and complete the Baptism application form by clicking this link (Baptism Form) / (Spanish Baptism Form). Once completed, please email the documents to [email protected]. You may also pick up a hard copy at the Parish Office if preferred. If you have any questions please feel free to call (818) 247-2222 ext. 0.
 

Additional requirements:

• You will need to turn in a copy of your child’s birth certificate or hospital verification letter to the office. 

• You will also need to download and have the godparents fill out and submit the testimonial letter(s). You can download the form by clicking this link (Testimonial Letter) / (Carta Testimonial).

• If you come from another parish, please note that sacraments are normally received in the parish where one worships.  Those coming from another parish must bring in a letter from the pastor of your parish granting permission to have your baptism at Holy Family. 

• Both parents and (primary) godparents need to attend a Baptism class and submit copies of their class certificates if taken elsewhere.
  
  All required documents listed above can be submitted in paper form to the office or sent as an email attachment to [email protected]. Please include the name of the child on the subject line.
  
  We suggest a donation of $100 for group baptisms and $250 for individual baptisms, which can be given by cash, check, or credit card to the parish office.

Other Information:

• Baptism classes are held in English on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 10:30am and in Spanish on the 4th Saturday of the month at 1:00pm. Please contact the Parish Office to register for any of these classes.  

• Group Baptisms are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 11:00am.
  
  Individual Baptisms are held on Saturdays at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm depending on the availability of the church. Please contact the Parish Office to schedule the Baptism date.