Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism

Q: What are the Church's guidelines in choosing a sponsor or godparent?

A: The Church outlines ins Canon 874 that parents choose quality sponsors to aid them in their duty and responsibility of caring for their child's spiritual needs. A sponsor must meet these basic criteria:

1. Be at least 16 years old.
2. Be a confirmed Catholic.
3. Be a fully initiated, (have received and are celebrating the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist) practicing Catholic.
4. One male and/or one female can be chosen. One non-Catholic Christian can serve with a Catholic sponsor under the title of witness.

Q: Why does the Church allow for a witness?

A: In updating its Canon Law in 1984, the Church made a provision allowing for one non-Catholic Christian to serve with a Catholic sponsor. While the disunity among Christians continues to be a work for evangelization, its reality necessitates an effort toward unity. A witness is most commonly chosen as the spouse of a Catholic sponsor.

Q: Why is it important for parents and sponsors to have a firm commitement to the parish community when bringing their children to celebrate the sacraments and at all times?

A: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that through baptism we become members to eachother, "From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, culturs, races, and sexes: 'For by one Spirit we were baptized into one body'."(1267) As a family we have the opportunity and obligation to help eachother in our faith walk.

Q: Can the Church help us find sponsors?

A: The Baptism Instructor can work with you in finding sponsors for your child who are members or our parish community.

Q: Can we have a baptism for our child even if we were married outside the Church?

A: Yes. The priest in the parish is more than happy to work with you in beginning the process of having your marriage blessed in the Church. The obligation to begin this process rests with you. The names and numbers of our priests are located in the bulletin or on the Baptism Request Form. Once the process has begun, a baptism request can be granted. Parents are strongly encouraged to seek reconciliation through the Catholic Church's marriage tribunal process with the goal of being able to receive Holy Communion with their child upon their first Holy Communion in second grade.

Q: Does the Church give guidelines in helping us to name our child?

A: The Church imposes the wisdom of the importance of a name for a person. In its long tradition, parents have sought the names of saints for their children as a model and intercessor. Parents are asked to be conscious not to impose names foreign to the Christian mentality such as Diablo, Lucifer, Muhammad, etc. (Canon 855).

Q: My child is older than an infant. I would like to have the child baptized. Is there any Catechetical help for myself and my child in teaching the importance of this sacrament?

A: The Church is conscious that parents are the primary educators of their children. At St. Raphael parents along with their children who are 5 years of age and older can attend private classes with a trained volunteer in understanding the sacrament. For children under 5 years of age suggestions on how to speak to your child about the sacrament as well as suggested activities can be obtained from the Baptism Class Instructor. The Baptism Class is required for parents.