Insofar as possible, a person to be Baptized is to be given a sponsor (“godparent”) who together with the parents presents an infant for Baptism. A sponsor also helps the Baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. There is only one male sponsor or one female sponsor, or one of each. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must: (a.) be so designated by the parent(s), (b.) be at least sixteen years of age, (c.) be a Baptized Catholic who has been Confirmed, received Holy Communion and leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on, and (d.) not be the father or mother of the one to be Baptized. A Baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic community may, together with a Catholic sponsor, serve as a witness of the Baptism.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Infant Baptism Policy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sacraments | Liturgical Ministries | Spiritual Life Ministries | Perpetual Adoration | Funerals | Mission Masses [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Parents should take care that newborns are Baptized in the first few weeks. Therefore, as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to a member of the parish clergy to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it. Consent of the parents, or at least one of the parents or a legal guardian, is required for the celebration of the sacrament. There must be a reasonable hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the Baptism is to be delayed.