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Congratulations and God's blessings
on all involved with the Baptism
of your child.
This is a very exciting time when parents,
grandparents, Godparents and other relatives
and friends come together to celebrate
the beautiful Sacrament of Baptism
of our newest member of our Catholic faith.
The Baptism of your child
is a wonderful blessed occasion for your child,
your family and your parish family.
We look forward to assisting you
so that this is as special a day as possible!
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Baptismal Font
in Cathedral
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Baptisms at the Cathedral
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You want to have your child
baptized?
This is a wonderful gift for your child, salvation
in Jesus Christ and membership in His Church. This
is also an important decision on your part because
as the parents, you are the first teachers of your
child in the practice of the faith. This is why
before you make the final decision, you yourselves
will need to be active in your Christian faith and
participating members of this Catholic community. We
must teach what we believe and practice what
we teach.
If you feel that you are
ready to share your faith in word and action with
your child, then email
Megan
or call the Office at least three months before
anticipated date of birth to make arrangements for
the seminar & a brief interview.
The requirements for baptism
here at St. John's are the following: participation
in a pre-Baptism class. The classes are offered the
second Wednesdays of odd months in the Parish Office
(6:30 - 8:00 pm). We recommend you not bring
your child and if possible you attend the class
before the birth. Parents and Godparents are
required to attend a seminar.
GO
TO POLICIES BELOW
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2010
Baptism
Seminars
Parents should email
Megan
or call the Office at least three months before
anticipated date of birth to make arrangements for
the seminar & a brief interview.
Parents
& Godparents
are required to attend a seminar.
Second
Wednesdays
(of odd months)
6:30 - 8:00 pm
at Parish Office
2010
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Jan
13
-
March
10
-
May
12
-
July
14
-
Sept 8
-
Nov
10
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Since
baptism is a celebration of new Christian life in the Body
of Christ and the whole community is expected to support
the child, Baptisms take place in the context of Mass or
baptisms with others of the parish.
Click
here for Church
Law regarding Baptism & Godparents
Cathedral
Policy (please read ALL the policies)
Before your child can be baptized,
we need the following:
1. Parents
need to be registered and active parishioners for at least
two months before attending Baptism Seminar.
2. For
parents coming from another Catholic church two letters
are needed from their pastor:
- stating
that the parents (or the Catholic parent) are active
and in good standing with the church.
- giving
permission to have their child baptized in another
parish.
3. Godparents:
Godparents sponsor the one being baptized in the
Church, thus, it is the assumption of the Church (as
expressed in church law) that both Godparents are
practicing Catholics, confirmed, and are in good standing
in the Church. Thus,
we need:
- A
Baptismal certificate (re-issued within 6 months) of
the Godparent issued from the church of their baptism,
which will indicate all sacraments received by the
prospective Godparent.
- A
letter from their pastor stating he/she is in good
standing with the Church and an active member of
his/her parish/church.
4. Proof
of Baptism Seminar
- Written
proof/certificate stating that the parents have been
to a Baptism Seminar (Catholic Parish) prior to the
Baptism.
- Written
proof/certificate stating that the Godparents have
been to a Baptism Seminar (Catholic Parish) prior to
the Baptism.
These papers turned into
Megan
one month before the baptism.
Send letter and certificates to:
Cathedral of St. John Berchmans
Attn: Megan
939 Jordan St.
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Requirements
for St. John's Parishioners
baptism PREPARATION
REQUIREMENTS
for St. John's
Parishioners
having a child baptized
(whether at St. John's or another church)
Because
of the sanctity of the sacrament of Baptism and assuming
that the child will be raised in the practice of the
faith, preparation is required.
For
Parents
Before
the Baptism of your child:
- Parents need to be registered and active parishioners
for at least two months before attending Baptism
Seminar.
- Parents are required to attend the Baptism
Seminar at St. John's, whether the child is to be
baptized at another church or by another priest.
They must attend the seminar at least one month
before the Baptism (unless they have attended one
within the past 24 months at St. John's).
A certificate of attendance is needed.
- Parents select one or two Catholics in good standing
with the Church and their parish church to serve as
the child's Godparent(s).
- If
you choose to have two Godparents/sponsors, one must
be male and the other female.
- Only
a Catholic can be a Godparent sponsoring a child
into the Catholic Church. As an exception, if the parents cannot designate a
Catholic for this important role, one non-Catholic
who is baptized Christian can be a "Christian
witness." (Note:
only the names of Godparents are included in the
church's official records.)
For
all SPONSORS / GodparentS / Christian Witnesses
Role
of Godparents
Before
the Baptism:
- Sponsors / Godparents must be practicing Catholics and
in good standing.
Thus we need:
- Copies
of their Baptism Certificate with all notations of
sacraments received (Confirmation and marriage).
- A
letter from their pastor stating that he/she is in
good standing and active in their parish church.
- Written
proof stating they have been to a Baptism Seminar
(usually a certificate issued by church where the
seminar took place).
- Sponsors / Godparents are required to attend the
Baptism Seminar, preferably with the parents of the
child, or in one's home parish.
-
"Christian
Witnesses" need to provide the
following:
a. Proof
of Baptism.
b. Letter
from their pastor stating they are in good standing and
active in their church.
c. Proof
of Baptism Seminar (usually a certificate issued by church
where the seminar took place).
Note:
If you are going to have you child baptized at another
church, you will need all of the above items, plus a
letter from your pastor giving permission to have your
baby baptized in another parish.
THESE
PAPERS NEED TO BE TURNED IN TO
Megan
no
less than ONE MONTH BEFORE THE BAPTISM.
Requirements
for
Non-St. John's Parishioners
For
Parents coming from another Catholic Church
Before
the Baptism of your child at St. JohN's:
- Parents need to provide the pastor of St. John's (or
his delegate):
- Letter
from their pastor stating the parents are active and
in good standing with the church in which the pastor
gives permission that the child can be baptized in
another parish.
- Written
proof (usually a certificate) stating that the
parents have been to a Baptism Seminar (usually at
one's own parish -- you are welcome to attend the
Baptism Seminar at St. John's).
- If
you have asked your pastor to perform the baptism,
your pastor must make the request (in writing) to
baptize your child at St. John's.
For
all SPONSORS / GodparentS Role
of Godparents
Before
the Baptism:
- Sponsors / Godparents must be practicing Catholics and
in good standing.
Thus we need:
- Copies
of their Baptism Certificate with notation of First
Communion and Confirmation.
- A
letter from their pastor stating that he/she is in
good standing and active in their parish church.
- Written
proof stating they have been to a Baptism Seminar.
- Sponsors / Godparents are required to attend the
Baptism Seminar.
- Only a Catholic can be a Godparent sponsoring a child
into the Catholic Church.
As an exception, if the parents cannot
designate a Catholic for this important role, one
non-Catholic who is baptized Christian can be a
"Christian witness."
(Note: only the names of Godparents are
included in the church's official records.).
Christian witnesses need to provide the
following:
- Proof
of Baptism.
- Letter
from their pastor stating they are in good standing
and active in their church.
- Proof
of Baptism Seminar.
THESE
PAPERS NEED TO BE TURNED IN TO
Megan
AT
St. JohN's no
later than ONE MONTH BEFORE THE BAPTISM.
***********************
Church
Law regarding Baptism
in the Catholic Church:
- Infant
Baptism: according
to the laws of the universal Church, a minor child
under the age of seven is considered as an infant
(Canon 97.1) as well as those who habitually lack the
use of reason. (Canon 99).
- For
an infant to be licitly baptized, it is
necessary that:
- at
least one of the parents consents to it (or the
person that lawfully
takes the parents place)
and;
- there
is a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up
in the Catholic Church.
for example:
formation and continued education in the
faith, and participation in the spiritual life of
the church community, ...
(Canons 868-869)
[Baptism is to be postponed
until after any adoption is complete and adoption
papers/proofs can be procured.]
- There
should be one (1) Godparent for the person to be
baptized (who is not the father or mother of the one
to be baptized). (Canons 873, 874.1)
- IF there are to
be two Godparents, they must be of the opposite sex (male and female).
(Canon 873)
- Qualifications
of acceptable Godparent (who sponsors the child into
the Catholic Church):
Role
of Godparents
- that
he/she be designated by the parents of the person to
be baptized; if this designation is lacking, the
Pastor or Minister of the Sacrament may designate.
- that
he/she has an intention to carry out the duty;
- that
he/she be at least 16 years of age;
- that
he/she be a Roman Catholic of the Latin Rite
(Eastern Rite Catholics are allowed);
- that
he/she has received the Sacrament of Confirmation;
- that
he/she has received the Sacrament of Holy Communion;
- that
he/she be a practicing Catholic leading a
life of faith in harmony with the Church;
-
that, if married, he/she was married in the Church
- that
he/she not be under a lawfully imposed or declared
canonical penalty.
- If
there is only one Godparent (who must be Catholic) a
"Christian Witness" (Non-Catholic) may also be
chosen for the one to be baptized:
- A
baptized person belonging to a non-Catholic
ecclesial community 'may
be' admitted as a "witness" to baptism
(the formal title is Christian Witness, not "Godparent." (Canon 874.2)
- This
privilege applies only
to a Non-Catholic belonging to an ecclesial
community i.e. Mainline Protestant Church, Greek
Orthodox, and other Churches with valid baptisms.
A Catholic cannot be a Witness.
A non-Christian cannot be a Witness.
More about the Role
of Godparents
Additional information:
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