Baptism

"Don't forget that the greatest inheritance you can give to your children is the faith. Try to see that it is not lost, nurture it and leave it as an inheritance." Pope Francis, January 10, 2016

Parents

At least one of the parents of a child being baptized must be a baptized catholic themselves. If neither parent has been baptized catholic, please request a meeting with our pastor to provide reasonable assurance that the child will be raised in the faith. Non-catholic parents who are interested in becoming catholic or finishing their sacraments are welcome to explore our RCIA program. We would love to guide you!

Has your child been baptized in the hospital?

If so, he/she will not need to be baptized again. If you would like to arrange for a blessing, which "looks the same" as a baptism, and takes place at the same time (with everything but the pouring of water), just contact the parish office.

Depending on the age of your child:

Only infants (under 18 months) can be baptized during one of the weekend Masses.
Infants, toddlers and children up to 6 years old who are not yet in school can be baptized at one of the regularly scheduled baptism services.
School age children (7 years old & over) need to be catechized in school or through our Faith Formation program before being baptized. Please contact our Director of Faith Formation at the Parish Office.
Adults seeking baptism should consider our RCIA program.

4 Steps to Schedule A Baptism:

1. TAKE THE BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS

Both parents need to take a Baptismal Preparation Class, either here or at another parish. If you have taken it previously, you do not need to take it again. Godparents are welcome to take the class, but are not required to.

St. Josaphat’s Baptismal Preparation class is usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the church and lasts for about 30-45 minutes. You will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the class, and this serves as proof that you have taken the class (other parishes may require this if you are to be a Godparent to a baby being baptized at that parish). Classes with less than 2 families participating are subject to cancellation and will be rescheduled.

2. SELECT GODPARENTS

Only one godparent is required.
At least one godparent must be a baptized and confirmed practicing Catholic (the godparents are taking on the responsibility of helping to raise the child in the Catholic faith after all).
If you have someone you want to be a godparent but the person is not Catholic, that person may be present as a Christian Witness if he or she is a baptized Christian. A non-baptized person cannot be a godparent for a Catholic baptism.
There is to be only one male godparent or one female godparent, or one of each.
If you want more godparents, you can have as many Honorary Godparents as you want – but we only have room to record one male and one female (we don’t make the record books, we just follow Church law). Christian witnesses are recorded in the same place as godparents, with the notation “Christian Witness”. Honorary Godparents are not recorded.

What is the Role of Godparents? (Click here to expand)

To be chosen as a godparent is a special honor. You, above all others, have been entrusted with the responsibility to participate in this child's Christian life and education.

This privilege offers you the opportunity to develop a mutually enriching spiritual relationship - one that will last throughout this life and beyond.

There are many ways you can nurture this spiritual relationship and become a special friend to your godchild. Among them are:

Celebrate the anniversary of this holy day of Baptism each year with a visit, a call or a card.
As your godchild grows, listen to and share in the struggles and triumphs of living a Christian life, and keep yourself informed on Christian doctrine and values, to be able to answer questions as they arise.
Encourage a consistent life of faith through special cards, letters or gifts which celebrate holy events...Christmas, Easter...and personal growth events...graduation, first job, engagement. (Gift suggestions: a bible, spiritual book, rosary, religious jewelry, gift certificate for religious goods / books, retreat opportunity.)
Participate in, or send assurance of prayer, as your godchild receives other sacraments, particularly First Communion and Confirmation, which complete initiation into the Church community.
Be supportive of your godchild's parents in their role as the primary religious educators of their child.
And most importantly, become a model of Christian living for your godchild, through daily prayer, virtue and active participation in parish life and liturgy.

By living a Christian life in partnership with your godchild, both of you will experience the great joy of sharing a life of faith.

3. DETERMINE WHICH BAPTISMAL DATE WORKS FOR YOU

A maximum of four children can be baptized at our 11:15am baptism services. Please check availability with the parish office.

Note: As of August 2023, we are suspending baptisms during Masses and only offer Baptism Services. Check back for news on reinstatement.

2025 Dates

Dates and times are subject to change.

1/5/25 Sun 11:15am Service
1/19/25 Sun 12:30pm Service
2/9/25 Sun 11:15am Service
2/16/25 Sun 12:30pm Service
3/2/25 Sun 12:30pm Service
No Baptisms during Lent: Wed 3/5-4/17 (Easter is 4/20/25)

4/27/25 Sun 11:15am Service
5/11/25 Sun 11:15am Service - Mother’s Day
5/18/25 Sun 11:30 am Service
No Baptisms 5/4/25: May Crowning & 1st Grade Family Mass
No Baptisms Sun 6/1/25 (date tentative): 10am 8th Grade Graduation Mass
6/8/25 Sun 11:15am Service
6/15/25 Sun 11:15am Service - Father’s Day
7/6/25 Sun 11:15am Service
7/13/25 Sun 11:15am Service
8/3/25 Sun 11:15am Service
8/10/25 Sun 11:15am Service
9/7/25 Sun 11:15am Service (Labor Day is 9/1/25)
9/21/25 Sun 11:15am Service
10/5/25 Sun 11:15am Service
10/19/25 Sun 11:15am Service
11/9/25 Sun 11:15am Service
No Baptisms on Feast of St. Josaphat Mass/Service Awards
11/23/25 Sun 11:15am Service
12/7/25 Sun 11:15am Service
12/14/25 Sun 11:15am Service

4. SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD'S BAPTISM

After you have taken Baptismal Preparation and chosen godparents, call the Parish Office at (773) 327-8955 to schedule your child's baptism date.

Please ensure that you have selected godparents before calling the office - we cannot reserve a baptism date without all required information.
Please do not ask the office to reserve a baptism date until you have completed the steps above.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (click each question to expand)

Can I schedule a private baptism for just our baby and our family?

All sacraments are meant for the entire community of believers. There is no such thing as a "private" sacrament. Sacraments are where Christians encounter God in and with and through one another. That is as true of baptism as it is of Eucharist. At times, due to circumstances, (e.g. someone sick in the hospital and alone when the anointing of the sick is celebrated, only one baby registered for a baptism, the desire for privacy in reconciliation, etc.) some sacraments may appear to be private, but even then, the hope is that the wider community is somehow participating in the celebration of grace.

The joy and happiness of a family in welcoming a new baby into their family is not limited to them, but is a cause for celebration for the parish family as well. Ideally, whenever we celebrate a sacrament, the entire community is present. However, since it is rare for all the parishioners to fit into the church at one time, not to mention the great diversity of individual's schedules, we schedule services that accommodate people's schedules, even though only part of the entire community can be present. Nevertheless, the hope is always that representatives of the broader community participate as a sign of solidarity with the individual or family.

How many other babies can I expect to be baptized with my child?

When should I have my child baptized?

What if I can’t make any of the scheduled dates?

What do we do on the day of the baptism?

Is there a fee for having my child baptized?

There is no fee to have a child baptized. Donations to our church and/or presider for having your child baptized are at your discretion (and are greatly appreciated). These contributions are considered a "Stole Fee" and are not tax deductible per IRS tax code:

A “Stole Fee” refers to money given to a cleric for the performance of sacramental functions ie: baptisms, weddings, funerals. The IRS does not classify these payments as tax-free “gifts” because the rendering of a service motivated the payment. It does not matter that the cleric requires no payment for the service, nor does it matter that some people give nothing under similar circumstances. Stole Fees are considered earnings subject to Federal Income Tax and Social Security Tax.