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 

 

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 the Religious Education program before being baptized. Please contact the Director of Religious Education at the Parish Office.
  • Adults seeking baptism should consider our RCIA program and call the Director of Evangelization.
 

 

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 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 will be cancelled and rescheduled.

 

Once you have taken Baptismal Preparation, please call the Parish Office to schedule your child's baptism.

2. Select Godparents

  • Only one godparent is required.
  • At least one godparent MUST be a baptized and confirmed Catholic.  (The godparents are taking on the responsiblity to help 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.
  • If you have two godparents, one MUST be a male and one MUST be a female (godfather and godmother).
  • If you want more godparents, you can have as many 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”.

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 Baptism date is convenient for you

A maximum of two infants (18mo or younger) can be baptized during a Mass.
A maximum of four children can be baptized at our 11:15am baptism services.
Please check availability with the parish office.
1/7/23    Sat    5:00pm  Mass (infants <18mos)
1/15/23    Sun    8:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
1/22/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
2/5/23    Sun   8:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
2/11/23    Sat    5:00pm    Mass (infants <18mos)
2/19/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
No Baptisms during Lent:  Wed 2/22/23-4/6/23
4/16/23     Sun    11:15am    Service
4/23/23     Sun    10:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
5/7/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
5/14/23    Sun   11:15am    Service - Mother’s Day
5/21/23    Sun   8:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
No Baptisms Sun 6/4: 10am 8th Grade Graduation Mass
6/11/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
6/17/23    Sat    5:00pm    Mass (infants <18mos)
6/25/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
7/2/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
7/9/23    Sun    8:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
7/16/23    Sun    11:15am     Service
8/6/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
8/13/23    Sun    10:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
8/20/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
9/3/23    Sun    11:15am    Service - Labor Day is Mon 9/4/23
9/9/23    Sat    5:00pm    Mass (infants <18mos)
No Baptisms during JosaFest (tentatively 9/16-17)
9/24/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
10/1/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
10/8/23    Sun    8:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
10/15/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
11/5/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
11/11/23    Sat    5:00pm    Mass (infants <18mos)
No Baptisms on 11/12/23 Sun 10a: Feast of St. Josaphat Mass/Service Awards 
11/19/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
12/3/23    Sun    11:15am    Service
12/10/23    Sun    10:00am    Mass (infants <18mos)
12/17/23    Sun    11:15am    Service

4. Call the Parish Office to schedule your child's baptism

(773) 327-8955
 
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

(Click each question to expand)

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.

Your baby may be the only one baptized, or there may be up to 3 other families at a baptism service.  

Usually within the first 3 - 6 months.

If you have been a registered, active parishioner for 6 months, and for some special reason, you absolutely cannot make one of the regularly scheduled times, you may be granted permission (pending the presider's availability) to schedule a baptism at another Sunday mass -- but NOT on the same weekend as we already have baptisms scheduled during a mass.

Yes!  In fact, you are encouraged to! 

Arrive about 10-15 minutes before the service or mass.  Introduce yourself and your baby to the priest or deacon.  Parents and Godparents should sit, with the baby, in one of the front rows of the church.

Donations for having your child baptized are at your discretion. 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.

 
 
 
Are you looking for a copy of your Baptismal Certificate?
You can request it from our Sacramental Records page.