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
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Only infants (under 18 months) can be baptized during one of the weekend Masses.
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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.
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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.
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Adults seeking baptism should consider our RCIA program.
4 Steps to Schedule A Baptism:
1. TAKE THE BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS
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
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Only one godparent is required.
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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).
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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.
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There is to be only one male godparent or one female godparent, or one of each.
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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)
3. DETERMINE WHICH BAPTISMAL DATE WORKS FOR YOU
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)
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.
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Please ensure that you have selected godparents before calling the office - we cannot reserve a baptism date without all required information.
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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?
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?