Infant Baptism

 

The Baptism of your child is a wonderful and important event in your life and the life of your child. It is the entry of your child into the Church. It adopts them as a Child of God. It places grave responsibilities upon parents who request Baptism for their child as well as the godparents who sponsor the child. Here are some guidelines:

• Please phone the parish office and provide information beforehand (847) 587-2251.
• A class on the Sacrament of Baptism is required for parents and godparents, unless they have attended one in the last two years. The class takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the church basement (Coleman Hall). You may bring your baby if you wish. You may come before your child is born.
• You need not be a registered member of St. Bede Parish to have your child baptized.
• Your child should be baptized within a reasonable amount of time after birth - one to three months. If your child is older than 6 years, special education is required for the child through our Religious Education Program. Contact the rectory for further information. You should not baptize your child privately, except in an emergency.
• You should choose your Godparents carefully. In order for one to be a godparent one must (Canon Law 874):

  • Be asked by the parents.
  • Have completed their sixteenth year of age.
  • Be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.
  • Not be the father or mother of the one being baptized.
  • A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.

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• Godparents are responsible for the spiritual upbringing of your child, should anything happen to you. They will be asked to honestly sign the "Godparent/s Statement", click on to review God Parent Agreement  Only one Catholic godparent is required. Two is traditional and both must be Christian. If a godparent cannot be present at the baptism, they can be represented by a proxy. The true godparent/s must still sign the godparent statement.

• At the baptism class the parents will be asked to sign the "Parent Request for Baptism", click on Parent's Baptism Agreement to review. If you do not think you can honestly sign this document, you should consider delaying the baptism of your child until you feel you can  honestly commit.  At the beginning of the celebration of the sacrament in the church you as parents and godparents will be asked to form the covenant with your child and the community by verbally committing to the statements signed in the agreement.

• The baptism class will cover the ceremony; discussions on the Sacramentality of the sacrament; Christian parenting, role of godparents; understanding the symbols of baptism; presentation and signing of parent and godparent statements; handing out those items required as part of the service.

• Baptisms take place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, except during Lent when no baptisms take place. You may celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism either at the 11:00 AM Mass or at a 12:30 PM liturgy. There are no more than six baptisms at one time, four is the norm.

• If you have any questions about preparing the "Parent Request for Baptism" or "Godparent Statement" document, please call the rectory and ask for clarification.(847) 587-2251.

Questions or comments about this web site please link on to  stbedechurch.com.
Last modified: 01/04/11