Baptism
Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5)
ST. PHILIP PARISH AND ST. MARY OF GUADALUPE MISSION
Beginning the Journey
Would you like to have your child baptized at St. Philip Parish or St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission? We would be so honored to provide this opportunity for you and your family, and we hope it will be the beginning of many sacraments for your child here.
Baptisms at St. Philip Parish or St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission are celebrated on a Saturday mornings of each month or during Mass on Sundays. There is a limit on the number of children at each baptism. Availability is on a first come first served basis. You may reserve your spots once you have completed the first steps of the process outlined below.
WHEN SHOULD WE REGISTER?
Because the Church recommends that the baptism take place shortly after the birth of a baby, parents are encouraged to register for Baptism preparation during pregnancy. We encourage parents to sign up at least three months before the desired baptism date.
HOW DO WE PREPARE?
After registering, parents attend one session class that are designed to connect you to the faith community, inspire you and your family wherever you are on your journey of faith and prepare you for a rich experience receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. The Baptism Preparation Course includes 1 session in alternate weeks of the month (3rd week of the month in Spanish and in English it’s flexible done mostly on Mondays. They are offered in the same month and last for an hour and a half each.
WHO ATTENDS THE SESSIONS?
St. Philip Parish and St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission baptism sessions are designed for families baptizing their child at St. Philip Parish and St. Mary of Guadalupe (We don’t require registration in the parish in order to seek baptism. However, our course is designed for families who are seeking to have their child baptized AT St. Philip Parish and St. Mary of Guadalupe.) Both parents should attend the session, and in the same month. We also encourage godparents to attend Session with the parents to prepare for their important role in the child’s faith journey. For registered parishioners who have been asked to be a godparent of a child
whose baptism will take place at another parish, email us as we are exploring alternate options to support you. If you are not registered at St. Philip Parish and St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission and are looking for a baptism class to attend in order to be a godparent at another parish, there are to seek the Baptismal Classes at their Parish. Please check with the parish where the child is being baptized to explore options.
SHOULD WE RETAKE THE SESSION?
If you've already taken the class at St. Philip Parish and St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission or another parish within the past two years, you do not need to retake
them. Just let us know when and where you attended a baptism course by providing a letter or certificate from the parish with that information. We encourage godparents to attend even if the parents have attended the Baptism Course recently.
CHOOSING GODPARENTS
Godparents have an essential role in the lives of those receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. Following are some helpful guidelines to remember as you select your godparents
TAKING THAT FIRST STEP
After you have reviewed all the information above the next steps are:
STEP 1: SIGN UP FOR AND ATTEND BAPTISM PREPARATION COURSE
The Baptism Preparation Course consists of 1 session on either the 3rd Saturday of each month in Spanish or in English on Mondays. Currently the sessions take place here at St. Philip Parish. In addition to these being an engaging and interactive experience, you will learn more about the baptism process session and how to schedule a date of baptism. Most months we have four Saturdays with baptisms, two in English and two in Spanish. However, the course and paperwork process must be completed before securing a date.
STEP 2: PREPARE AND RETURN PAPERWORK
You’ll need to gather information about your baby, your family, and godparents. You may bring this information to the St. Philip Parish office or email them to our office. Sylviam@stphilipwoodland.com
Once you have attended the one session and returned all required paperwork, we will provide you a link for scheduling your baptism date. A copy of the birth certificate is the only required item that we will allow you to submit separately after scheduling your baptism. However, it is necessary to provide a copy of the birth certificate before the date of baptism. We are only able to issue your child's baptism certificate once we have received an official state/city copy of your child’s birth certificate. Provide a letter of permission of “Good Standing” from your parish to be able to come and baptize at our parish. Parents and Godparents must provide a letter of permission if they don’t attend St. Philip Parish or St. Mary of Guadalupe.
STEP 3: SCHEDULE BAPTISM DATE
Once you have attended the session Baptismal Preparation Class and returned all required paperwork, we will provide you a link to schedule the date for your child’s baptism.
“For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents’ help is important. So too is the role of the godparents, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized child or adult on the road of Christian life.”
— CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1255)
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GODPARENT?
The role of the godparent is to be a Christian role model for the child. He or she should be a mature Christian who will establish a lifelong faith relationship and will be willing to walk with the child on his or her faith journey.
WHO CHOOSES THE GODPARENTS?
The parents of the child select the godparents. The parents of the child are not permitted to act as a godparent for their child’s baptism. A godparent should be
someone who will be a part of the child’s life on a continuing basis and be an excellent example of living the Catholic faith. If you are struggling to identify a
godparent, please let us know if we can help you brainstorm possibilities!
HOW OLD SHOULD GODPARENTS BE?
Godparents should be at least 16 years old. The role of godparent is an adult role, so be sure that if you ask a young person to carry out this duty that he or she is mature enough to fulfill the tasks.
MUST GODPARENTS BE CATHOLIC?
Yes, only fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) Catholics who attend Mass regularly and can receive the Eucharist are eligible to be godparents.
An unbaptized or non-Christian person may not be a godparent for Baptism. If you have potential godparents who have not been confirmed let us know and we
can work toward helping them to be fully initiated into the Church
MUST GODPARENTS BE MARRIED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Yes, if married, the godparent’s marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church. If they are married civilly or in another Christian tradition, they are not eligible to serve as a godparent until their marriage has been validated by the Catholic Church.
God uses moments such as the baptism of a new baby in the family to bring about unity to the broader family with the Church. There are many different marriage situations and much confusion about teachings of the Catholic Church in this area. We are always interested in helping toward unity and reconciliation with families and the church so let us know if you have any questions or how we can help.
• If the godparent is married (to each other or someone else), he or she needs to
marry by the Roman Catholic Church.
• A godparent who has been married in the Catholic Church and later divorced,
but never remarried or living with a partner may be a godparent.
HOW MANY GODPARENTS SHOULD WE HAVE?
We recommend selecting two godparents for your child, but you may decide to have only one. If you choose two godparents, one must be male and the other
must be female, and both must meet all the requirements.
• If the godparents are single, they cannot be living with a partner.
• Only one godparent is required. If two will participate, they must be male and a
female, (not 2 males or 2 females) Canon Law 873 NO EXCEPTIONS.
• A letter of permission is needed for the parents and godparents baptizing here at
St. Philip Church or St. Mary of Guadalupe Mission, who resides or belongs to
another parish or is coming from out of town, or state, country, etc.
Freed from Sin
Baptismal Symbols
- Water – The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ own baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water is a symbol of cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
- Oil – At baptism we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
- Light – The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle that stands in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
- White garment – The white garment that is placed upon us at baptism is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall that is placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.