"Unless a man is reborn in water and the holy spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of god.” (Jn 3:5)

Infant Baptism has been administered since apostolic times, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit. Through the sacrament of baptism, one is freed from both personal sin and original sin, and is welcomed into the community of the church, which gives access to the fullness of salvation.

Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer baptism shortly after birth (CCC 1250).

Canon Law requires at least one Catholic godparent:

•  Baptized Catholic (or entered the Catholic Church through OCIA)
•  Minimum age: 16 years old
•  Celebrates Eucharist
•  Confirmed in the Catholic Faith
•  If married, marriage celebrated as a Sacrament in the Catholic Church 
•  If more than one godparent: One male/one female

Much thought and prayer should go into the selection of godparents. In addition to being members of the Catholic Church, godparents should be persons of prayer and persons who have continued to grow in their faith. It is not appropriate to ask non-practicing Catholics to be godparents. Godparents are to be witness of a Lived Faith, so that they along with the parents can share their faith with the child. The godparents are not invited to a casual relationship; they make a serious commitment to the child, the family, and the Church. 

In addition to the minimum of one Catholic godparent, the Church does allow for a baptized Christian to stand in along with the Catholic godparent. They would then be called a “Christian Witness.”

Do we have to be married in the Catholic Church to baptize our children?
No, not being married in the Catholic Church does not prevent you from having your child baptized. 

Can I baptize my children in the Catholic Church if my spouse is not Catholic?
Yes, the Church only requires that one parent be an actively practicing Catholic. The Catholic parent is required to “make a sincere promise to do all in his or her power so that all offspring are baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church.” The spouse of a different faith needs to be clearly informed about that promise so that he or she can be supportive in fulfilling that obligation.

How long does the baptism service last?
The celebration service usually takes about one hour.

How many children are baptized at each service?
Each celebration is limited to eight families.

How do we dress?
Please dress comfortably but appropriately for church. Your child will be provided with a baptismal garment, which is an embroidered bib that goes over the head but does not cover the entire body. 

When should we arrive?
Parents, godparents, and the child should meet our baptismal team in the narthex at 9:30am on the day of the celebration. 

Do we need to bring anything?
No, the baptismal garment and candle will be provided by Epiphany of the Lord. 

What if I have not received my child's birth certificate in time for the baptism?
The sacrament can be celebrated, but the baptism certificate cannot be released until we receive a copy of the birth certificate. You can come to our office later to obtain a delayed certificate. 

What if the godparents cannot attend the baptism service?
You may choose proxies to stand in for the godparents. The proxies will be asked to complete godparent verification forms and meet all the same requirements as the godparents.