ROLE OF THE PARENTS
In order to develop a true sense of God in a youngster, parents must exhibit a love for their faith for the child to see and feel. By recognizing God’s presence in your daily lives and displaying charity towards others, your family will transmit Christian attitudes. The religious atmosphere of your home will begin to form religious attitudes in your child. Under your watchful guidance as parents, your child will begin the preparation for life with God and neighbor.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
In order for your child to be baptized, the following required documents must be submitted before the Sacrament of Baptism can take place. Documents may be submitted to the Rectory or at the Baptism preparation class.
1. BIRTH CERTIFICATE – your child’s original birth certificate must be presented at the time of your meeting with a priest in the Rectory.
2. LETTER OF RELEASE – if you are not a member of Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann Parish then you must obtain a letter from the pastor of your current parish stating that permission has been granted to have your child baptized in one of our churches.
3. CERTIFICATE OF CATHOLIC CONFIRMATION – each sponsor (godparent) is required to present a certificate of Catholic Confirmation in order to be admitted as a sponsor.
4. SPONSOR LETTER – each sponsor is required to bring a letter from his/her current parish stating that he/she fulfills the requirements for being a sponsor. This letter must state that he/she has been baptized, has received Holy Communion, has been Confirmed and leads a life in harmony with the faith.
ROLE OF THE SPONSOR(s) or GODPARENT(s)
A Sponsor or Godparent is a person who together with the parents, present the child for the Sacrament of Baptism. He or she is a good role model in life and in the faith and promises to help the child grow in the faith.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A SPONSOR
1. There may be one or two Sponsors (one of each sex).
2. One Sponsor must be a Catholic who has been baptized, has received Holy Communion, has been Confirmed, and leads a life of harmony with the faith.
3. The Sponsor, if married, must be married according to the guidelines of the Catholic Church.
4. One sponsor may be a validly baptized Christian from another denomination living an upright life. This person is called a “Christian Witness” and not a “Sponsor.”
5. The Sponsor cannot be either parent.
6. The Sponsor must be 16 years of age or older.
7. The Sponsor must have the intention of fulfilling the role as a Godparent.
8. The Sponsor must not be bound by any canonical penalty which has been imposed or declared.
9. If a Sponsor cannot attend the baptism, a ‘proxy’ may be designated to stand in. The name of the real Sponsor, however, will be entered in the Church register. The Sponsor should designate in writing the acceptance of the obligations of being a Sponsor and the name of the person who is to be the proxy. This letter is submitted with the Confirmation certificate.
10. Sponsors are required to bring a letter from their current parish stating that he/she has been baptized, has received Holy Communion, has been Confirmed, and lead a life in harmony with the faith.
11. Sponsors must present a certificate of Catholic Confirmation.
BAPTISMAL CLASS
Baptism preparation class is held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Mary’s Nativity Parish Center located on Jasmine Avenue. We ask that you attend the class in the same month as the Baptism. We require that both parents attend and suggest that both godparents attend as well. The required documentation should be brought to the class and given to the priest.