Parents: 

1. Please provide the original birth certificate of your child. 

2. The child may be baptized from infancy until 3 months before turning 7 years old. If your child is older than that age, we will refer you to the Order of Christian Initiation Program for Children. 

3. If you are not a member of our parish, you may either register with our parish or bring a letter from your pastor, authorizing the baptism of your child at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. 

Pre-Baptismal Class:

1. Parents and Godparents are required to take a Pre-Baptismal Class. 

2. If you are from another State or Town, you may take the class at your local Catholic Church, and bring a certificate of attendance. 

Godparents/Sponsors: 

1. Godparents help the parents of the child in raising him/her in the Catholic Faith. Therefore, a Godparent must be one who is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith and will be a good role model for the one being baptized.

2. Godparent(s) may be one male or one female. It may also be both, a male and a female. 

3. The godparent must be at least 16 years old; and fully initiated Catholic (Have received Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation). Please provide the Confirmation Certificate.

4. Married Godparents/Sponsors: Must be married in the Catholic Church. They will accompany their godson/daughter by the example of their Christian life through their participation in the sacraments. 

   • Please provide Church Marriage Certificate.

5. A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community may be admitted only as a “Christian witness” (not a godparent) provided that there is at least one Roman Catholic godparent who fulfills the above criteria. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness.  

The Process:

1. Complete the requirements listed above (for the Parents, Godparents, and the Child).

2. Contact Deacon Steven Brau at [email protected] to schedule a baptism preparation meeting. 

3. Registration Form is available in the office and with Deacon Steven (hard copy). 

4. The day of baptism will be picked when you meet with Deacon Steven (after the above requirements have been met.)

5. Baptism registration stipend is $ 50.00

6. Baptisms are held during the Sunday liturgies or on the third Saturday of the month, at 10:00am. We do not have private baptisms. 

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“Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son/daughter of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature," member of Christ and coheir with Him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.”                          (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1265)