Infant Baptism

• After we verify your registration (as a St. Andrew parishioner or elsewhere), 
• The baptism department will send you links with instructions to do the baptism seminar online, and you will share that with the godparents. 
• We will email you all the forms that need to be filled out. You can send the godparents' eligibility form by email to the godparents; they are required to fill it out and take the form to their parish office to be verified, signed and impressed with a visible seal by the parish representative.
• Upon returning the forms [original forms, and a copy of your child(ren) 's birth certificate(s)] at the parish office (you can drop them off on the drop section or mail them to us); and after all paperwork is in order, we will let you know what dates are available to celebrate the Baptism. 
• When the day is selected and confirmed, I will send you a link to make an online payment for the Baptism.

• Registration enables the parish pastor and staff to get to know you better, welcome you, and minister to you. This is especially important during a time of crisis so that the pastoral staff can attend to your spiritual needs and your family's needs.
• Registered active members are eligible for signed sponsor/godparent validation forms.
• Registered active members are eligible for Sacraments.
• Registration helps the parish pastor and staff have accurate data when planning parish activities.
• Registration helps the parish pastor and staff to have an accurate budget needed to have an efficient running of the parish. 
• Registration helps you stay connected with your parish and helps your parish stay connected with you. 
  • Providing your contact information is important so that parishes provide timely updates via email, direct mail, phone, etc. 
  • If you use offertory envelopes or online giving, you will also receive a year-end statement of your donations for income tax purposes. 
  • Once you are registered, please notify the parish office of any changes in address or phone number.
  • If you cannot give, please continue to use the envelopes and write Attendance Only.

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Not a parent of the child I am sponsoring
• A baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church
• Received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion in the Catholic Church
• Participates regularly in Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation
• Receives the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession regularly
• If married, married in the Catholic Church and a sacramental marriage
• If single, not cohabitating with someone (living together as if married)
• Believe what the Catholic Church professes and teaches          

Can I start this process before my child is born? YES, we recommend doing so.
What must I do to have my child Baptized at St. Andrew? You must attend an approved Baptismal seminar.
How are Baptisms scheduled?  Baptisms will be scheduled after the seminar paperwork is completed.
Can we Baptize in a place other than the Church? The Rite of Baptism indicates that it should generally be celebrated in a Parish Church. Therefore, we do not ordinarily do baptisms outside of Church.
Who holds the child during Baptism? The Rite of Baptism indicates that ordinarily, the mother holds her child during Baptism.
How many Godparents can there be during the Sacrament of Baptism? According to the Instructions of the Catholic Church, "One Sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex." [Canon Law # 873]. Therefore, no one can have more than two Godparents, nor can anyone have two Godparents of the same sex.
Can there be 4 Godparents in the case of twins? Yes and No! There can be 4 godparents in the sense that there are two Godparents for each twin, this totaling four. But each twin can only have 2 Godparents of their own. So it must be made clear which Godparent is for which twin. Why? Because the Godparents have to sign as witnesses to the Sacrament of Baptism. In the case of twins, they can both share the same 2 Godparents, one male and one female.
Can there be just two witnesses? No! There has to be at least one Catholic (Godparent/Sponsor) in good standing, meaning that person is practicing their faith in the Catholic Church. Under normal circumstances, you cannot have a baptism without a Godparent/Sponsor.
Who is a Christian Witness? A Christian Witness is a validly baptized non-Catholic who practices their faith in Christ in a visible and sincere manner. This could be a Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist, or any other non-denominational church that baptizes using the trinitarian formula.
Can a catholic who has abandoned the faith serve as a godparent or a Christian witness? Any Catholic, who has abandoned the faith, even if they now are active members in another Christian Church or community, may not serve as a Godparent or a Christian Witness. This is because they have separated themselves from the Church and cannot serve even as a witness.