The Sacrament of Baptism is the first of our seven sacraments. It is through Baptism that the stain of original sin, and any other sin, is wiped away and we become new members of the Body of Christ and the Catholic Church. We extend a special welcome to you if you are trying to find out more about Baptism for yourself, or for your child.
If you are an adult who is seeking more information on how to become a member of the Catholic Church, please check out The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). There you will find good information on what that process is and also contact information for the person who can tell you more about it.
If you are visiting our site because you recently became a parent, or your child is a little older; we offer our congratulations! We know what a busy and exciting time this is for your family, and we want to assist you in raising your child in the faith.
Now, you want to know how you go about getting your child baptized. Below are some frequently asked questions to get you started. If your question or situation does not fit neatly into these answers, don't panic. Life happens! Please call the Parish Office at 419.289.7224 with your questions.
See our FAQs on Baptism below. You can also find more information in our Baptism Booklet.
The celebration of all our sacraments are community events and our community is our parish where we live. If you are a Catholic parent living with the boundaries of St. Edward, you have the right to have your child baptized here. If you live in another city, but for family or other reasons would like to have your child baptized here, that is a possibility with approval from your home parish. Please talk to a priest or deacon at your home parish about your situation.
You may choose to have your child baptized during any scheduled weekend Mass, or you may choose to have the Baptism outside of Mass, after any of the weekend Masses. For serious pastoral reasons, your child could be baptized at another time with the approval of the priest or deacon.
Here at St. Edward, we require that all first-time parents attend an orientation session with a priest or deacon before scheduling the Baptism of their child. During this orientation you will learn all about the sacrament itself, have your questions answered, and learn successful ways we can help you to incorporate the faith into your family life. This is a one-time class that lasts approximately 60 minutes, and both parents are to attend. Please contact the Parish Office by phone at 419.289.7224 or email us to find out your options.
Every person being baptized, whether a child or an adult, must have a sponsor. The sponsors in Baptism have traditionally been called godparents. The minimum requirement is one sponsor, but usually when infants are baptized, they have two, one of each gender. Canon law permits only one godparent of each gender - a godmother and a godfather.
To be a sponsor, you must:
• Be at least 16 years or older
• Have received Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation
• Be an active Catholic and be registered at a Catholic parish
• Not be the parent of the one being baptized.
If you choose to have one Catholic sponsor/godparent, you may choose a second baptized non-Catholic Christian in good standing. They would be known as a Christian witness.
This situation, by itself, is not a sufficient reason to delay the baptism of your child. You will be asked to attend the parent class and will then meet with the priest or deacon to discuss your responsibilities to raise your child in the faith as single parents.
Jesus gave us His Sacraments to confer Grace upon us. It is this Grace that strengthens us to live according to His commandments. And this includes all of His sacraments. We support your decision to commit to each other in a civil marriage and would like to discuss the benefits to you and your relationship of inviting God into your life together by having your marriage "blessed" in the Church. Every situation is a little different, so please discuss this with your priest or deacon.
There is no cost to have your child baptized. Donations made to the Church are always accepted. It is acceptable to show your appreciation to the priest or deacon with a card or small honorarium. This should always be according to your means; and $50 should be the maximum.