*For information about the sacrament of baptism for children ages 7 to 17, please see the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adapted for Children (RCIC) here: RCIC
*To learn more about baptism for adults, go here: Becoming Catholic
Baptisms at St. Joseph are celebrated privately, with one child per occasion. Family and friends are welcome! The child receiving baptism should wear a white baptismal garment. St. Joseph will provide you with a baptismal stole and candle. You are free to take pictures and video of this important moment. No flash photography please.
Parents are asked to schedule the baptism of their child at least 2-3 months before the desired date. Because of the importance of this sacrament, the Church recommends the baptism of infants without delay, within a few weeks of birth. Parents are therefore encouraged to register for baptism during pregnancy.
To schedule a baptism at St. Joseph, please complete the following:
*access each form by clicking the gray boxes below
After completing these steps, email Ali Poteet (apoteet@stjosephbeltsville.org) to schedule your child's baptism.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any registration or scheduling questions!
Parents and godparents are invited to Belonging, our baptism preparation session here at St. Joseph.
At least one parent is asked to attend. Godparents, though not required, are encouraged to join us. If you have taken a baptism preparation class within the last 5 years, you do not need to retake it.
These preparation sessions are held the second Sunday of every month (August - May) from 12:30-2:00 pm via Zoom.
Attendees should pre-register and can do so during completion of the required baptism registration and godparent information forms above.
A sacramental offering of $50, payable to St. Joseph Church, is requested and greatly appreciated (but is not required). If you would like to give the celebrant a stipend, please make your check payable directly to him.
A godparent, together with the parent(s), presents a child for baptism. A godparent is ready and able to help the newly baptized on the road of Christian life . He or she should be a mature Catholic who will establish a lifelong faith relationship with the child.
In the Catholic Church, godparents must:
A child receiving baptism may have one godfather and one godmother. Only one godparent is required, if parents prefer.
Children may instead have one Catholic godparent along with one Christian Witness, a non-Catholic, baptized Christian from another faith tradition (one male and one female).
Per the Archdiocese, unless the godparent is a registered parishioner of St. Joseph, a "letter of goodstanding" is required from the pastor of the godparent's parish before the baptism can be scheduled. See step #3 above.