WHEN ARE BAPTISMS CELEBRATED AT ST. JOSEPH?

Baptisms are celebrated on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month at 12:30pm in the Church.
 

HOW ARE BAPTISMS CELEBRATED AT ST. JOSEPH?

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.

WHEN SHOULD WE SCHEDULE OUR CHILD'S BAPTISM?

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.
 

HOW DO WE SCHEDULE A BAPTISM?

To schedule a baptism at St. Joseph, please complete the following:

    *access each form by clicking the gray boxes below

1. Baptism Registration Form - filled out by the parent/legal guardian requesting the baptism
2. Godparent Information Form - filled out by each godparent (or a Christian witness, if applicable) of your choice
3.  Letter of Goodstanding - if your child's godparent is not a member of St. Joseph, the Archdiocese asks for a "letter of good standing" from the pastor of the parish in which he/she is registered. Letters may be turned into Ali Poteet in the rectory or emailed to apoteet@stjosephbeltsville.org. You may use our letter form (download and print using the gray "letter of good standing" box) or a letter provided by the parish of the godparent. 
4. Attend a baptism preparation session. See below for details.

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!
 

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR OUR CHILD'S BAPTISM?

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. 
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IS THERE A FEE FOR BAPTISM?

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.
 

WHAT IS A GODPARENT? 

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. 
 

WHO CAN BE A GODPARENT? HOW MANY DO WE NEED?

In the Catholic Church, godparents must:

• be 16 years old or older
• have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
• be a practicing Catholic (should regularly attend Sunday Mass and be a faithful Catholic)
• If the godparent is married, he/she must be married in the Catholic Church
• Cannot be the parent or the step-parent of the child to be baptized

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.