BAPTISM PREPARATION

Godparents, also known as baptismal sponsors, assist the parents in the child's Catholic upbringing. In the liturgy of Baptism, Godparents promise to help the parents in their duty as Christian parents.  

Parents should carefully choose Godparents who diligently practice their Catholic faith, and are willing and able to assist in the Catholic faith formation of their child. Godparents should not be chosen simply because of familial or social relationships.

The church also provides for an active member of another Christian church to stand as witness to the Baptism when only one Godparent is chosen. The Christian Witness plays an active and important role in supporting parents as they teach their child the Christian way of life.

The church takes the role of Godparent, or Sponsor, sericously and so has established clear criteria for the fulfillment of this role:

• A Godparent, chosen by parents or pastor, must be at least 16 years of age.
• A Godparent must be a baptized Catholic who has completed the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation, regularly attends Mass on Sunday, and lives the Faith so as to be a moral and spiritual example to their Godchild.
• A Godparent may not be under any form of canonical penalty (e.g. excommunication most commonly for abortion.)
• A Godparent may not be the parent of the child being baptized.
• Godparents must be active and practicing Catholics who can serve as role models and mentors for the child being baptized and be living in accord with Catholic moral teaching.
  • If married (to each other or others) godparents must be in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.
  • If single, a godparent may not be cohabitating with a partner (i.e., "living together" in a marital manner).
• A validly baptized non-Catholic may not be a Godparent but may serve as a Christian Witness along with a Catholic Godparent of the opposite sex.
• A person who was baptized a Catholic but who has joined another denomination or faith may not be selected either as a Godparent or a Christian Witness.
• A person married to a Catholic outside the Catholic Church also may not serve as a Christian witness.
• Non-baptized persons may not serve as Godparents or Christian witnesses.
• Only one Godparent is required. If there are to be two (two Godparents or a Godparent and a Christian Witness), then one must be male and one must be female.
• Parents, Godparent(s), and/or the Christian Witness (if there is to be one) must attend a baptismal preparation class if they have not already attended one.

BAPTISM PREPERATION

If parents and godparents have not attended a Pre-Baptism Preparation Class (either here at St. Thomas Aquinas or at some other Catholic Church) in the past four years, they are required to attend one before the baptism of the child can take place. Documentation of attendance at a Pre-Baptism Class may be required at or before Baptism.

Pre-Baptism preparation classes for parents, godparents and Christian Witnesses are held every first Saturday at 10 a.m. in the St. Joseph Room unless otherwise noted.

All registrations for Pre-Baptism Classes must be submitted by 5pm on the Thursday before the class.

Register for a class below

January 6, 2024-- St. Joseph/St. Ann Hall

February 3, 2024-- St. Joseph/St. Ann Hall