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Baptism

- Sacraments

Baptism Workshop

If this is your first baby, or if it has been more than two years since you baptized a child of your own at our parish, you and the baby’s other parent must first attend a Baptism Workshop. It is important to watch the BAPTISM VIDEO BEFORE COMING to the Workshop. (See Baptism Video information below.) Workshops are held on the 4th Saturday of each month, at 10:00 AM in the St. Francis meeting room for about one hour. Please contact the Parish Secretary to register.
Scheduling your Child's Baptism

We are currently scheduling private baptisms on Saturdays at 12:00 or 1:00 PM; or during the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass on the second Sunday of the month. Please contact the Parish Secretary for more information and to schedule.
Regarding Godparents
Every person being baptized must have a sponsor. Most infants/young children are given two sponsors, one of each gender. By Canon Law, there can be only one godmother and one godfather.

In the Catholic Church, the role of godparents is more than an honorary function. In choosing godparents for your child, you are declaring that you see each godparent as a person who knows Jesus, one who lives a Catholic Christian life by word and example, and one who will assist you in raising your child in the Catholic faith. This is an extremely important spiritual obligation that should not be taken lightly.

THE ROLE OF SPONSORS/GODPARENTS
The sponsor accepts the responsibility of praying for your child, helping your child grow in the Catholic faith, helping you teach your child about the faith and showing by example how to live as a practicing Catholic. This includes: membership in a local parish, regular participation in Mass, regular reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and regular reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO ACT AS A SPONSOR/GODPARENT
For a person to act as a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, he or she must:
1. Be at least 16 years old;
2. Have already received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist);
3. Be living in a way that demonstrates a strong faith in Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church;
4. If married, be married in accord with the laws of the Church (typically in a Catholic Church or otherwise with special permissions from the Catholic Church).
CHRISTIAN WITNESS
If parents cannot find two eligible Catholics to be godparents, they may choose one sponsor to stand in as a Christian Witness. This person must be a validly baptized Christian, i.e. baptized by water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity (“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”); and be a registered, practicing member of his/her Christian faith. If a person was baptized Catholic but either no longer practices Catholicism (by regularly attending Mass or by being a registered member of the Catholic Community) or has joined a church of a different denomination, he or she is not eligible to be a godparent or a Christian Witness. The assumption is that a non-practicing Catholic/Christian person is not in a position to assist parents in raising the child in the practice of the faith.

REQUIRED PAPERWORK
Each Catholic godparent is required to complete and sign a Sacramental Sponsorship Certificate of Eligibility. If a Catholic godparent is not registered at St. Joseph York, the Certificate of Eligibility will also need to be signed by the pastor of his/her current parish. This form will be provided to each godparent directly. Any Christian Witness must also provide a letter from his/her current church that indicates he/she is a registered and practicing member of that church. Certificates/letters should be sent by mail to: St. Joseph Church/Baptism Prep, 2935 Kingston Rd, York, PA 17402. You will be notified when these have been received so we can move forward with scheduling the baptism.

PROXIES
If a Catholic godparent is unable to be physically present for the Baptism, a proxy can stand in his or her place. The same required documentation listed above also applies to any proxy.
Documents
- Sacramental Sponsorship Certificate of Eligibility
Baptism Video

Reborn—Session One: A New Creation: Click on this link: www.sjy.formed.org.

Register with your email address and create a password. This will give you full access to FORMED—“The Catholic Faith On Demand” where you may find many other topics of interest when it comes to your Catholic faith. This is a FREE service to you—a gift from the parish. You can also open it in the free mobile app for iOS and Android with our Parish Code MGFN9G. From the home page, search “Reborn”; then choose Session 1: A New Creation.
Suggestions for Godparents
A few key factors can turn an ordinary godparent into an extraordinary one. Here are some suggestions for fostering your unique relationship with your godchild:
- Pray for your godchild. You can also pray together.
- Spend time together. Be a constant presence in your godchild’s life.
- Treat your godchild’s baptism as his/her birthday in the Church by sending a card and a gift.
- Have a Mass offered on your godchild’s baptism date each year.
- Send random notes or gifts to your godchild to let him/her know you are thinking about and praying for him/her.
- Sign your letters, “Love, Your Godparent” and address them “To My Godchild.”
- Take care of your own spiritual health. Seek spiritual guidance and counseling to strengthen your faith, because being strong in your own faith will help your godchild be strong in his/hers.
- Teach your godchild by example and bring your faith to everything you do.