Baptisms

Clothed In Christ


Congratulations on the birth of your child! 


At baptism, with the support of godparents and the Catholic community, your child enters the community of Christ's faithful, to living according to the message of Jesus as found in the scriptures. At the celebration of baptism, you promise to raise your child in the Catholic faith and to make the world the way God says it ought to be.


Parents who ask that their child be baptized into Christ have the most significant part to play in the passing on of the Christian life to their children. It is through them that the child will come to know the love of God. It is through them that the child will learn to go beyond the family circle and become involved in the larger community in which he/she lives. Know of our prayers for your family!

  • How do I schedule a baptism?

    Contact the parish office and say you are looking to have your child baptized. Fr. Matt will then reach out to you to schedule a brief introductory meeting.

  • When do baptisms occur?

    Generally, baptisms as St. Ann’s are done the first three Sundays of the month at 11:30AM. If this is a problem, please discuss this with Fr. Matt or Deacon Joe.

  • Who will perform the baptism?

    Generally, baptisms at St. Ann’s are performed by either Fr. Matt or Deacon Joe. Fr. Matt and Deacon Joe generally alternate weekends, but if you would like to request one or the other we will do our best to accommodate.

  • Can I invite a visiting priest or deacon to do the baptism?

    St. Ann’s welcomes visiting priests and deacons to perform baptisms. Generally, baptisms performed by a visiting clergy member are done on Sundays at 1:30PM. If this is a problem, please discuss this with Fr. Matt or Deacon Joe

  • Who can be a godparent?

    • A child must have one practicing Roman Catholic godparent in good standing with the Church.
    • Catholic godparents must be at least 16 years old.
    • A godparent cannot be a parent of the child.
    • A godparent must have received the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
    • A godparent must be validly married in the Catholic Church.
    • A godparent must be actively practicing the faith, at a minimum attending Sunday Mass on a weekly basis.
    • A non-Catholic, baptized Christian may be chosen as a Christian Witness, as long as one godparent is a practicing Catholic.

  • What is a sponsor certificate?

    All godparents must obtain a certificate/letter from their own parish stating that they are members in good standing and are eligible to act as a godparent for Baptism. These certificates should be submitted to the parish office as soon as possible. Please note: NO baptismal date will be scheduled until these forms are received. 

  • What does the godparent do at a baptismal ceremony?

    The godparents will stand with the parents and publicly acknowledge their commitment to support the child’s parents in raising him/her in the faith.  With the parents, they will trace the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead. During the baptism itself, the godparents will place a hand on the shoulder of the parents symbolizing their support and commitment in their role as Christian godparents.

  • What if the godparent can't be present at the baptismal ceremony?

    A family member or friend can stand in at the ceremony as a proxy for the absent godparent, but the godparent’s name will appear on the baptismal certificate.