Baptism Requirements

Parents must be able to give assurance that their child will be raised in the practice of the Catholic faith. Through baptism, parents are accepting the responsibility of gifting their Catholic faith to their child.

Prior to presenting their child for Baptism, parents and godparents should attend a baptismal preparation class. Requirements for choosing godparents for your child are listed in the "Godparents" section below. Baptismal preparation class at St. Michael is valid for 4 years starting in March of 2019. Mothers, we recommend that you and your party attend the preparation session in your 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy so that there is plenty of time to get everything in order.

We offer the classes on the 2^nd Tuesday evening of each month from 6:30 – 9:00 pm in Activity Building Room 1. Child care is available, free of charge, in the nursery down the hall. If you have any children under 1 year old, you may bring them into class with you. The next opportunity for this class is July 9, 2019. After that, we will offer the class on August 13, 2019.

Registration is required prior to attending a session. Please fill out the Infant Baptism Inquiry Form in the main "Baptism" tab (link found on the left-hand side of the page) and you will be contacted about the next steps you need to take. 

In order to baptize your child at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, you should be registered parishioners or live within the parish boundaries. If you have a question about your registration, please contact the receptionist at (713) 621-4370.

Baptism, and all sacraments, are communal, and touch us as members of a community. They affect not just the individual who receives them, but Christ's whole body--the Church. When something happens to the Church (to paraphrase St. Paul), it happens to the individual as well. Therefore, the rites insist that the sacraments be celebrated in the Christian assembly, with the community present and actively participating. The grace of the sacraments is the grace of the Church in service to others.

Thus, baptisms are conducted during the weekend Masses. Space is limited. Parents may register for a Baptism Liturgy upon completion of the Baptism Preparation Session, paperwork, and the birth of the child. Baptism dates are available on a first come, first serve basis. You cannot schedule the Baptism until all preparation requirements are met and we have all required documents: 1. A copy of your child's birth certificate. 2. Baptism Information Form. 3. Proof of attendance at a Baptism Preparation Session. 4. Signed copies of the Commitment to Serve as Godparents affidavits. You can access all of the documents you need to fill out in the "Paperwork" tab.

To be chosen as a godparent is a very special honor. Godparents assist parents in bringing Jesus and His teachings to their godchildren, and in doing so represent the Catholic community. Above all others, godparents are entrusted with the responsibility of participating in their godchildren’s Christian life and education.
 

WHO CAN BE A GODPARENT?

When a godparent lives a Christian life in partnership with their godchild, both of them will experience the great joy of sharing a life of faith. To help ensure this, godparents must meet Canon Law requirements and Diocesan Guidelines:

1.  A child must have one godparent, but may have up to one godmother and one godfather.
2.  Any godparent must be 16 years of age or older and be a practicing Catholic, and cannot be 
     the parent of the child. 
     - Inspired by the Gospel and sustained by God’s grace, a practicing Catholic gives sincere
       external expression to their interior faith through specific religious, moral, and ethical
       behavior, which is in accordance with the teaching of Christ and the Catholic
       Church. Despite weaknesses and personal sinfulness, a practicing Catholic decides to
       make only those substantive life choices which follow the “Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn
       14:6) of Christ.
3.  Godparents must have received all three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Eucharist,
      and Confirmation.
4.  Godparents must live sacramental lives, i.e. attending Mass at least every Sunday, receiving
      Communion, making use of the sacrament of Reconciliation frequently
5.  Godparents must be registered members of a Catholic parish.
6.  Godparents may not be living a life of habitual sin.
7.  If married, godparents must either be in a valid Catholic marriage, or their marriage must be
     convalidated by the Catholic Church.
8.  If single, godparents cannot be cohabitating.
9.  Godparents must have the intention of undertaking the ministry of a godparent.

A non-Catholic Christian may serve as a Christian Witness along with one Catholic godparent only. A Christian Witness must be at least 16 years of age and have received a Trinitarian Baptism (Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit) and be practicing his/her faith in a non-Catholic, Christian denomination. A Christian Witness needs to understand his/her responsibility in being a faithful Christian example for his/her godchild. If a parent or godparent fails in his/her responsibility to raise the child Catholic, the Christian Witness is required to attend Mass every Sunday with his/her godchild, take his/her godchild to faith formation programs and classes, pray with his/her godchild, etc.
 

HOW TO BE A GOOD GODPARENT

We strongly encourage the godparents and Christian Witnesses to attend the baptism session with the parents so that they are fully formed to undertake the task ahead of them and sign a Commitment form. Being a Godparent is a lifelong privilege, and the class will help you prepare them to do the best job they can. The salvation of the godchild is partially the Godparent's responsibility, so we want to make sure they are fully formed for the task that lies ahead.

There are many ways you can nurture this spiritual relationship and become a special friend to your godchild:

-  Pray for your godchild daily.
-  Celebrate the anniversary of this holy day of Baptism each year with a visit or a card. As your godchild grows, listen to and share in the struggles and triumphs of living a Christian life and keep yourself informed on Catholic doctrine and values to be able to answer questions as they arise.
-  Encourage a consistent life of faith through special cards, letters, or gifts, which celebrate holy events - Christmas, Easter, personal growth events, graduation, first job, and engagement.
-  Participate in, or send assurance of prayer, as your godchild receives the other sacraments, particularly, First Communion and Confirmation, which complete initiation into the Church community, and Reconciliation.
-  Be supportive of your godchild’s parents in their role as the primary religious educators of their child.
-  And most importantly, become a model of Catholic living for your godchild, through daily prayer, virtuous living and active participation in parish life and liturgy, particularly weekly Sunday Mass.