The birth of a child is a blessing to the family and to the entire Church!  Among the many things parents will pass on to their child is a religious faith tradition in the Catholic Church.  It is our hope that we will be able to assist them throughout their child's life; but first things first, a child needs to be baptized!  Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments and to heaven. 

If you have a child who needs to be baptized, please read the information below.  This should help answer some initial questions you may have.  If you have more, we will be happy to answer them.

What is required to be baptized at Saint Pascal? 
At least one parent must be Catholic and both must be open to raising the child in the Catholic Faith. This is a promise specifically asked during the baptism ceremony of the parents. If you are not currently regularly practicing your faith by attending Mass on the weekends, this is a perfect time to start. Your child deserves it!

Godparents
The Godparents have an opportunity to be important influences in the life of your child. They are to act as examples, true models of living Christianity. Therefore, it is important that they be people who take their faith seriously. For instance, Catholic Godparents should be registered at their parish and attend Mass regularly. They should also be accessible to your child. In other words, while it might be nice to honor a relative who lives far away, that person may not be able to fulfill the obligations as a Godparent simply because they are not a regular part of your child’s life. One should be a man, the other a woman. At least one Godparent must be Catholic. If the other is not Catholic, that person must be baptized in some Christian denomination. Once the baptism has taken place, it is not possible to change the names at a later date.

Documents
A birth certificate usually needs to be presented. It is easiest to drop off a copy at the rectory. A baptismal certificate will be given to you at the ceremony or will be mailed to you.

Preparation
Call the rectory as soon as you can to schedule the baptism. One baptismal preparation session is required of all families planning a baptism. We urge you to do this early, at least two months before the baptism --- even before your child is born! These take place the first Monday of every month (holidays excluded). Both parents should be present. Do not wait until the last possible session in case of scheduling conflicts. Call the rectory to reserve your place at the session.

Visiting Priests
Visiting priests are welcome to celebrate your child’s baptism. The other preparation requirements still apply.

Times
Baptisms generally take place on the third Sunday of each month at 1:30 PM. Baptisms also take place during the Noon Polish Mass as well. On rare occasions, another time might be necessitated but because baptism is a sacrament of the Church, there is no such thing as a “private baptism.”

Donations
The customary donation for a baptism is $50. This can be made at the baptismal preparation session or the baptism itself. An honorarium for the deacon or priest celebrating the baptism is not required but appreciated.