Baptism

Baptism, the door to life and to the kingdom of God… is the sacrament by which its recipients are incorporated into the Church and are built up together in the Spirit into a house where God lives, into a holy nation and a royal priesthood.

General Introduction to the Rite of Baptism for Children

The celebration of baptism for infants and children who have not yet reached the age of reason, typically age 6, takes place regularly at Holy Angels on Sundays following the 11:00 am liturgy.  Adults and children older than age 6 should journey through the OCIA process.

Parents expecting their first child or those who have never participated in a pre-Baptism program must attend a parish Baptism Preparation session prior to the baptism.  Godparents are expected to be in attendance as well.  Baptism Preparation is offered at Holy Angels quarterly in March, June, September, and December.  
To register for a class and schedule a baptism, or for further information, call the Parish Office at 440-708-0000.

What are the requirements for godparents?

Godparents must be practicing Catholics, age 16 and older, who have been fully initiated into the faith through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.  By practicing, it is meant that they are registered at a parish, actively and consistently practice their faith, and exhibit qualities of faith worthy of imitation to the child being baptized.  If married, the marriage must be recognized as valid by the Church, meaning that it was witnessed by a priest or deacon.  Parents cannot act as godparents for their own children.

Ideally, there should be one Catholic Godmother and one Catholic Godfather. The Godfather must be a biologic male and the Godmother a biologic female.  At least one of the Godparents must be a practicing Catholic.  A non-Catholic may take the place of one of the Godparents as a Christian Witness but must be of the same gender.  A Christian Witness must also have been baptized into their faith tradition and be practicing their faith.  An individual who was baptized Catholic but has left the Catholic faith to join another Christian denomination is NOT permitted to act as a Christian Witness.

Can I request a specific priest or deacon as the presider?

Yes. Please make arrangements through the Parish Office.  Visiting priests and deacons may require prior approval.

Can the baptism take place during a Sunday mass?

Baptisms during a regularly scheduled Mass celebration may take place at the discretion of the Pastor and are normally reserved for active members of the Holy Angels faith community while also taking into consideration other liturgical events.   Baptisms are typically performed on Sunday, by tradition.   Alternative weekend times must be approved by the pastor and arranged with the presiding priest/deacon.

Is there a fee for baptism?

There is no fee for Baptism.   It is a long-standing custom to offer the presider a stipend after the baptism; however, there is no obligation or expectation to pay for receiving the sacrament.