Baptism
Baptism Preparation
Before filling out the Baptism Request Form below, we invite you to read about the process of preparation for Baptism in St. Maximilian Kolbe Pastorate.
Give thanks for the gift of Baptism.
The desire to seek out Baptism is in itself a great gift from God. Give Him thanks for bringing you and your child to this place of encounter with the Lord in the Catholic Church. Through the gift of Baptism, the Holy Spirit will live in their soul, and they will be made a child of God, a member of the Church, and be set free from original sin!
Take your own Catholic faith seriously.
To raise your child in the faith, it is of great importance that you are living it well! Practicing the Catholic faith and living it well includes attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation, going to Confession regularly, praying each day, and growing in a deeper knowledge of your Catholic faith. All parents will be asked to bring in 4 consecutive bulletins demonstrating regular Mass attendance before scheduling the Baptism.
Reach out to the parish.
Let us know that you have a child that needs to be Baptized by completing the Baptism Request Form linked below. When we have received your response, we will schedule a meeting with you and a priest or staff member to share more about how we can help you prepare for your child’s Baptism.
Pray about who could be great Godparents.
Sponsors (also known as Godparents) are very important in one's faith journey. The decision of who to choose as a Godparent is not one to take lightly. Beyond being present on the day of Baptism, a sponsor helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with Baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. This is intended to be a lifelong relationship!
Before filling out the form below and sharing who you have selected for Godparents, learn more about this special role below by reading the relevant FAQ and watching the video on the Role of Godparents.
Sponsors must have their parish’s priest sign their Sponsor Form before scheduling the Baptism.
Attend a Baptism preparation class.
New parents in our Pastorate are required to attend a Baptism class.
Schedule your Baptism.
Once bulletins are submitted, sponsor forms are received, and you have registered for a Baptism class, we will work with you to schedule a date. Baptisms typically happen after Masses on the 2nd & 4th weekend of the month.
Bring your children up in the practice of the faith.
At Baptism, parents are told: On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in their hearts. That’s a high calling, and in our Pastorate, we want to walk with you and help on the journey of raising your children in the faith. We hope this is the start of a lifelong journey together of spiritual growth and faithfulness.
Common Questions About Baptism
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While there is never a wrong time to seek out Baptism for your child, we would encourage you to reach out to the parish by the midway point in your pregnancy.
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Sponsors (also known as godparents) are very important in one's faith journey. The decision of who to choose as a godparent is not one to take lightly. Beyond being present on the day of Baptism, a sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with Baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. This is intended to be a lifelong relationship!
A godparent may be either male or female, but if you have two godparents, one must be male and the other must be female. Godparents may not be the parent.
Each child must have at least one godparent who is:
at least 16 years of age and fully initiated in the Catholic Church, having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion.
attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligations.
receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion with regularity.
sincerely trying to follow the moral teaching of the Catholic Church in daily life.
(if married) married validly according to Catholic teachings.
(if single) living a celibate life, not cohabitating with another person.
A Sponsor Form signed by the sponsor’s parish priest must be turned in before the Baptism is scheduled. Sponsors from St. Maximilian Kolbe Pastorate still need to meet with one of the priests to have their form signed.
Young Family Connections
Welcoming New Little Ones
Moms throughout the Pastorate would love to support other families as they welcome new babies into their families by providing meals! Send us an email or fill out this Google Form, and we will connect with you about your preferences and how to best support you during this exciting time.
Connecting with Other Young Moms
We have a Facebook Group for Moms of Infants and Children in the Pastorate. We would love for you to join and create community with other moms in the same state of life. If you don’t have Facebook, email Katie to be added to the list for updates and to get connected with other moms.