TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR BAPTISM AT ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE:
-The parent(s) will need to register in person in the Parish Office during open hours.
-The child’s Birth Certificate must be present at the time of registration. We are unable to process the registration if the Birth Certificate is not present.
-A donation of $50.00 per child at time of registration. (Donation is not refundable)
-Parents and Godparents are required to attend a Baptism preparation class, if you have already attended a class in the last 12 months you can submit the certificate of attendance to [email protected]
-Godparents must have received all the Sacraments of Initiation in order to qualify to be a godparent and must present a Confirmation certificate (if single), and if they are married they must also present a Marriage certificate from the catholic church they were married in.
Baptisms are held the 1st Saturday of the Month at 10:00 am in Spanish and the 3rd Saturday of the month in English in the Main Sanctuary. There are no Baptisms during the Season of Lent.
DIOCESE OF FRESNO POLICY FOR RECEPTION OF BAPTISM AND CATHOLIC CODE OF CANON LAW* FOR RECEPTION OF BAPTISM
For infant baptism:
-Infants should be baptized soon after birth, but sufficient time is necessary for the proper instruction.
-Children who are seven years of age or older must receive instruction in the Church before being baptized.
-The ordinary place for baptism is in the parish church attended by the parents.
-One of the parents or a legal guardian must request baptism.
-There must be a founded hope that the child baptized will be brought up in the Catholic religion.
-Godparents must have received Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist, should be at least 16 years of age, and should be practicing Catholics who are able to give the example of a good Catholic life.
-There are normally to be two godparents, one man and one woman. If they are couple, must be married in the Catholic church.
-A baptized non-Catholic may not be a godparent but may be an official witness** to the baptism, as long as there is one Catholic godparent.
-Baptism is not to be conferred until parents and godparents have attended pre-baptismal instruction. The responsibilities of parents and godparents are to be reviewed, as well as preparation for the celebration of the rite of baptism.
Children who are seven years of age or older must enroll for the appropriate RCIA program according to their age before being baptized.
*Canon Law is a code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church.*
**Witnesses will not be named on the Baptism Certificate**