Baptisms for children under the age of 7 may take place almost any weekend of the year after a Sunday Mass (including Saturday evening Vigil Mass).
Baptisms for children age 7 and over require a special class in which they will get all their Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation) following at least a year-long preparation that begins each fall. The preparation may be longer if the pastor and instructors consider it necessary (i.e., if the parents aren't participating in the process, or the child is missing too many classes, etc.).
Parents do not have to be married or together for their child to be baptized, but their should be some meaningful living of a life of faith (Baptism isn't just something we "do"). If both parents share custody, there must be agreement that baptism can happen. Children under the care of legal guardians may be baptized by consent of the legal guardian(s).
Godparents aren't required, but certainly strongly encouraged. Only one is necessary, but if there are two, there must be one man and one woman.
Godparents must be living an active Catholic life: if they're married, they must be married in the Catholic Church; they cannot be cohabitating (living together with someone outside of sacramental marriage); they must be at least 16 and have had all their Sacraments of Initiation (see above); they must be currently registered at this or their home parish for at least 3 months.
If your child does not carry the name of saint as his or her first or middle name, please consult with the pastor to select one. This is required in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Parents and godparents must attend a baptismal class prior to the baptism. Such classes are offered at the OLOS parish hall every third Thursday of each month beginning at 7pm. Classes offered at other Catholic churches are acceptable, and a certificate must be provided to the office. If the class is missed, the baptism must be postponed until this obligation has been met.
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Why Baptism?
Baptism is the start of a beautiful relationship between a soul and Our Lord. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “Holy baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” (#1213)
In other words, Baptism is a big deal and should be taken very seriously. This is much more than a family tradition or a big party. A child becomes an adopted son or daughter of God and officially begins their membership in the Church. In Baptism, parents and Godparents make a promise to God to raise this child in the faith and to be their primary teachers and examples of all that it means to be Catholic. God takes promises made to Him very seriously, so we should understand fully what we’re asking of the Church by having a child baptized.
The Resurrected Jesus told His disciples to “Go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matthew 28:19] It’s the doorway to faith in and relationship with Jesus. Parents and Godparents make this act of faith on behalf of infants and children; adults make it for themselves. Jesus made holy the waters of Baptism when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Here, He gave us a preview of His death and Resurrection, and a pattern for us to follow:
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
~ St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 6:3-4
In other words, when someone is placed into the water or has water poured over his/her head, they are symbolically buried in death with Jesus and then raised to new life with Him, in Him, and through Him by His Resurrection. They become a new creation!
Baptism is the start of a beautiful relationship between a soul and Our Lord. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “Holy baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” (paragraph #1213)
“When we register with a parish we are saying that it is our wish to travel down [the] road of Life and Faith with that particular community of people by becoming active in its mission and vision and supporting it. In fact, the word parish comes from the Greek word "paroikia" meaning "a pilgrim people," a people on a journey of faith; a journey that we hope one day will lead to the fullness of life in God's Kingdom forever.”
In short, you’re becoming part of a family that is united by something more important than blood – it’s one united in baptism!
If you are not registered, there is a three-month waiting period before the baptism can happen. This gives you an opportunity to become a more fully engaged member of the parish. Attending Mass regularly at OLOS or having received your sacraments at OLOS does not necessarily mean that you’re registered as a parishioner. If you receive and use collection envelopes each year, you are registered and are automatically updated each year. If you do not use envelopes, you must renew your registration each year (which is as easy as a phone call). If you are over 18, you must be registered on your own. The office staff can help you with registration.