Baptism

We are delighted to welcome you to a beautiful, grace-filled journey of preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism! At St. Clare of Assisi, we walk alongside families as they prepare for this sacred sacrament. Through our baptismal preparation program, parents are supported in their role as the primary educators of faith, with opportunities for prayer, reflection, and community. Together, we celebrate this joyful step in your child’s journey of faith, united in Christ and His Church.

Please allow ample time to complete this planning. Expectant mothers are encouraged to contact the office before their baby is born and attend a baptism class in their 7th-8th month of pregnancy. We strongly recommend that babies are baptized within 6 weeks of being born.

Guidelines:

• Parents wishing to baptize their child must be registered active members of St. Clare of Assisi parish for 3 months prior to the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.
• Parents wishing to baptize their child(ren), are invited to meet with Kate Curran, our Director of Faith Formation. A Baptism Registration Form will be sent to you for completion after you have scheduled your visit with Kate.
• A Baptismal Preparation Class must be attended at St. Clare of Assisi or another Catholic parish within the last 2 years. (This class is usually offered monthly)
• Complete a Godparent/Sponsor form. Only Catholics who know their faith and live up to the duties of their religion should be chosen as godparents for Baptism. Please see guidelines for eligible godparents below.

This journey strengthened my faith!

Attending the Claim baptism class was a profoundly moving experience for me. It deepened my understanding of baptism and its significance in our identity as children of God. The combination of in-person discussions and at-home activities beautifully wove together the story of God’s love and the gift of baptism—an indelible mark on our souls. This journey not only strengthened my faith but also made me even more excited to have my daughter baptized, knowing the beauty and grace of this sacrament.

Crystal Mollineaux

Parishioner

For questions in Spanish, please contact Hohanna Holcomb at hholcomb@stclarecc.org.

Requirements to be a Godparent

A godparent should be a confirmed Catholic who is at least 16 years of age, who faithfully practices and believes in the Catholic faith as a participating member of a parish community and if married, were married in the Catholic Church.

How many godparents should there be?

Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been a tradition to have two.

What gender should the godparent be?

If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female.

Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent?

A baptized, non-Catholic may serve as an “official witness” to the baptism only if there is a proper Catholic sponsor who fully meets all requirements of a godparent. The non-Catholic who is selected as a witness should be an active and participating member of his/her church community. During the baptism, a non-Catholic witness may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. His or her name will be entered into the Sacrament Record Book as an “official witness,” together with the name of the godparent.

What is the difference between a godparent and a witness?

Canon (Church) Law describes a witness as “A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community.” A godparent is a confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.

Can someone serve as godparent by proxy (stand-in) if the godparent is unable to participate in the baptism ceremony?

If a godparent cannot attend the baptism ceremony, a proxy can stand in the place of the missing godparent. The name of that person will be entered as “proxy” in the Sacramental Record Book, along with the name of the missing godparent.