Baptism of Children at St. Francis Xavier Church

Requirements for the
baptism of a child

– If you are not a registered parishioner and you want to baptize your child at Xavier, please contact our pastor Fr. Kenneth Boller, SJ.

– We ask you to present a copy of the child ’s birth certificate so that the place and date of birth may be noted appropriately.

– We ask you to complete a baptismal information form in which you list the child ’s name, your own names as parents and the names of your chosen God-parents or sponsors.  Because the listing of baptism is a legal document, we need to have the father’s full name and the mother’s name with the maiden name.  The baptism certificate and record will follow this requirement.

Baptismal information form
 
-- We ask that parents and God-parents take part in a baptismal class either here at St.  Francis Xavier Parish or at another church. At St.  Francis Xavier, courses are offered on Zoom the first Saturday of every month from 10:30 am to 11:45 am.
Zoom Link:
https://sfxavierparish.zoom.us/j/95891057876?pwd=T1gyQTVaZEVZVkNnc0NZQjNDb29idz09
Meeting ID: 958 9105 7876
Password: 956606 
 
-- Finally, from the General Instruction for Christian Initiation: “As far as possible, all recently born babies should be baptized at a common celebration on the same day. Except for a good reason, baptism should not be celebrated more than once on the same day in the same church.” (GICI, 27)

Parents and God-parents/sponsors at infant baptism

The parents are the primary teachers when infants are baptized into the Church. Their own faith, their own growth in love and their own sense of values are what is most evident to their children as they grow.
God-parents are usually taken from family and friends.  At least one of the Godparents must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic in good standing, and therefore serve also as a sponsor for the Church. A Christian of other traditions may also be considered as a God-parent, but cannot serve as a sponsor.  Non-baptized persons may stand in as support. God-parents are listed in the baptismal records.
 
 

Schedule for infant baptisms

Once a month, we offer a communal baptism service.  This is held on Saturday morning at 10:30 am.  This baptism service is a complete service involving parents, God-parents, family members and friends. During Lent, however, we prefer not to celebrate baptisms except in an emergency situation. No baptisms can be celebrated between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. For communal baptism service contact Luz Marina Díaz [email protected]

Private baptisms are only in case of emergency or a serious reason. may take place when the church is available if you provide your own priest to preside at the christening. SFX priests may be available, but you must contact them individually. Note, however, the provision above about not having more than one baptism in a given day in the church. Two or more seeking a baptism on the same day, even if they ask for a private baptism, will have to have the baptisms together.

For private baptisms contact Fr. Kenneth Boller, SJ at kboller@sfxavier.org

Finally, baptism will rarely take place at Sunday Mass.  That will be only for registered parishioners, and only at the 9:00 am Mass.  There the baptism is integrated into the Sunday mass, with only the main elements employed.
 

A suggested offering

To the extent that one can, an offering of $200.00 is suggested for the baptism of a child at the communal service.  For a private baptism or a baptism at the Sunday Mass, the suggested offering is $300.00.  However, no child will be refused baptism for financial reasons.
 

The Baptismal Service

-- An introductory ritual that asks for the name of the child and the intent of the parents who bring the child.  There is an address to the child that leads to the signing of the cross by the priest, the parents, and the God-parents.

-- A liturgy of the word and a brief homily.

– Pre-baptismal rituals, which include a brief litany which will include the names of those being baptized, a prayer of exorcism and  a first anointing with the oil of the catechumens (the later is optional.)   The child is now a disciple of Christ, ready to listen to Christ’s word and way of life.

– At the font, the water is blessed for the baptism itself.

– The assembly then renews its own baptismal promises with a renunciation of sin and the profession of the creed.

– The question is asked if the parents wish to have their child baptized in the faith of the Church.

– The baptism and post-baptismal anointing

--A candle is given, the light that comes from Christ

--A prayer to open the ears and eyes

--The Lord’s Prayer and blessing – which may take place at the altar
 

Baptism integrated within a Eucharistic liturgy

– Parents, God-parents, and child may enter in procession between the ministers and the presider. These take their place in the section opposite the choir.

– The baptism takes place after the homily. First, the water is blessed with a simple blessing. The whole assembly renews its baptismal promises with the profession of faith; the parents are asked if they wish to baptize their child in the faith of the Church. The baptism then takes place.

-- Applause and return to seats for the Eucharistic liturgy

-- Before the final blessing, a candle is given, symbolizing the light of Christ
The child will now be catechized by learning the ways of the faith from parents, God-parents and the whole church.

No more than six children are baptized in each service.
The baptism information form indicates how many spots are available
for each service.

Year 2020

19 - Sep - 20~ 10 am
19 - Sep - 20~ 11 am  

17 - Oct - 20 ~10 am
17 - Oct - 20 ~11 am

21 - Nov - 20 ~10 am
21 - Nov - 20~ 11 am

For adults, the Rite of Christian Initiation as Adults (RCIA) invites women and men to baptism in the Catholic Church, and all baptized Christians seeking confirmation and full communion as Catholics.

Please refer the RCIA page for complete details.