The Sacrament of Baptism is the gateway to all the other sacraments, and as such is the first step of becoming a Christian. Jesus taught His Disciples to baptize with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Adults who were never baptized or were baptized with questionable validity typically partake in a formation process called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Children who have not yet reached the age of reason (typically around the age of 7) may be baptized as infants with their parents speaking for them.
Baptism itself does several things: it cleanses our soul from the stain of Original Sin; removes any personal sins we may have committed as older children or adults; infuses the life of grace into the soul of the recipient, imparting the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity; and leaves an indelible character on our immortal soul, marking us as a Christian.
Please contact us for more information on this vital and life-changing sacrament.
Godparents for Baptism
A child to be baptized is to have a godparent who together with the parent(s) presents the child for baptism. A godparent must be Catholic and is to assist the parent(s) in the raising of their child in the Catholic faith.
A child to be baptized only needs one godparent. If two godparents are desired, a godfather and a godmother may be chosen, one male and one female.
To be eligible to take on the role of godparent a person must:
- be selected by the one to be baptized, or by their parent(s)/ legal guardian(s).
- be at least 16 years old.
- be a Catholic who has been baptized, confirmed, and has received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. They must live a life of faith and should practice the Catholic faith regularly.
- not be bound by any canonical penalty such as being married outside of the Catholic Church.
- not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
Any Catholic, who has separated themselves from the Church, even if they now are active members in another Christian Church or community, may not serve as a godparent.
(Reference: Code of Canon Law, Canon 872-874)
Choosing Godparents outside of Our Lady of Hope Family of Parishes
Candidates for Godparent who are not parishioners at either of Our Lady of Hope Parishes, must complete the Certificate of Eligibility for Catholic Godparents . The godparent is to complete the top portion, and his or her pastor signs the bottom portion of the form.
Spanish Baptism
Baptisms are offered at St. Francis in Spanish. Please contact Herminia Torres at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a Baptism in Spanish.
Scheduling Baptism for Your Child
To schedule a Baptism at St. Francis or St. Philip, please call the parish office. Parents who have not had a child baptized at either parish will need to take a Baptism Preparation class prior to scheduling baptism for their child (register for a Baptism Prep class using the online form below).