Baptism
Baptismal Preparation / Preparación Baptismal
Parents/Padres
English: Call the office to schedule a class time. (828)464-9207
***Children must be under 7 years old (under the age of reason).
Español: Registrarse con Alejo y Wendoly Diaz (828)781-0462; (828)291-6462
~Las clases de preparación para el bautismo en español se impartirán los siguientes martes en el salón parroquial de 6 a 9 p. m.
23 de septiembre de 2025
25 de noviembre de 2025
27 de enero de 2026
Una vez completadas las clases de preparación para el bautismo para padres y padrinos y enviados los formularios, los bautismos se pueden programar de la siguiente manera: El primer y tercer sábado de cada mes a las 11:00 a. m. en español., en la oficina parroquial.
***Niños deben tener menos de siete años (bajo la edad de razon).
Godparents/Padrinos:
~ Married Catholic Godparents or at least one Practicing Catholic OR
~ Single: practicing Confirmed Catholic at least 16 years of age
~ Diocesan forms signed by pastors (of the parish you attend) consenting they are practicing Catholics and can be godparents.
~ Padrinos católicos casados en la iglesia y practicantes de la fe
~ Si es soltero: católico practicante y al menos 16 años de edad y confirmados en la fe Católica
~ Formas Diocesanas firmadas por el Párroco de la parroquia donde asisten a misa da consentimiento que son Católicos practicantes.
Diocesan Forms/Formas Diocesanas:
About Baptism
The sacrament of baptism ushers us into the divine life, cleanses us from sin, and initiates us as members of the Christian community. It is the foundation for the sacramental life.
At baptism, the presider prays over the water:
Freed from Sin
Baptism frees us from the bondage of original and actual sin. Water is poured in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today, the sacrament of baptism is often performed on infants shortly after birth. Adult baptisms occur at the Easter Vigil through the restored Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Adults or children baptized in a valid Christian church are not baptized again in the Catholic church. As the Nicene Creed says, “I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”
The Catechism teaches:
Baptismal Symbols
– Water: The waters of baptism recall Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. Water symbolizes cleansing and renewal as we begin a new life in Christ. We are washed clean of sin.
– Oil: At baptism, we are anointed into the life of Christ as “priest, prophet, and king.” A cross is traced on the candidate’s forehead as a reminder that we are inheritors of the Kingdom of God.
– Light: The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal or Easter candle in the church as a sign of Christ’s light in the world. At baptism, we receive the light of Christ and are called forth to share this light with the world.
– White garment: The white garment placed upon us at baptism symbolizes Christ’s victory over death and his glorious resurrection. Likewise, the white garment or pall placed over the coffin at the time of death recalls our baptismal promises and reminds us that we are destined for eternal life.
While in ordinary circumstances, sacraments in the Catholic Church are administered validly by a member of the ordained clergy, in an emergency, the sacrament of baptism can be administered by anyone.
The Role of Godparents
As you begin to prepare for your child’s baptism, one of your first decisions will be the selection of godparents. Prior to inviting a relative or close friend to assume the role of godparent, it is important for you to understand what our church teaches. Choosing godparents can be a sensitive issue, but a greater understanding of the role of a godparent may help you in this matter. Godparents play a very important role in your child’s spiritual life and should serve as role models of the faith.
Your child should be able to look to their godparents as an example of how the church teaches us to live our Catholic faith. They should support you in your work to teach your child our Catholic faith.
Here are some guidelines to help parents choose the best possible godparents for their children.
What are the Requirements for Godparents?
Canon 872 and 874 of the code of Canon Law lists these requirements for valid and lawful sponsorship in Baptism. Canon 873 states one sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.
The godparent’s role is to assist the person in Christian initiation. In the case of an infant baptism, the role is, together with the parents, to present the child for baptism and to help it to live a Christian life befitting the baptized.
A non-Catholic Christian may serve as a “Christian witness” at the baptism, provided there is a Catholic godparent present. However, a non-Catholic cannot be a godparent.
Baptismal Process Overview for Godparents
- Take a Baptism Preparation Class and provide a Certificate of Completion to the St. Joseph Faith Formation Director and submit the completed the Godparent Verification Form of eligibility from his/her pastor attesting that he/she meets the requirements outlined below.
Each godparent for baptism must meet all of the following:
1. Be at least sixteen (16) years of age.
2. Be a fully initiated Catholic (must have received all three sacraments of initiation, baptism, confirmation and Eucharist).
3. Be a practicing Catholic and a Catholic in good standing who leads a life of faith necessary to fulfill the responsibility of being a sponsor.
4. Be a registered member of a parish in the area where he or she lives.
5. Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
6. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid marriage. Married according to the laws and regulations of the Catholic Church, which means that they were married by a Catholic priest or obtained an official permission for getting married outside of the Catholic Church.
8. If single, may not be cohabiting with someone without the benefit of marriage.
9. May not be the father or the mother of the person to be baptized.
Responsibilities of a Godparent
A godparent’s responsibilities extend far beyond standing with the family at church. A godparent is expected to be a spiritual guide for the child.
Whether the child is a blood relative or the child of a close friend, the expectation is that every effort will be made to get to know your godchild well and help the parents by sharing your faith with the child in every way possible, from the day of the baptismal ceremony to all the days beyond.
For more information, contact Kara Antonio, Faith Formation Director, at (828) 464-9207 or office@stjosephdoc.org
About Us
Guided by the example of St. Joseph, we are a welcoming parish dedicated to living the Gospel and sharing Christ’s love with all.
Through the sacraments, faith formation, and outreach, we seek to grow as disciples and be a source of hope and light to others.
Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, new to the faith, or searching for a spiritual home, we invite you to join us and experience the joy of belonging to a caring, faith-filled family.
St. Joseph
Hours
Monday, Tuesday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 1:00PM – 8:00PM
Contact
720 W 13th St Newton, North Carolina, United States