Infant Baptism

(English)
In baptism children are incorporated into the saving mystery of Jesus Christ and receive their adoption God’s sons and daughters! Thus the Church strongly encourages parents to baptize their children as soon as possible after birth. This great event requires proper preparation of the children’s parents and even their Godparents.

The infant baptism process applies to children from birth until age 6. For information on baptizing children aged 7 or above please call the parish office at 979-826-2275 and speak with Lucille Pavlock our Director of Religious Education (DRE) for further information.
Generally parents bringing their children for baptism will be members of St. Katharine Drexel parish live within the parish boundaries or have some other connection with St. Katharine Drexel parish. Please call the office at 979-826-2275 and ask to speak with Deacon John for more information.
To better prepare parents and Godparents for baptism, parents are required to attend a baptism class. Godparents are also strongly encouraged to attend. The baptism class is held on the 4th Saturday of the months of February, April, June, August, October and December. Class begins at 9 AM and is held in Room B3. The class will last until approximately 1PM.
Children should NOT attend this class. Parents wanting to attend the classes should call the office no later than 5 days before the Class to schedule their participation.
Parents should be aware of the requirements for Godparents. Godparents must be:

• A baptized Roman Catholic and at least 16 years of age.
• Have received the sacrament of Confirmation.
• Neither the natural nor adoptive parent of the child to be baptized.
• Must practice their Catholic faith and attend Mass on Sunday, missing rarely and only for a serious reason
• Receive the Eucharist regularly.
• If not married not be cohabiting and live according to the moral teachings of the Church. or
• If married be married in the Catholic Church by a priest/deacon or with the proper permission from the Church to be married by a minister of another faith.

At least one Godparent is required; but there may be a maximum of two. If two Godparents are selected then one must be male and the other female. Any and all Godparents must fulfill the requirements listed above.
A baptized non-Christian may be substituted for one of the Godparents. In this case a Catholic Godparent is also required. The Christian Witness is not a Godparent but simply a witness to the baptism.
Christian witnesses must fulfill all of the following requirements.

• Never have been a Roman Catholic.
• A baptized Christian at least sixteen years of age.
• Practicing their faith and attending church regularly.
• Neither the natural nor adoptive parent of the child to be baptized.

We look forward to seeing you at our Baptism Class.