WE WELCOME YOUR CHILD TO OUR FAITH COMMUNITY

Every new member of our Christian community is a blessing from God, a new sister or brother in Christ.

Your child's baptism is a time for celebration and joy.  We would like to help you plan and prepare for your child's birth into the Christian community.

Your most important preparation will be to look at your own faith.  Just as you pass onto your child physical traits and mannerisms, so also will you pass on your faith.

Your desire to have your child baptized shows that you recognize the significance of God's presence in your life.  All that you do to help your child grow up in the awareness of God's love will also help you to grow.  As you teach your child to pray, your own life of prayer will deepen.  As you teach your child to appreciate the Mass, your own faith will be enriched.

The Church welcomes your child into our community of faith with love and prayers for your family's happiness.
 

WHAT STEPS DO WE NEED TO TAKE?

As we prepare for your child's baptism we will need:

• Call or email for Initial Meeting - Our first step will be to meet so we can start a file for you and answer any questions you might have.  The meeting will typically be 30 minutes.  We are pretty available for appointments from early mornings through early evenings Monda - Friday, plus Sundays from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.  To set an appointment you can call Yvette at 209-823-7197 ext. 8, or email [email protected].  You will not need to bring any documents for this meeting.

• Godparent Information - In their roles apprenticing your child into the faith, it's important that we have their information and their parish information. Your child can have a godfather or godmother or both. You don't have to have both, but you can't have more than one "official" godmother or godfather.

• Baptism Preparation Sessions - You and your child's godparents will need baptism preparation. There are two sessions to the peparation process.  The First Session is done on-line, so it can be done according to your schedule.  Once you've completed the on-line portion you can come to the in-person session.  English Sessions are generally scheduled the first Sunday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 in the Rec hall (attached to the gym). Spanish Sessions are typically held on the third Sunday of the month.  You can have a Spanish baptism, and take the session(s) in English, (or vica versa), it's the same sacrament.  If you're bilingual you have more choices.  If godparents are from out of town, they can take the sessions at their own parish, it's recommended that you take the classes together. This way you're able to focus on your child, rather than an abstract idea. The fees for the classes are $30.00 for parents and $10.00 for godparents. The total fee is $40.00. We regret that we are unable to provide child care. Please arrange for your children to be cared for at home.

• Date of Baptism - Once we've accomplished the above, we can officially schedule your child's Baptism on the calendar. As a rule, English Baptisms are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 2:30 pm. Spanish Baptisms are generally scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 10:00 am.