THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Through Baptism, the faithful are destined for the worship of the Catholic religion.

1. Parents of children to be baptized should be active members of Our Lady Queen of the World Parish.
   
   
2. Parents should be baptized and practicing Catholics, attending mass on a regular basis. They should also be in a valid marriage (which means they were married in a Catholic Church or had the permission of the Archbishop to marry in another Christian Church). If any of these conditions are not met they will be invited to discuss the possibility of having their union validated in the church they want their child to be part of.
   
   
3. Although Baptisms are not refused at Our Lady Queen of the World, there may be times when they are delayed until various concerns are worked out. Sacraments should not be entered into lightly, or under family pressure, or because they are seem as merely social or cultural events. The Pastor must be sure that a right understanding and a proper disposition towards the sacrament is evident before they can proceed. We are not looking for perfection from our parents but a reasonable assurance that the promises they will be making at the Baptismal celebration are meaningful to them and to the faith life of their family.
   
   
4. Godparents are intended as good Catholic witnesses who will help the parents raise their child in the ways of the faith. They should be male and female, to provide a balance and to reflect the primary environment of the Christian home. Godparents must be 16 years of age, baptized, and confirmed, and practicing Catholics. If a person chosen is not Catholic, that person must be a baptized Christian and he/she becomes a Christian witness. They cannot be Muslim, Mormon, Buddhist, Hindu, or any other non-Christian faith.
   
   
5. If a godparent cannot attend the ceremony, a proxy may stand in for them.
   
   
6. An offering of $50 for the baptism, which will be added as a donation for tax purposes, is suggested.
   
   
7. Both parents have to attend a meeting on Christian Spirituality BEFORE a date for Baptism is given. Godparents are invited but it is not a requirement.