Infant Baptism
Baptisms are scheduled once a month usually on the third Sunday of the month at 1 pm, unless there is a conflict with another holiday. Up to four babies (or children) will be scheduled per date. Please contact the office and speak with Rose or Donna to begin the process.
Please follow these guidelines to schedule your baby’s baptism:
Parents call the office at 516.628.1113 to complete intake paperwork over the phone. Please have the date you have in mind, the Godparents’ names and if they are baptized Catholics and have received Confirmation. (In the case of a Christian Witness, they need to be baptized in their own Christian denomination.)
The parents will asked if they are registered in the parish or if they would like to join the parish, and if so, they can either be mailed a registration form or complete it over the phone at the time of the call. It is optional.
Rose will then mail a packet with various forms, including the Godparent Sponsor forms, which the parent will give to each Godparent. The Godparents then complete the Sponsor form, on which they attest to their good standing in the church by signing it in front of the pastor at their own local parish.
Role of the Godparents
The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church.
According to the Church, “One to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who is to assist an adult in Christian initiation, or, together with the parents, to present an infant at the baptism, and who will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it.”
The godparent must have the intention of being a godparent and also meet proper qualifications. He or she must be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, be at least 16 years of age, and “lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken.” Moreover, the godparent cannot be impeded by some canonical penalty. Note that the mother and father of the child cannot serve as sponsors. (Also note that these are the same requirements for Confirmation sponsors.)
Strictly speaking, a person only needs one godparent for Baptism – male or female, but may have two sponsors, one male and one female. A Catholic who does not practice the faith by regularly attending Mass or who is in an invalid marriage disqualifies himself or herself from being a godparent. Remember, a godparent is to be a good example and witness to the faith. If a person is not striving to fulfill his own obligations of Baptism and Confirmation, he or she will not fulfill the responsibilities of helping another to do so. Parents need to find good practicing Catholics for godparents. Godparents should be faithful individuals who are ready to accept the responsibility of being a part of a godchild’s life for the rest of his or her life.
What if someone would like to have a faithful Protestant friend as a sponsor? Only Catholics can be godparents. A Christian of another denomination, however, may be a “Christian Witness” to the baptism along with the Catholic godparent. The reason for this distinction is that the godparent not only is taking responsibility for the religious education and spiritual formation of the baptized person, but also is representing the Church, the community of faith, into which the person is being baptized. A Christian who is not Catholic, although perhaps a very holy Christian, cannot fully attest to the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Likewise, a Catholic can only be a Christian Witness for someone who is baptized into another Christian denomination. In all, godparents serve a special role in the life of the baptized person. Therefore, parents should choose a Godparent to act as a trustworthy witness of the faith and to be a model of a follower of Christ.
If planning a baptism, godparent sponsor forms, along with the $50 offering, should be returned to the parish office at least 10 days prior to the baptism. This will ensure the parents receive the baptismal certificate at the baptism.
Parents who have not had another child christened at St. Gertrude’s will be required to take a one-hour baptism class approximately a week prior to the baptism, set up with our coordinator Nancy Oxer. She will email you and you can set it up at your mutual convenience.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email Rose or Donna at the office, both of whom will be happy to guide you through the process.
Finally, please take a copy of the parish bulletin the day of the baptism with your baby’s full name listed as our newest member. God bless your baby and your entire family as you join our Catholic community!
Adult Baptism
If you’re an adult seeking Baptism or thinking about becoming Christian, your next step is enrolling in our Adult Formation program (OCIA). Click here to visit the Becoming Catholic: OCIA page.
