To schedule a baptism (please register as parishioners if needed or obtain permission from your parish), please contact Ginny: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri between 4pm and 7:30pm and Tuesdays between 2pm and 7:30pm. 860.628.4713
About
The Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of our Christian life, the gateway to life in the Holy Spirit, and the door which allows us to experience the other sacraments of the church. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God. By being baptized, we become members of the Catholic Church and our parish family.
Children are normally baptized within a few months after birth. Baptisms are held for registered members of the parish on most Sundays, except during the Season of Lent. Parents and godparents are required to participate in a preparation meeting prior to the baptism. If you would like to register your child for baptism, please call the Parish Office on 860-628-4713.
Please be aware that the Roman Catholic Church has specific requirements for godparents (sponsors) because of their role and responsibilities in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. For more information, check the Sponsor page.
Godparent/ Sponsor Qualifications
(For a Child Younger than the Age of Reason)
To learn how to obtain a sponsor form please continue.
Choosing a godparent is an important decision that parents must make when choosing to baptize and raise a child in the faith of the Catholic Church. A godparent, also known as a sponsor, is a representative of the Church and a faith mentor whose role is to support the parents in raising the child in the faith of the Church, and to help the baptized to live a life of faith in keeping with the obligations connected with baptism.
Canonical Requirements – A sponsor must
- Be designated by the parents;
- Be a practicing Catholic, age 16 or older;
- Have received his or her Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist);
- Live a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; (Examples: attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation; regularly receive the Eucharist; if living a conjugal relationship, the partners must be married, with the marriage having been officiated by or subsequently validated by a Roman Catholic priest or deacon.)
- Not be bound by canonical penalty; (infrequently incurred for notorious acts)
- Be neither the father nor the mother of the child.
Other Considerations
- The sponsor (and Christian witness, if applicable) must obtain a Sponsor Certificate from the parish in which they are registered and active. A minimum of one sponsor (godparent) is necessary.
- A minimum of one sponsor (godparent) is necessary.
- Two godparents may be designated, one of each sex.
- A person baptized in a non-Catholic Christian community, who actively practices his or her faith, may be a Christian witness alongside a Catholic godparent. (Please note that a person baptized in the Catholic Church, that has left the faith for another Christian tradition, or is non-practicing, cannot be a Christian witness.)
- A member of a separated Eastern Church may be a sponsor alongside a Catholic godparent. (Examples: Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox.) (DAPNE 98.b)
- A sponsor may at times be represented by proxy. (Example: the sponsor lives distant from the candidate and cannot travel to the place of baptism.)
As you can see, the role of a sponsor is not merely honorary. A sponsor should be prepared to accept a lifelong and active role in the faith formation of the child. If a prospective godparent is having difficulty obtaining a sponsor certificate from his or her geographical parish, please notify the office quickly so that the matter can be addressed.