Sacrament of Baptism
Dead to Sin. Alive to Christ.
Welcome to the Family
Baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments (CCC 1213). It is like birth – indeed, Christ calls it a “new birth” (John 3:5), a birth from above.
Baptism has two effects, one of which takes something away and the other of which gives something. “Through Baptism we are (1) freed from sin and (2) reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ incorporated into the Church” (CCC 1213).
And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Rough Timeline For Parents Baptizing a Child for the First Time
Rough Timeline For Parents Who Have Baptized Children Before
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to Baptize my child? What's the point?
Baptism makes us truly children of God. It is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments (CCC 1213). It is like birth – indeed, Christ calls it a “new birth” (John 3:5), a birth from above.
Baptism has two effects, one of which takes something away and the other of which gives something. “Through Baptism we are (1) freed from sin and (2) reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ incorporated into the Church” (CCC 1213).
What do I do if I've never had a child Baptized before?
The blue timeline above maps out the different steps to have your first child Baptized. The first step to get the ball rolling is to fill out the Baptism Info Form on the Forms page.
What if I've already Baptized a child before and now I'm trying to Baptize another?
The red timeline above maps out the steps to Baptize any subsequent children after your first. The first step includes filling out the Baptism Info Form on the Forms page.
What is a Godparent?
A person to be Baptized can have 1 or 2 Godparents. If there is to be only 1, then it can be a man or woman (Godfather or Godmother). If there are to be 2 Godparents, then one must be male and one must be female, but at least 1 of the Godparents must fit ALL of the following criteria to serve as a Godparent in the Catholic Church:
- Be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation
- AND, a person who faithfully practices and believes in the Catholic faith, attends Mass, and is a participating member in good standing of a parish community
- AND, a person who is at least 16 years of age
- AND, not be the mother or father of the child to be Baptized
What must someone do to be a Godparent?
There are 2 parts to serving as a Godparent for Baptism in the Catholic Church: being and doing.
Being
- Be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation
- Be a faithfully believing and practicing
- Be a member in good standing of a parish community
- Be at least 16 years of age
Doing
- Godparents have NO special classes or meetings to attend (as first-time parents do)
- Godparents simply must obtain from their home parish a Godparent sponsor certificate and turn it into the St. Basil parish office as soon as possible, hopefully 30 days before the Baptism. 8700 Brecksville Rd. Brecksville, OH 44141
- If a Godparent is physically unable to be present at the actual Baptism, a proxy can stand in. Please notify your priest or deacon immediately if this is the case.
What is a "Christian Witness"?
If you already have 1 Catholic Godparent who meets all of the criteria above, a baptized Christian from a non-Catholic ecclesial community may serve as a “Christian Witness”. They are not a Godparent but are welcome to be a Christian Witness. The Christian Witness must be a Christian Baptized with the valid Trinitarian formula and intention (most Christian communities fit this description but you may check with your priest or deacon). A Christian Witness is not necessary to have, but one is allowed if there is already an eligible Catholic serving as a Godparent. Most families choose to have two Catholic Godparents.
What if my child was already Baptized in another faith tradition?
If you or your child was Baptized in another Christian faith tradition, we just need to verify that the church’s beliefs and intentions are consonant with our own. If so, we gladly accept the validity of that Baptism. If not, then we will simply Baptize that child like usual in our Church. If a child is over the age of reason (about 7 years old) then we will discuss how to receive him or her into the Church with proper formation. Contact us at 440.526.1686.
Does it cost money to have my child Baptized?
No, it does not cost any money to have your child Baptized, but it is customary to offer a cash “stole fee” to the priest or deacon who administers your child’s Baptism. If you decide to grant a cash stole fee to the priest or deacon, the amount is entirely up to you.
My child isn't a baby anymore. How does Baptism work now?
If your child has reached the age of reason (usually age 7), then we will likely team up with you to administer the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation) in a bit of a different timeline. Each case is different, so please call us at 440.526.1686 so we can customize the right fit for your circumstances. There is always a was to enter or re-enter God’s family. He always provides a way and takes us back.
Need an invitation for your baptism? Our team has created a template that you can use to invite family and friends to this special day! The template is available through Canva. You will need to create a Canva account to access, but it is free to download. You can customize for your child and choose from the gold, blue, or pink option. After downloading, you can print the 5×7″ invites or send the digital image!
Click here for a Canva template link.
Listen on Our Podcast:
Katie and Deacon Rob share about their experience baptizing their children, choosing Godparents, celebrating baptismal feast days, and what the process of Baptism preparation is like here at St. Basil the Great.
Celebrating Your Baptism!
- Have a special treat! Enjoy a baptism cake (or pie or ice cream) and light your baptismal candle and sing “Happy Baptism to You” to the tune of “Happy Birthday to You!”
- Go Swimming! Enjoy a dip in the pool to remember your baptism. If you were baptized in the winter, head to the indoor pool at the Brecksville Community Center.
- Pray! Meditate on the Gospel of the Baptism of Jesus (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22) or pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, meditating on Jesus’ Baptism!