Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
Celebrating Baptism at St. Anthony Catholic Church
We are so happy that you wish to have your child baptized at St. Anthony’s. Baptism is one of the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Baptism holds a special place in the Church because it is the “door” to all other sacraments.
This information for is for families who seek baptism for their child who is under the age of seven. If your child is 7 years old or older, the child will journey to baptism through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) catechumenate. Contact the Director of Faith Formation at
(863) 858-0671 for more information.
What are the steps to have my child baptized at St. Anthony’s?
Initial Contact: Contact the parish office. The office staff will take some basic information which will be turned over to the Baptism Ministry leaders.
2nd Contact: A baptism ministry team member will contact you to set up an appointment to come for a home visit. At this home visit, you will meet your baptism team and they will go through the remainder of the process with you, step by step. As well as help you to fill out the necessary paperwork. This should last only about 1 hour. Alternate locations for a visit may be discussed. Also, during your visit, the team member will go over the calendar/schedule with you.
3rd Contact: This will be at the first of two formation (education) sessions you are asked to attend.
4th Contact: At Mass on a given day and time, your child will be presented to the church
community for baptism. Before or after this Mass, you will have the 2nd of two formation (education) sessions.
5th Contact: Your child’s Baptism.
Additional Information to know before you call
So often parents choose and ask loved ones to be a godparent before knowing the requirements for being one. Please read the following information carefully:
The Role of the Godparent
Godparents play a very special role in the faith life of the Child. They are chosen because they are an inspiration of how one is to live the faith. Thus, godparents are model Catholics who assist and support the parents in handing on the faith to their child. Choosing someone to be a godparent is separate from choosing someone who will take care of your child in the event of your death. The person who is chosen to be a godparent is someone who is an active participant in the life of the Church and proclaims their faith through their everyday actions. Ideally this person may also serve as a sponsor for Confirmation.
Requirements to be a Godparent
Given the above, the Roman Catholic Church has the following requirements to be a godparent. These requirements are universal. Thus, before you invite someone to be a godparent, please make sure they fulfill the Church’s canonical requirements.
A godparent:
- Must be at least 16 years of age;
- Must have received Catholic Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist;
- If married, the marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church;
- Must be a practicing Catholic, regularly participating in Sunday Mass and reception of communion.
- May not be a parent of the child receiving baptism.
Godparents must also provide the following:
- A completed sponsor (godparent) eligibility form.
- A certificate stating, they completed a baptismal preparation. That being said, the godparents are strongly encouraged to attend the parent formation (education) sessions with the parents as their baptism preparation. If they are unable to for any reason, then a letter/certificate from their home parish showing they have taken a baptism preparation class within the past two years is required.
Number of Godparents
There may be a godfather and a godmother for baptism. You may not have two godfathers or two godmothers. A family may also choose to have just one godparent.
Christian Witness
A baptized non-Catholic may serve as a Christian Witness along with a Catholic godparent. If the Catholic godparent is female, the Christian Witness must be male [and vice versa]. A Christian Witness at baptism does not take the place of a godparent. A Christian witness is exactly that: a witness that the baptized person did receive the sacrament of baptism.
The name of the Christian witness must be provided ahead of time along with the information for the godparent. Requirements for a Christian witness are:
- Must be at least 16 years of age;
- A validly baptized Christian [baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit];
- Someone other than a parent;
- Must be living an upright Christian life.
The Christian witness must provide a letter from their pastor certifying that they have been validly baptized. They must also take a baptism preparation class.
Baptism for Children Older Than 7
Children aged 7 and above are considered of catechetical age, in other words, they can participate in their own faith formation. As such, unbaptized children aged 7 and above are enrolled in our RCIA for Children program (RCIA is the process by which the Catholic Church welcomes individuals into the Church.) Children and their families will participate in a special faith formation program. For more details, please contact the parish office.
Adult Baptism
If you are an unbaptized adult who feels drawn to the Catholic Church, we invite you to connect with our Faith Formation department in order to explore the Catholic faith further via the RCIA process.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the conversion process by which people become members of the Roman Catholic Church. Through RCIA, individuals spend time learning what the Church believes and teaches.
To learn more about exploring the Catholic Faith at Saint Anthony, please call the parish office
Baptism FAQ
Can a member of my family who is not Catholic but a Christian be a godparent?
A godparent or sponsor is required by Canon Law to be a fully initiated Catholic in good standing (This means they have received Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation. If they are married, they must have a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.) A nonCatholic, then cannot serve as a godparent in a Catholic baptism. A Christian may serve as a Christian witness. A godparent is asked to promise to help the parents of the child to raise the child in the Catholic faith.
Can a family member who is not Christian be a witness?
No, the Church requires for Baptism that a witness be Christian. Non-Christians are welcome to attend a celebration of the Sacrament; however, the Church makes no demands on their conscience to participate in a Rite which may be contrary to their beliefs.
Can a married family member who is Catholic but did not marry in the Church be a godparent?
Unless the marriage is otherwise recognized as valid by the Church, this person cannot serve as a godparent. This person may very well be a good person in many ways, but the marital situation needs to be reconciled before they fulfill the role of godparent.
Can a family member who was married in the Church but now is separated or divorced be a godparent or sponsor?
Possibly. Separation or divorce does not necessarily inhibit a person from being a godparent, but please contact the church office for clarification for your situation.
Can I have my child baptized if my spouse or parent is not Catholic?
Yes, only one parent needs to have received the Sacrament of Baptism. The other parent must agree to have the child baptized. Please note, however, that if one or both of the parents have expressed an intent to become Catholic, the child may be baptized. As long as there is an earnest desire for the child to be reared in the Catholic faith, the Church will work with the parents on baptizing the child and addressing any specific concerns.
Do I have to be married in the Church to have my child baptized?
No, however; we would invite those who have not received this sacrament to talk to our priest for more information on how to celebrate this sacrament.
Do I have to be confirmed to have my child baptized?
No, however, we would invite anyone who is an adult and has not been confirmed to enroll in our Adult Confirmation course.
Can I have more than two godparents or sponsors?
No, however, we would invite your entire family to be involved in the upbringing of your child in the Catholic faith. Different family and cultural traditions are important to raising your children in the faith and are encouraged by the Church.