Baptism

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.”
– Matthew 28:19

The Sacrament of Baptism symbolizes the washing away of sins and cleansing the soul by immersing it in water. Through Baptism, one is being initiated into the family of the Catholic Church.

The sacraments of Christian initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist – lay the foundations of every Christian life…The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the diving life and advance toward the perfection of charity. (CCC 12112)

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 and in the word.” (CCC 1213)

The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. (CCC 1279)

Baptism Requirements

  • Both Parents must request the Sacrament of Baptism for their child by signing the Baptism Request form.

  • Parents must be practicing Catholics and commit themselves to teaching the faith to their child. They must present a copy of the child’s legal Birth Certificate and a copy of Picture ID for each parent. This may be the Driver License, Passport, etc.

  • It is understood that the parents will choose godparents who lead a life of faith, in harmony with the role to be undertaken. They must be older than 16 years of age, should be a man and a woman or one of them and must be actively registered in a parish.
    The godparents must be practicing Catholics and be able to prove that they have received the Sacraments of Initiation, which are Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. A person not meeting these requirements, may only be a witness to the ceremony. If the godparents were confirmed in the United States, a copy of the Confirmation Certificate will suffice. If confirmed elsewhere, then a Baptism Certificate with marginal notes, or individual certificates for all three sacraments, or a letter from the parish where they received the sacraments will be required.

  • Parents and godparents must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class.

  • Anyone who is not a registered member of St. Timothy or lives outside our parish boundaries will need to present a “Permission Letter” from their respective parishes. This is a form letter that parishes have in which they will state that you are either a registered member or live within their boundaries and give you permission to baptize here.

Communal and Private Baptisms

Communal Baptisms are celebrated every 2nd Sunday of the month in Spanish and every 4th Sunday of the month in English at 2:00 PM.

Private Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays.

Contact the Parish Office 6 weeks in advance to complete the application and schedule a date.
(305) 274-8224

Pre-Baptismal Classes

Parents and godparents are required to attend a Pre-Baptismal Class. Classes are held at St. Timothy in English once monthly and in Spanish once monthly on Saturdays at 9:00AM in LaCerra B Hall. Contact the parish office to find the next available date and register for the class. Pre-registration is required.

Baptism Forms

If you require special assistance, or need further information, please contact the Parish Office: (305) 274-8224