Baptism 

Baptism at Church of St Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary
Thank you for considering the St Peter -  Our Lady of the Rosary Parish for the baptism ceremony for you, your child, your family and friends.  We  look forward to welcoming your child into the church and into our parish family
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In arranging a Baptism, the first step for parents is to contact one of the parish priests. The Introduction of The Rite of Baptism for Children in the Roman Catholic Church (hereafter referred to as Rite) speaks of the need for parents and priest to come together before Baptism:

Before the celebration of the sacrament, it is of great importance that parents moved by their own faith should prepare to take part in the rite with understanding. "The parish priest should make it his duty to prepare them for the coming celebration."

Sunday is the preferred day for all Baptisms.  "To bring out the paschal character of Baptism it is recommended that the sacrament be celebrated during the Easter Vigil or on Sunday, when the Church commemorates the Lord's resurrection."

Moreover, the Rite states: "as far as possible all recently born babies should be baptized at a common celebration on the same day."  The reason for a group celebration of Baptism is to show that while by birth a child enters in to an individual family, by Baptism the child is born anew into a larger family, the Church, which is the family of God.  "In this way it is clear that the faith in which the children are baptized is not the private possession of the individual family but is the common treasure of the whole Church of Christ." 

[For this reason we provide a solemn celebration of the sacrament involving several families every Sundays at 1::30 PM at St. Peters Church and we encourage all families in the parish to plan Baptisms at this time.]

The Rite further directs, "except for a good reason, Baptism should not be celebrated more than once on the same day in the same church."
 
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A Word About Godparents
To be chosen as godparent is a special honor. Godparents have been entrusted with the responsibility to participate in this child's Christian life and education.  By living a Christian life in partnership with your godchild, both of you will experience the great joy of sharing a life of faith.

Canon 872 says:  "in the case of an infant Baptism, the sponsor's role is together with the parents to present the child for Baptism, and to help it to live a Christian life befitting the baptized and faithfully to fulfill the duties inherent in Baptism."
 
Canon 873 days:  "One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient, but there may be two, one of each sex."
 
Canon 874 says:  "to be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

1. Be appointed by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing this, by the pastor; The person must be suitable for and have the intention of fulfilling this role.
2. Be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the pastor considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made.
3. Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken.
4. Not be excommunicated.
5. Not be either the father or mother of the person to be baptized.

A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a Catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the Baptism."

Canon 851 says:  "The parents of a child who is to be baptized, and those who are to undertake the office of sponsors, are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it." After you have carefully made the selection, ask the godparents to get a testimonial letter from the priest in their own parish. 

Arranging for a Baptism
Baptisms  are held every Sunday at St. Peter's Church at 1:30 PM.

Download the Baptism Interview Sheet and the Baptism Sponsor Form.
Return the completed Forms together with a copy of the child's Birth Certificate to the Parish Office ,


Church Donation
If you are not a registered active parishioner of St. Peter's Church, the parish requires a $1,000 donation  for a private baptism (which assists us greatly in the day to day maintenance of our historic parish.) Registered active parishioners are asked to be as generous as their means allow to their church.