Baptism
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We welcome you and your child! We want to do whatever we can to help make the Sacrament of Baptism a Graced moment for your family and Saint Mary Parish.
To indicate a commitment to raise their children in the Catholic faith, parents are asked to participate in baptismal preparation, be registered parishioners for three months and have regular Mass attendance.
Baptism of infant children is ordinarily scheduled on the first and third Sundays of the month after the 11:30 am Mass, beginning at approximately 12:45 pm.
Please fill out our online form below for more information or to begin the preparation process for your child’s Baptism. We'll be in touch with you by phone! If you do not hear from the office within 3 business days please reach out by calling 219-663-0044.
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Baptismal PreparationWhat type of preparation is expected?
If you have previously gone through training with an elder child at St. Mary you are not required to repeat the process unless it has been more than two years.
We ask that all couples take the Belonging Online Certification with Ascension Press and Fr. Mike Schmitz. The video shows what impact this type of online training has had in parishes and what to expect.
Once you've talked with the parish you'll receive a link to purchase the online training. Complete this when it's most convenient for you and your spouse. Send us the Completion Certificate and let us know what you learned!
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Helpful Resources
What is involved with Baptismal preparation?
The Ultimate Guide to Catholic Baptism
So what does a Godparent do exactly? Why does this matter in the Church?
Take a look at this article from Catholic Answers: The What, Why, and How of Godparents -
Godparent Information
The following 5 criteria are required by Church law. A sponsor (godparent) must be:
1) a practicing Catholic*
2) of at least 16 years of age
3) who has already been confirmed and received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist, and
4) who leads a mature life of faith.Leading a mature faith life does not mean that they have to be perfect. It does mean that they:
a. “believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and
b. (all) that Holy Church proposes for our belief,”
c. attend Mass weekly on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation,
d. (if married) must be married according to the laws of the Catholic Church,
e. have a faith that is alive through works of charity (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1814),
f. strive to commit their “entire self to God.”
5) Only one Catholic sponsor (godparent) is required. If there are two sponsors however (often the case for Baptism), they must be of the opposite gender (godfather and godmother).
The following are not eligible to be sponsors (see Canon law # 874):1) the father or mother of the person who will receive the sacrament;
2) one who does not practice the faith regularly or
3) who does not accept the authority of the Church or
4) who does not accept all of the teachings of the Church on faith and morals;
5) anyone bound by a canonical penalty. Some examples of this would be: a laicized priest, one living in an invalid marriage (a Catholic who was married outside the Catholic Church), one who has aided in the procurement of an abortion and has not already been absolved by a priest of this crime).
*A baptized, non-Catholic Christian (provided they were never Catholic) may act as a Christian witness for Baptism if alongside a Catholic godparent. For Confirmation, however, the Church only envisions a Catholic sponsor.
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Forms Needed
