Baptism

What a joy it will be to welcome your child to the waters of Baptism and to the Holy Family community. As you are seeking the baptism of your child at Holy Family Catholic Church, the following guidelines are presented to help you embark upon this journey of faith with Christ and his Church:

• When are Baptisms celebrated? 
  • Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays after the 11:00 am Mass. They may or may not be private.
• Baptism Classes: 
  • Email Deacon Mike Holmes to sign up for a Baptism class. The Baptism Class takes place on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Life Center.  This allows us to meet and get to know each other! Both parents are encouraged to attend! This class is open to godparents if they are required to have it to be sponsors. 
• Choosing Godparents: 
  • A baptismal sponsor, often called a godparent, assists the baptized in living the Christian life. 
  • Canon 872. Insofar as possible one to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who is to assist an adult in Christian initiation, or, together with the parents, to present an infant at the baptism, and who will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it. 
• Choosing Godparents: 
  • Parents have an obligation to choose faithful godparents for their children. While the priests and deacons of the parish are always available to answer any questions, the following information may be beneficial in helping parents fulfill this important task. The role of a godparent is to help the baptized child to lead a Christian life in keeping with the baptism, he/she has received. and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. Church law dictates that there is to be one godfather and one godmother.
  • To be permitted to take on the function of a godparent, a person must:
    • Have completed the 16th year of age.
    • Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most Holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.
    • Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;
    • Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
    • A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community, e.g. an Episcopalian or Lutheran, may participate together with a Catholic godparent and then only as a witness of the baptism.
  • The sponsor may be a male, a female, or there may be one male and one female.
    Canon 873.  Only one male or one female sponsor or one of each sex is to be employed.
    Parents have an obligation to choose faithful godparents for their children.  

• Baptism Registration Form: When you have taken the Baptismal Class, please click below to complete the Baptism Registration form. 

If you have any concerns, questions, or for more information on how to prepare to baptize your child, please contact the parish office. 904-641-5838.

Please note:  If you have taken the Baptismal Class within the past 2 years, then you will not need to take another one and you may complete the registration form above.

If you have relocated here and wish to join Holy Family and make it your parish, please click the link below. We would love for you to be a parishioner!

Parish Registration