Baptismal Guidelines

Baptismal Guidelines for Infants

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in keeping with Pueblo Diocesan Policy and cannon law on baptisms have established the guidelines of the dioceses requiring that adults involved in infant baptism receive a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of catechesis. "The Church believes that is it's most basic and necessary duty to inspire all, catechumens, parents of children still to be baptized and God parents, to that true and living faith to which they hold fast to Christ and enter into or confirm their commitment to the New Covenant. In order to enliven such faith, the Church prescribes the pastoral instruction of catechumens, the preparation of the children's parents, the celebration of God's word, and the profession of faith at the celebration of baptism." Therefore, our classes will fall inline diocesan guidelines and will be a requirement of all parents and God parents before their child can be baptized.

The following steps have been set out in an effort to reduce confusion and further along the process of instruction and baptism in a timely manner:

1. The parents or legal guardian of the child to be baptized will pick-up at the church office a Baptismal Guidelines.

2. The parents are to call Deacon Roger Behr, 731-0409 to notify that they wish to attend the baptismal class. All classes are held on Saturday.

3. The parents at the time of picking up a Baptismal Guidelines will complete a "parish registration form" if they are not presently registered.

4. After the parents and Godparents have completed the baptismal instruction and shown a reasonable hope for the infant's upbringing in the faith, they will be asked to call the church office to set up a date for the baptism. All baptisms are done during Mass. The first weekend of February, May, August, and November will be the only times of the year when baptism will be held.

5. A copy of the child's birth certificate must be presented at the time of the class.

6. Godparents/parents will be required to provide written proof of having received baptismal instruction from their own parish if they are coming into Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for their child's or Godchild's baptism.

7. Written proof will be provided to parents or Godparents where the baptism is being preformed other than Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

Qualifications of Godparents:
Be designated by the parents and to have the qualifications and intentions of performing this role:

Intended sponsor/Godparent has reached their sixteenth birthday.
Be a Catholic who has received their Sacraments of Initiation, been Baptized, 1st Communion and Confirmed.
Leading a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken and not under any canonical penalty.
Not be the father or mother of the child.
A child may only have one male or one female sponsor or one of each.

Sponsors:
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.

Only one male or one female sponsor or one of each sex is to be employed.

To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must:

be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the one who takes their place or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing this role;
have completed the sixteenth year, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause;
be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken;
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 may not be admitted except as a witness to baptism and together with a Catholic sponsor.

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