Dear parents,
 
Thank you for choosing to baptize your child.  Baptism is a Sacrament of faith that brings your child into the Christian community and makes him/her one with Christ, our Lord and Savior.  In doing so, he/she becomes a member of our parish family as well. 
The parish offers the sacrament once a month, except during Advent and Lent, when the Church asks her members to enter a period of deeper reflection on the mysteries of Christ.  Therefore, please call the parish office to find out when the baptismal classes and baptisms are being held.
To make this sacrament meaningful and to ensure proper documentation of the event for our parish records, we ask you to please fulfill the following requirements:

1. BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS: If you have not already attended one within the last 12 months, we require you to attend a class, whether here or in your home parish. If you have attended such a class at another Catholic church, please provide a letter or certificate as proof. 

While not required, it is highly recommended that godparents also attend a class, whether here in the parish, or in their own, in order to understand their duties and responsibilities. 
Baptisms will take place the month after you attend the class, provided that the following other requirements have also been fulfilled.

2. SPONSOR CERTIFICATES FOR GODPARENTS: Since you are choosing to have your child baptized in the Church, we support your decision by helping to guarantee that the godparents you choose are suitable for ensuring the spiritual and religious growth of your child as a Catholic Christian, so you are to choose godparents who meet these requirements, and not simply for their likability or relationship to you. 

All godparents must submit a sponsor certificate, which they can acquire from their parish office.
The Church only requires one godparent, but if you choose two, one must be male and the other female.
 All godparents must fulfill the following requirements:

• be active members of the Catholic Church, meaning that they attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation;
• have received all the sacraments of initiation, i.e., Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation;
• be at least 16 years of age,
• be free of all canonical impediments (for example, being married outside of the Church).

These certificates must be stamped with the parish seal.  They are to be turned in no later than two weeks before the scheduled baptism date.  Otherwise, the baptism will be deferred until the paperwork is handed in. 

3. LIVE BIRTH CERTIFICATE: A copy of your child’s live birth certificate must also be handed in to our office.
4. SUGGESTED OFFERING: This is a way to contribute to the ongoing ministry of our parish.  It is $100 and should be made at least 2 weeks before the Baptism.
5. LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM YOUR HOME PARISH:  If this is not your home parish, you must also submit to the parish office a letter or form from your parish priest giving us permission to baptize your child here.

 
Thank you for your loving cooperation!
May God bless you and your loved ones, now and forever!

Yours in Christ,
Transfiguration Church Staff