Baptisms are the first Sunday of the month. Contact the parish early in the pregnancy to begin arrangements. Parents must be registered and practicing parishioners. A mandatory baptism preparation class for both parents is held every other month on the 4th Thursday of the month. Godparents need certificates of eligibility.
Full Name of Child
Due date or Date of Birth
City of Birth Desired Month of Baptism
Father’s Name Religion
Mother’s Name(maiden) Religion
Married by a Catholic Priest: If no, did you have permission:
Address Phone (H)
Phone (W)
How long have you been a member of St. Elizabeth’s:
Godfather’s Name Religion
Godmother’s Name Religion
For Catholic Godparents: must be 16 years old, must be fully initiated into the Church, must be practicing their faith, must be able to produce a certificate of eligibility, must be validly married. Need one Catholic godparent for validity.
(You do not need to attend the class if you have a child under the age of two that was baptized at St. Elizabeth and you attended these classes here.)
Tentative Month to Attend Class Please select one class.
A secretary from the church will contact you concerning the information that you have submitted. You will receive a letter from us along with more information. If you have any questions please call the office Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm at 610-266-0695.
None of the dates are definite until they have been confirmed by the office.
Thank you
Church law requires that a baptismal sponsor be a practicing Catholic, i.e., one who attends Mass and receives the Sacraments regularly.
When someone who does not meet that requirement is designated as a sponsor, it is always an unpleasant (frequently painful) experience for the priest, the parents of the child, and most especially for the person designated.
The priest has a serious responsibility not to admit that person to serve as a sponsor here at St. Elizabeth’s. Nor may the priest give the person a certificate of eligibility to serve as a sponsor at a baptism, which is to take place at some other Catholic parish.
The reason a sponsor must be a practicing Catholic is that a sponsor is expected to pay special attention to the efforts of the person who is being baptized to live a Christian life in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Sponsors are also expected to assist the parents of the child in their Christian duty as parents, by offering them support through good example, encouragement and prayer.
Some advice that we hope will avoid difficulties:
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Choose baptismal sponsors whom you know to be practicing Catholics. |
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If you decide to choose a sponsor who is not a practicing Catholic, inform the person very early in the pregnancy. If that person is willing, at least six months before the baptism, to begin attending Mass and the Sacraments regularly, and, at the same time, to discuss the matter with the priest who must make the decision to write the certificate of eligibility, there is at least a possibility the person may be able to serve as a sponsor. |
The Priests have been deluged over the last few months to verify the good Catholic practices of parishioners who want to be sponsors for those receiving Baptism and/or Confirmation.
Sometimes this is easy, for most of our active parishioners, but sometimes this request turns out to be an unpleasant experience when one requests verification and a Priest, in good conscience, cannot give it. Why?
Let us clear up all of the vagueness that exists, and if you can answer yes to the following questions, you should have no trouble obtaining a certificate.
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Am I a registered and active parishioner of St. Elizabeth’s Parish for at least 2 months? |
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Am I at least 16 years of age? |
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Have I received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church? |
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If married, was I married in the Catholic Church? |
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Do I attend Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation? |
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Do I receive the sacraments of the Church regularly? |
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Do I understand and accept the responsibility, which I undertake as a sponsor, and do I promise to pay special attention to the person I am sponsoring in his/her efforts to live a Christian life that reflects the spirit and teachings of the Catholic Church? |
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Am I prepared to assist the parents in their Christian duty by my example, support, encouragement and prayer? |
