Baptism

Step 1: Contact Sacred Heart | At least one of the parents should be a practicing Catholic willing to commit to the task of rearing their child in the faith of the Church. Parents should accept that they are the first and foremost teachers of the faith.

If a single parent requests baptism for his/her child, we must receive a written statement from the other parent stating that she/he does not object to the baptism. A copy of his/her photo identification is necessary.

• If a parent objects to baptism for any reason, we cannot proceed.
• If a divorce decree/child custody agreement expressly states that one parent is responsible for the religious formation of the child, it must be absolutely clear. Only then would you not need the other parent’s permission.
• Should one parent object to baptism, the matter can be revised after the child turns 14 (not 7) when the child can make the request himself/herself.
  • For Parishioners Registered at Sacred Heart | We will send you an e-mail with the procedures and a Baptism form to be filled out.
  • For Families Registered at Another Parish | We need permission from your pastor to baptize your child. When scheduling your baptism, you will need to submit a “Letter of Permission” from your pastor stating 1) that you are registered parishioners of that parish, and 2) he grants permission for the baptism to occur at Sacred Heart Church.

Requirements:

• • Parents attend Baptismal Preparation at your parish.
  • Obtain Godparent Eligibility Statement from Godparent’s parish.
  • Sacred Heart Baptism Form signed by both parents.
  • A copy of the child’s Birth Certificate.
  • Submit all form the Jennifer Williams at Sacred Heart
  • Baptism will be schedule at the Community Baptisms on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

Step 2: Complete a Baptismal Preparation Class | The classes are held on the first Tuesday of the month by Zoom from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. An e-mail will be sent to you with short YouTube videos to watch before the Zoom meeting. Both parents are required to attend.

We ask that you pre-register for these classes.

• Please call Jennifer Williams in theParish Office at 813-229-1595 for more information and registration.
• Baptismal classes can sometimes be completely full as much as four months in advance of the date of celebration.
• The only exemption is if you’ve taken baptism class in the past 3 years. You are not required to do it again.

If the class was at another parish, please have that parish provide a letter acknowledging class participation. You’ll submit it when you are scheduling the baptism.

Step 3: Scheduling Your Baptism | Once you have attended the class submitted the following paperwork.

• Sacred Heart Baptism Form signed by both parents.
• A copy of the child’s Birth Certificate.
• Godparent Eligibility Letter or Form (Godparents must request this letter from their home parishes and it must include the parish seal)

Please do not ask to reserve a date prior to submitting all paperwork and completing the Baptism Class.

Sacraments are by their very nature public and communal. They are never private actions. When one is baptized, the whole Church celebrates and rejoices. Therefore, the communal nature of the sacrament should be reflected in the manner it is celebrated.

We schedule Baptism at two times:

• As a community of families on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. (Please note: There are Holy Days and holiday weekends when the Sacrament is not celebrated this includes Lent; check with the Parish Office about such times.)
• During Sunday Masses and the Saturday Vigil Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month (except Lent, Solemnities such as Easter, and during some special parish celebrations at particular Masses).

Step 4: The Day of the Baptism

• Arrival should be no later than 15 minutes before the schedule start time.
• During a Mass you will have a reserve pew in the front of the church. Five minutes before Mass begins, parents, godparents, and the child to be baptized should assemble at the back of the church. If there are other children in the immediate family, they are welcome to join us.
• For a community Baptism there are no reserved pews.
• Attire: A white garment is traditional, signifying the cleansing received in the waters of Baptism and the purity of beginning a new life in Christ. You may wish to change your child into this garment once you’ve arrived for the baptism. Allow extra time for this!
• Parking: Sacred Heart Church offers parking in the Madison Garage for weekend Masses only. Parking for you and your guests outside of a weekend Mass will be your responsibility and at your discretion. For more parking information, click here.
• Photography: Because it is in the middle of Mass, we ask that people refrain from taking pictures once Mass has begun. However, if people would like to recreate some part of the ceremony afterward, we would be happy to do so.

A child who has already celebrated their 7th birthday is considered a “youth” in regards to baptism within the Catholic Church. As a practical matter this means children are already in grade school, middle school and high school. “One size” definitely does not fit everyone or every family’s needs. Reach out to our Director of Faith Formation, Barbara Ferreris so we can tailor a program that makes sense to the family and the parish. In general, children over 7 must either be enrolled in our parish Religious Education program or in a Catholic School for one year prior to scheduling a Baptism – one school year, not calendar year.

It is not uncommon to encounter adults who have not been baptized. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) is a journey of faith in which a person is accompanied by a sponsor, catechists, and a discernment team to guide your decision to accept the Sacrament of Baptism and grow in the faith of Jesus within the Catholic Church. To learn more about O.C.I.A., click here.

Godparents should be chosen by parents primarily to be good religious examples to their child and not because they want to bestow a family/social honor. Godparents will be asked to assist parents in teaching the child about the Catholic faith and are required to provide an example of the Christian life.

Godparents:

• You must be registered, active members of a parish.
• You need only one Catholic Godparent who has celebrated Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
• If you have two Godparents, one must be male and one must be female.
• Each Godparent will need to provide a letter from his/her parish stating he/she is eligible to serve as Godparent.

A baptized non-Catholic who is a practicing member of another Christian community may serve along with a Catholic Godparent of the opposite gender. A Catholic who does not meet the requirements to serve as a Godparent cannot serve as a Christian Witness.

For those asking Sacred Heart for a Godparent Letter | The letter is a testimony from the pastor that you are active and involved – not simply that you are registered here. If you are not a registered parishioner we are unable sign a Godparent form.

An active and involved member:

• celebrates Eucharist with us on a weekly basis
• knows other members of their “pew community” and is known by the friars
• supports the parish by volunteering or ministry, and supports the parish financially.

Being an active and involved parishioner is not the same as:

• I was married in the Catholic Church.
• I’ve celebrated all of my sacraments.
• I went to Catholic school for twelve years.
• I’ve had all of my children baptized at your church.
• My parents/grandparents went there.