St. Joseph the Worker Parish is always happy to welcome new members into our Church community through the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism is our initiation into the life of Christ and the Church.
Please contact the parish office to arrange baptismal preparation and the baptism date before making any other arrangements for the baptism.
Please contact the parish office at least three months before your requested baptism date.
For more information about the Sacrament of Baptism, watch the Sacraments 101: Baptism (why we baptize) video by Busted Halo
Please contact the parish office to arrange baptismal preparation and the baptism date before making any other arrangements for the baptism.
Please contact the parish office at least three months before your requested baptism date.
For more information about the Sacrament of Baptism, watch the Sacraments 101: Baptism (why we baptize) video by Busted Halo
Requesting a Copy of a Baptismal Certificate
We ask that all people requesting a copy of their baptism certificate fill out our certificate request form (available by request from our parish office). Once the form is completed and returned to the parish office, we can send a copy of the requested certificate by email, fax or post. There is an administrative fee associated with this service. At this time, we can only accept payment via cash or cheque. These certificates can only be requested by:
- The person named in the certificate
- A parent of legal guardian of the person named in the record if the person is not yet 18
- The children or descendants of deceased persons
- A person with written authorization from on of the parties named above
Frequently Asked Questions
Those preparing for baptism often have questions, the following are some of the most frequently asked questions about the sacrament.
At what age should someone be baptised?
Under ordinary circumstances, parents should seek to have their child baptised as soon as possible after their birth. Infants and children age six and under are baptised in our parish during our weekend liturgies, following the completion of an adult catechesis program for the parents. If the person seeking baptism has reached the age of reason (age seven or older), our Coordinator of Catechetics will work with them to find the best path that leads to their baptism.
ARE THERE FAITH REQUIREMENTS OF PARENTS WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR CHILD BAPTISED?
At least one parent must be a practising Catholic (meaning that they hold true all that the Church teaches and that they are active in the worship and liturgical celebrations of the Church), allowing for some reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith. When a child is baptised, parents accept the responsibility to raise their child in the Faith of the Church.
Who should be contacted if we would like to request a baptism?
If you would like to request a Baptism in our church, please contact the office first. Once you contact the office, a meeting will be scheduled with our Pastor to discuss the details of the baptism and fill our paperwork. Following that meeting, if you have not previously completed baptism preparation in our church, you will need to complete a series of three baptism preparation sessions with our Family Faith Formation Coordinator.
Do we need to be registered members of st. Joseph the Worker to have our child baptised in your church?
Yes, if you are seeking baptism in our parish it is assumed that you are practising your faith in our church and are a registered member of our church. Baptisms are celebrations of the Catholic community where you worship and should be celebrated in your home parish. There are some exceptions, and in these cases we will work with non-members to provide the sacrament. If your family belongs to another parish, we ask for a letter of delegation from the pastor of your home parish. This is done as a courtesy for the priest of your home parish, who traditionally has sacramental jurisdiction over their own parishioners.
We are not currently registered members of any parish, can we register at st. Joseph the Worker church?
If you are called to worship in our church and have a desire to be part of our parish community, then you are welcome to register with us. We ask that you register with the parish before you begin your journey to baptism, or that of your child. To learn more about becoming a registered member of St. Joseph the Worker church, please contact the parish office.
Are there Baptism preparation sessions?
Parents requesting infant baptism must meet with our pastor, and must also attend three adult catechetical sessions before the baptism takes place. The objectives of these sessions are to encourage parents to begin or deepen their own faith journey, to bring about an awareness of the community aspect of the faith, to support them in their roles as Christian parents and to prepare them to live out the celebration of their child’s Baptism. The parents must attend the three sessions only once when requesting Baptism for their first child but may choose to participate again. Godparents must attend the final session, but are welcome to attend all sessions.
When are baptism preparation sessions?
Our next series of baptism preparation sessions begin March 4th. A meeting with our Pastor and preregistration is required to participate in our baptism preparation sessions. Please contact the parish office for more information.
Do both parents need to attend all three preparation sessions?
If this is your first child being baptised in our church, both parents must attend all three preparation sessions.
Do we need to complete the preparation sessions Before we set a date for the baptism?
The date of the baptism will be finalised during the preparation process. Please contact the parish before setting a date or making any other arrangements for the baptism.
When are baptisms celebrated in your church?
Those requesting the sacrament are baptised into the faith community that gathers to celebrate in our Church each weekend. Baptisms are celebrated during a Saturday or Sunday liturgy after preparation sessions are completed and are determined by our pastor.
What is the Roll of a Godparent?
Godparents serve as the representatives of the Christian community who "sponsor" the child for initiation into the Church. They assist the priest and parents in welcoming the child into both the parish community and the Catholic Church. Godparents act as role models for those being baptised and help the parents in the Catholic upbringing of their child.
Can anyone be a Godparent?
Because it is such an important role, the Code of Canon Law describes some of the requirements for being a Godparent. First, it reminds us that there is to be only one female sponsor, one male sponsor, or one of each. It is, therefore, not permissible to have two godfathers or two godmothers. Canon #874 lists the specific requirements for being a godparent, which can be summarised as follows:
∙ They must be at least 16 years old.
∙ They must have already received the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).
∙ They must be a Catholic who leads a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith.
∙ They must not be the parents of the person being baptised.
∙ They must be at least 16 years old.
∙ They must have already received the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).
∙ They must be a Catholic who leads a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith.
∙ They must not be the parents of the person being baptised.
Do both Godparents need to be Catholic?
While it is ideal that parents select two Catholic godparents, the church only requires that there be one. A baptised non-Catholic may serve as a “witness” to the ceremony, as long as one Catholic godparent is present. The non-Catholic who is selected as a witness should be an active member of his/her church community.
During the ritual, a non-Catholic witness at a Catholic baptism may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. Their name may be entered into the parish register as a witness, together with the name of the godparent. An official witness must be baptised with water to be eligible as an official witness. A person who was baptised in the Catholic faith and has converted to another religion cannot act as a Christian Witness.
During the ritual, a non-Catholic witness at a Catholic baptism may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. Their name may be entered into the parish register as a witness, together with the name of the godparent. An official witness must be baptised with water to be eligible as an official witness. A person who was baptised in the Catholic faith and has converted to another religion cannot act as a Christian Witness.
Are There costs Associated With Baptism?
There are no fees for the preparation sessions or Sacrament. If you would like, you may offer a stipend to the celebrant who performs the baptism.