Baptism

Baptism

Since the time of early Christianity, Baptism has been the rite of initiation into the Christian community of the Church. In Baptism, the “one Spirit” makes us members of the Body of Christ and of “one another” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], no. 1267). Pope John Paul II describes the result of Baptism as a “mystical unity” between Christ and his disciples, and the disciples with one another, like “branches of a single vine.” This reflects the mystical communion of the Holy Trinity (Christifideles Laici [The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World], no. 12).

Baptisms are celebrated following the 12:00 pm Mass every Sunday. To schedule a baptism, please contact Jared Rabold at 610-439-8973. A baptism must be scheduled at least two weeks prior to the baptism date. Parents not registered with the parish must do so before scheduling the baptism.

For those over 18 years of age and interested in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, please see the RCIA page.

Baptismal Requirements

The following two requirements must be completed prior to the baptism.

1. Baptism class registration
Parents of a child scheduled for baptism are required to attend a baptismal prep class beforehand. Classes are held every third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Disciples Room, which is located in the back of the church on the school side. In order to register for a class, please complete and submit the registration form below. Please register at least one week prior to the class date

Baptism Registration

Name(s)(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Date of the class you will be attending:(Required)

*Must be a third Thursday of the month.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

2. Godparent
One godparent is necessary for baptism. A godparent must be 16 years of age or more, have had all their sacraments, and if married be in a valid marriage. A Catholic can only be a godparent. If there are two godparents, they are to be one of each sex, male and female.

A godparent must obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” from the parish to which they belong. Parents should obtain these forms directly from the godparents, and then send them into the Parish Center, attention Jared Rabold. Do this as soon as possible. These forms must be submitted at least one week prior to the baptism

Christian Witness: A non-Catholic can be a Christian witness and stand with the parents, child, and Catholic godparent at the baptism. A Christian witness must be at least 16 years of age. Please note: If a Catholic does not qualify to be a godparent, he or she cannot be a Christian witness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must I do if my child will be baptized at another church?
STM Parents requesting to have their child baptized at another church must first attend our baptism preparation class, and then we will send a letter of permission to the church doing the baptism. Be sure to give us the complete name of the priest and of the church where the baptism is to take place.

What is required to have a priest or deacon from outside the parish baptize my child at STM?
A priest or deacon from outside the parish must obtain permission from the parish priest to do a baptism here at STM. Also, any priest or deacon not from the Diocese of Allentown must send a letter from his diocese stating he is in good standing.

Can I have my child baptized at STM if I’m a parishioner of another parish?
Parents belonging to another Catholic parish can have their child baptized at STM with permission of the priest. Also, we will need a written letter from your parish priest granting us permission to baptize your child.

What should I consider when choosing a godparent for my child?
Being a godparent in a child’s life is a great honor that comes with a tremendous responsibility, because the duty of a godparent is to help the child grow in his or her Catholic faith. Therefore, a good godparent candidate should be someone who’s faith is mature. They should be a practicing Catholic, so that their life will serve as a model for their godchild as the child grows up in the Church.

For further insights on choosing a godparent, see the Diocese of Allentown website, https://www.allentowndiocese.org/catholic-QandA/godparents.

For insights on what it means to be a “practicing Catholic,” check out this YouTube video from Fr. Mike Schmitz, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrGW5G8QqQ4.