Baptism

Infant Baptism is for children through the age of 6 years.  If your child has celebrated his or her 7th birthday, please refer to the section below on “Older Child Baptism.”

Requirements for Baptism at St. Theresa Church

1. Parents must complete and submit a Baptism Request Form with a copy of the child’s official, government-issued Certificate of Birth to St. Theresa Church. 

2. Parents and Godparents must attend Baptismal preparation classes, either at St. Theresa Church or at another church, if the parents or godparents live out of town or out of state. 

3. A Godparent must be a Catholic in good standing.  He or she must have completed his or her Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation) and if married, must be married in the Church.

Request for Baptism at St. Theresa Church

If the child (or children) is (are) to be baptized at St. Theresa Church, please fill in the fillable PDF Baptism Request Form that appears below.  You must fill in one form for each child being baptized and must provide a copy of the child’s (children’s) official, "long form" Certificate of Birth. 

Please return the document to St. Theresa in one of four ways:

1. Drop off the completed form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate at St. Theresa’s office.

2. Mail the completed form and a copy of the child’s official Certificate of Birth to St. Theresa Church, Attention:  Infant Baptism, 6622 Haskell St., Houston, TX 77007.

3. Image (scan) the completed form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and email the image(s) to baptism@sttheresa.cc.

4. Bring the completed form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate to class.  (Once we resume in-person preparation classes, of course!)

Baptism Dates and Times

Unless otherwise noted, Group Baptisms take place on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m. Please contact St. Theresa Church at baptism@sttheresa.cc to request a date for Group Baptism or a Baptism during Mass.

Upcoming Group Baptisms:
June 13, 2021; 12:30 p.m. (full)
June 20, 2021; 12:30 p.m. (full)
July 18, 2021; 12:30 p.m. (full)
August 15, 2021; 12:30 p.m. (full)
September 19, 2021; 12:30 p.m. (full)
October 17, 2021; 12:30 p.m.
November 21, 2021; 12:30 p.m.
December 19, 2021; 12:30 p.m.

Preparation Classes for Infant Baptism

The next Baptism preparation class for both parents and godparents will take place in mid-July, 2021, the exact date TBD.  During the pandemic, the class was a combination of Zoom and video sessions.  We have yet to decide whether to continue with online instruction, or to return to in-person instruction.  Registration will  open in about two weeks.  Please email baptism@sttheresa.cc if you wish to receive notification when registration opens.  

Future Baptism Preparation Classes:
July 2021 (Date and format to be determined.)
September 2021 (Date and format to be determined.)
The format may be in person (in St. Theresa's Fellowship Hall) or via Zoom and video.  Please check back for details.
  

Baptism Paperwork

How do I begin? 

Download and fill in the Baptism Request Form found on the segment Request for Baptism at St. Theresa Church above on this webpage.  Email the form AND a photo or image of the child’s official Certificate of Birth to baptism@sttheresa.cc.

Is the Certificate of Birth the same as the Certification of Vital Statistics?

No.  The Certification of Vital Statistics is an abstract of the Certificate of Birth.  The Certificate of Birth, also referred to as the "long form" contains more detailed information that the Church requires.  

May I schedule a Baptism before I fill in the paperwork?

No, you may not schedule a Baptism before you fill in the paperwork.  St. Theresa Church needs the completed forms to create a paper trail for a number of other activities that occur “behind the scenes.”

What do I do if I don’t have the birth certificate yet?

Send in the Sacrament Request Form with a note that you will send a copy of the birth certificate as soon as it is available.  

Why must I give St. Theresa Church a copy of my baby’s birth certificate?

The Baptism Certificate is a legal document.  It is very important that the baby’s full name be inscribed in the Baptismal record exactly as it appears in the birth certificate.  St. Theresa uses the birth certificate to verify the child’s name, spelling, parents’ names, etc.

May I schedule my baby’s Baptism during the Baptism preparation class?

No, you may not schedule the Baptism during the Baptism preparation class.  The instructor(s) do not have the current schedule.  Please contact St. Theresa Church at baptism@sttheresa.cc to request a date.  As a guideline, unless otherwise indicated on St. Theresa’s Baptism webpage, group Baptisms occur at 1:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month.  

What if there is an emergency?

Please contact St. Theresa Church immediately.  The receptionist will connect you with an individual who can assist you with arranging an emergency Baptism.

Baptism Preparation Classes

Is the Baptism class required for my baby to be Baptized?

Yes.  The parents and the godparents must provide a certificate of attendance if they do not take the preparation class at St. Theresa Church.

My spouse is not Catholic.  Must he/she attend the Baptism Class?

Yes.  It is important that both parents understand the responsibilities of baptizing a child in the Catholic Church.
 

About Godparents and Christian Witnesses

What are the requirements for a Godparent?

A Godparent must be a Catholic in good standing.  He or she must have completed his or her Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation) and if married, must be married in the Church.

My brother (sister) was never confirmed.  Is there a work around for him (her) to be my baby’s Godparent?

The only “work-around” is for the individual to attend adult Confirmation classes and be confirmed prior to the baby’s Baptism.
 

Is it OK if one of the Godparents is not Catholic?

To be a Godparent, one must be Catholic.  A family member or dear friend who is a member of a different Christian faith tradition may, however, be a “Christian Witness” to the child.
 

Who is a Christian Witness?

A Godparent is a Catholic; a non-Catholic of a different Christian faith tradition may stand as a “Christian Witness” in addition to one Godparent. 

My sister (or brother) is Catholic and received her (his) Sacraments of Initiation, but was not married in the Church.  Can she be a Godparent?

No, she (he) may not, since she (he) is not in a valid marriage  [A person in a valid marriage is one who either was:  1) Married by a priest or deacon, 2) married by a minister with the proper dispensation from the Bishop, or 3) had the marriage validated (blessed) by the Catholic Church.]

Is it OK to have only one Godparent?

Yes.

If there are two Godparents, does one have to be a man and the other a woman?

Yes.

If there are two Godparents, must they be married to each other?

No, although they often are.  

The Baptismal Rite

What must I bring to the Baptism?

St. Theresa Church will provide a candle to be used in the Rite of Baptism.  Some families prefer to bring their own.  Depending upon the family’s tradition, one may choose to provide a shell for the actual pouring of the water, or to give a white garment to place on the child during the Rite.  Families are welcome to bring their own candles, shells, and garments.  Please tell the presider before the Rite of Baptism begins.  Please unwrap or unbox all items prior to arrival at the church so they are readily available.

May we take photographs?

Photographs (preferably without flash) are allowed, but within reason.  Please maintain a respectful distance from the presider and the child.

My baby’s Godparents live out of town and cannot come in for the Baptism.  What can we do?

Godparents do not have to be present at the Baptism.  The parents can ask someone to be a proxy for the Godparent(s).

When will I get my baby’s Baptism Certificate?

St. Theresa Church will issue a Baptismal Certificate after the baby’s Baptism and after the Baptismal details are inscribed in the permanent Church records.  We will either mail it to you, or leave it at the Church reception desk for your pickup. 

• If your child is 7 years or older, he or she must attend Faith Formation classes for 2 years before being baptized.

• The Catholic Church believes that a child aged 7 years or older has reached the age of reason. Because a child has reached the age of reason, he or she will receive all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) at the same time, usually during the Easter season.

• Please contact Janice Berger at 713.869.3783, ext. 1816 for more information.

If you are an adult and you wish to be baptized, you will need to enroll in our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.

The RCIA program is a one to two-year program for those who have never been baptized, those who have been baptized in another faith tradition, or those who have been baptized in the Catholic faith but have not received the other Sacraments of Initiation.

For more information pick up an RCIA brochure.