Baptism FAQ

Baptism Paperwork

How do I begin?

Fill out the Baptism Request Form on the webpage and include a photo or image of your child’s official Certificate of Birth. 
 

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

The Certificate of Baptism is considered a legal document, therefore St. Theresa uses the birth certificate to verify the child’s name, spelling, parents’ names, and place of birth and inscribe the Baptismal record exactly as it is on the birth certificate.
 

What is the difference between the State of Texas’ Certificate of Birth “long form” and the “short form”?

The “short form” birth certificate is actually entitled the Certification of Vital Statistics. It is an abstract of the Certificate of Birth, and does not include the child’s city or birth or the parents’ state, or if applicable, country of birth. St. Theresa Church will accept either, but if the parents elect to use the “short form” the Certificate of Baptism will show only the child’s county of birth. The “long form” birth certificate is the one that a parent would use to obtain a child’s U.S. Passport.
 

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. Note that a Certificate of Baptism can not be issued until a birth certificate has been provided.
 

What if there is an emergency and I need my child baptized immediately?

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

Baptism Preparation Classes

Is the Baptism prep class required for my baby to be baptized?

Prior to Baptism, parents are asked to participate in Baptism prep. If you have attended a class within the last four years, please indicate when and where this took place on your baptism request form. At St. Theresa, we offer baptism prep on the third Sunday of the month directly following 10:00 a.m. Mass in Fellowship Hall.
 

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.
 

Godparents 

How many godparents should I select? 

Only one godparent is required, but if there are two godparents, one must be male and one female. In some cultures, it is common practice to have many godparents. If the child is to have more than two, only two are listed on the record and on the baptismal certificate.
 

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

To be a Godparent, one must be Catholic, at least 16 years of age, and has received the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. 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’s Baptism.
 

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.
 

Can an unbaptized non-Christian (eg Jewish or Muslim or Hindu) friend stand as a Christian Witness?

No, a non-baptized person cannot serve as a Sponsor or as a Christian Witness.
 

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

Someone who has received her (his) Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church, and the Church considers her (him) to be Catholic must either be married by a priest or deacon, married by a minister with the proper dispensation, or have their marriage validated (blessed) by the Catholic Church.
 

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

No, although they often are. 
 

The Order of Baptism

We would like an individual baptism for our child; is that possible? 

All Baptisms are celebrated with the St. Theresa’s community during a Communal Baptism at 12:30 p.m on the 2nd Sunday of the month or during one of the three masses (5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil, 10:00 a.m., or 5:30 p.m. Sunday) on the third Sunday of each month.  The Communal Celebration is the Rite of Baptism and does not include the Liturgy of the Mass. If you need to schedule an Individual Baptism you must reach out directly to Fr. Phil, Deacon Dwight, or Deacon Larry to coordinate a date that works for your family and their calendar.
 

What must I bring to the Baptism?

St. Theresa Church will provide a candle to be used in the Order 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 Rites. Please tell the Presider or the Baptism Coordinator when you arrive at the church. Please unwrap or unbox all items prior to your arrival so they are readily available. You may also bring rosaries, crosses, or any other holy object that you would like blessed at the end of the ceremony.
 

May we take photographs?

Photographs are welcome.  If you would like to have the baptism photographed professionally, you may arrange for that on your own. Baptisms during mass are live-streamed should you wish to have remote family be able to watch the celebration of this important sacrament.
 

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 receive my baby’s Certificate of Baptism?

St. Theresa Church will issue a Certificate of Baptism after the baby’s Baptism and after the Baptismal details are inscribed in the permanent Church records. (Please ensure that you have provided St. Theresa Church with a copy of your child’s birth certificate. Without it, we are unable to inscribe your child’s Baptismal details in the permanent Church records and issue a Certificate of Baptism.) We will either mail the Certificate of Baptism to you or leave it at the Church reception desk for your pickup.
 

Other

What if my child is 7 and has not been baptized? 

The information below applies to the baptism of infants and children who have not yet reached the age of seven years old. Adults and children (seven or older) are invited into the process of Christian Initiation of Children based on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This process will prepare young people and their families for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. For more information, please contact Tommy Cordova at t.cordova@sttheresa.cc for more information.
 

How do I request Sacramental Records from St. Theresas? 

For Sacramental records(eg. Baptism Certificate, etc.) or a Sponsor Letter or Parishioner Permission Letter for Baptism away from St. Theresa, please contact our Sacramental Records Coordinator, Mary Bloom, at m.bloom@sttheresa.cc.