Baptism is one of the three sacraments of Christian Initiation (along with Holy Eucharist and Confirmation) through which people become full members of the Church.

Baptism is the foundation for the Christian life; in Baptism we enter into the life of Christ. We begin a relationship with the Lord that grows throughout our lives and leads to eternal life. Baptism gives us God's life and frees us from sin. The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their child in the faith. In keeping with this belief, all parents presenting an infant for Baptism must participate in a Baptismal preparation session. The Preparation Program gives parents an opportunity to reflect on their own faith, to learn more about the meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism, and to be made aware of the responsibilities of being Catholic parents at Baptism.

Congratulations! Your baby's Baptism will be a special moment for you and your family. It will also be a special moment for our parish as we welcome your child into God's family. We look forward to helping you prepare for your baby's baptism so that it will be a day to remember for everyone.

If you have not previously registered as a member of St. Stephen Parish, we ask that you do so as part of the Baptism preparation process.

 

Baptisms are currently offered at the following times:

Please discuss your date selection when you speak with the Baptism coordinator.

Parents who have made the decision to baptize their child in the Catholic faith and would like to have the Sacrament of Baptism held at St. Stephen should complete the Baptism Information Form. (Click on the highlighted words or on the words Baptism Information Form in the drop down menu to the left.)

Once you complete and submit the Baptism Information Form, our parish office will contact you to schedule your child's baptism date.

Please note - upon completion of the form, it may take between 1 to 3 business days to contact you. We appreciate your patience. 

It is highly encouraged that both Godparents be a qualified Catholic, however if one of the Godparents is a qualified Catholic, then the second sponsor may be a Christian Witness as long as they have been baptized in a Christian faith.  The person being baptized may have only one official Godfather and only one official Godmother.  To be considered a qualified Catholic you must meet ALL of the requirements listed below:

• I am at least 16 years of age.

• I have received the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation).

• I am a registered member of my local parish community.

• I regularly attend Sunday Mass, and worthily receive the Holy Eucharist throughout the year.

• I am a Catholic Christian who believes in and practices the teachings of Christ and his Church.

• I am living my daily life in accordance with the traditional moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

• I will encourage and assist the parents in raising my Godchild in the Catholic Christian Faith.

• I am not the parent or the legal guardian of the person for whom I will be a Sponsor at Baptism.

• I am either validly married according to the laws of the Catholic Church and was married by a priest or deacon or had my marriage validated in a Catholic Church; or I am leading a Christian lifestyle as a single person.

Click below to download a copy of the Godparent form for Godparents registered at St. Stephen Deacon & Martyr Church.

If the Godparents are registered at another Church, please use the Godparent form from that Church.

THREE weeks prior to your child's Baptism date, parents need to bring the following to the baptism coordinator at the parish office during business hours:

• Godparent forms with Pastor/Priest signatures and Church Seal from the Church the Godparents are registered.

• $150 baptism fee.  Checks should be made payable to St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr Church.

St. Stephen would like to celebrate your child's very special Baptism day with our parish community by publicizing photos in the parish bulletin. (Please note - electronic versions of the parish bulletin appear on the parish website.) 

We are asking parents to submit a baptism photo to St. Stephen if they would like their child's photo to appear in the parish bulletin and on the parish website. Please follow these guidelines when making your submission:

• The child must be wearing his/her baptismal garments and the photo must be taken inside St. Stephen church.

• The photo can include the child, the parents, the godparents, siblings and the presider.

• In the email you send in, please include the child's full baptismal name, the date of the child's baptism, and names of the persons in the photo.

• Photos should be submitted by a parent within two weeks of the child's baptism to: [email protected]