Baptism

Baptism brings us into a life with Christ. If you are an adult seeking baptism  or a parent whose child is age 7 or older, go to the Becoming Catholic page to learn about the RCIA program.

  • Be mature enough to take the responsibility to testify to the faith of an adult convert, or to profess with the parents the Church’s  faith when a child is being baptized
  • Be able to help the parents as necessary to bring up the child as a good Catholic Christian
  • Have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist
  • Be a member of the Catholic Church who is living a life in harmony with the faith and with the role of sponsor.
  • Be at least 16 years of age, unless an exception is made for a special reason
  • Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized. (CCL 874)
  • If there is only one sponsor, that sponsor may be a man or a woman, regardless of the sex of the child.  If there are two, there should be one male and one female.  (CCL 873)

A LETTER IS REQUIRED FROM THE SPONSOR’S PARISH INDICATING THAT THE PERSON FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPONSORSHIP AND IS IN GOOD STANDING. THIS LETTER SHOULD BE SENT A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED CLASS TO:

Religious Education Department
Attn: Baptism
2222 Lake Michigan Dr.
Grand Rapids MI 49504