Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission. "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word” (CCC 1213).

DOCUMENTS NEEDED For Baptism:

• A copy of the child’s state-issued birth certificate
• Baptism Preparation class certificate for parents and godparents
• Letters of Good Standing for each Catholic Godparent
• Letter of permission, if applicable
  
  

PARENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Attend a Baptism Preparation Class at any Roman Catholic Church. To attend a class at our parish, please register below.
• At least one parent must be a practicing and active Catholic.
• If parents are not registered parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, parents must obtain a letter of permission from their parish Pastor to baptize their child at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
• Parents are responsible for gathering and submitting all required documents (in PDF format) listed above to Susan Ozowski at [email protected]. 
• Include the name of the child to be baptized in the Subject Line of all emails to our parish. This helps us to better serve you and keep your details in order. 
  
  

GODPARENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Attend a Baptism Preparation Class at any Roman Catholic Church. To attend a class at Seton, please click on this link.
• Secure a Letter of Good Standing from your current parish stating you meet the requirements to be a Godparent. 
• The Catholic Church requires at least one Catholic Godparent. If two Godparents are chosen, one must be male and the other female.
  • Godparents must be at least 16 years of age and have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. 
  • If married, the Godparent must be married in the Catholic Church
• A validly baptized non-Catholic godparent may also act as a Christian Witness. Please note that a letter of good standing is not required for a Christian Witness
• Godparents may not be the child's legal parents.

Role of the Godparents

• WHITE GARMENTS: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church provides a white stole for each child who is baptized; however, parents may provide their own.
• CANDLE: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church will provide a Baptismal candle. It is acceptable for families to provide their own white candles if they desire.
• PHOTOGRAPHS: Photography is welcome at Baptisms; however, we ask that you refrain from using flash photography during the ceremony. Additional photos can be arranged following the ceremony.

To register your infant for Baptism at our parish, please complete the Infant Baptism Registration Form and Baptism Preparation Class Registration Form using the links below. Upon registering, a confirmation will be sent to your email. If you need to make any changes, share additional documents, or have further questions, please email Susan Ozowski at [email protected] with the name of your child in the subject line of your email