F.A.Q. about Baptism

Q: What are the requirements for my child’s Godparent?
A: The Catholic godparent must be at least 16 years old, and received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. They must be in good standing and a practicing Catholic at a parish.

Q: What will the Godparent need?
A: The Catholic godparent (s) will need our godparent form completed by their current church verifying the status in that parish. Godparents should also send verification that he or she received all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation) by contacting the church he or she was baptized at. Please have that church send records to St. Joseph Parish, Atten. Baptism, 732 18th Ave E, Seattle WA 98112.

Q: Can we have a non-Catholic godparent?
A. Yes. As long as you have one Catholic godparent that fits the above requirements.

Q: Does a non-Catholic godparent have paperwork?
A. No. Though we encourage ALL godparents to take at least one baptism preparation class at a Catholic church near them or here at St. Joseph. Once the class is completed, please have the church send a certificate of completion to the above address.

Q: What’s the difference between a godparent and a sponsor?
A. There really is none. Sponsor and godparent mean the same thing. A godparent is for baptism, a sponsor is for Confirmation, but it is a similar role, for they are willing to help raise the child in the faith. A sponsor at Confirmation, witnesses the faith and affirms the teen is prepared to receive the sacrament. (For adults seeking the sacraments it becomes more nuanced, because the adult has undergone their own journey into the church.)

Q: What other forms will I need for infant baptism?
A: You will need to fill out the baptism information form and godparent form. You will need to bring your child’s birth certificate in on the first day of class. We do not keep this on file, we visually verify your child’s information and then return the birth certificate to you right away. Church records are like legal records, and they need to match the sacramental record. You will also need to register as a parishioner prior to requesting a baptism date.

Q: What about classes? How many, how often, when are they offered, etc.?
A: Parents are required to take 1 baptism class. Godparents are strongly encouraged to also take classes. Here at St. Joseph, we ask godparents to take one baptism preparation class. Classes are typically held on Sunday afternoons from 1:00-3:30 pm. They begin with refreshments and table conversations and then lead into a balance between lecture, Q & A, and table discussions. No quizzes!

Q: Is there a rehearsal?

A: There is a walk through 30 minutes before the Mass. Please come 30 minutes before the Mass of the Baptism.

Q: When are baptisms?
A: There are 6-7 baptismal Masses a year. We alternate between the 9:00 & 11:00 AM Masses, if a Mass becomes full then we open the other Mass time. Though we encourage people to do the sacrament in the context of Mass, there are some extraordinary exceptions in which we will schedule a baptism outside of the normative time.

Q: How often are baptisms held?
A: Infant baptism are typically offered in September, November, January, February/March/April (depending on Lent and Easter), May and June. Again, check the schedule to verify. There are no baptisms during Advent, Lent, or in July.

Q: How often are classes held?
A: Classes usually precede weekend baptisms Typically; classes are offered 2-3 weeks before each baptismal Mass. There are no classes in December or July or August.

Q: If I am not a parishioner, may I take the class or have a baptism here at St. Joseph?
A: You do not need to be a registered parishioner to take the classes. Any family, parent, or godparent may sign up for the class. If you are not a parishioner, but have special circumstances for wanting to have a baptism here at St. Joseph, you will need to receive special permission from our pastor. Your current pastor will also have to send a letter of delegation in order for the baptism to take place here.

Q: What if we are parishioners at St. Joseph but we wish to have the baptism elsewhere?
A: Please make sure to contact Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik as soon as you know where and when the baptism will take place. You will need to coordinate classes, verify godparents and receive a letter of delegation from our pastor in order to have your child’s baptism take place other than St. Joseph. This takes more time and it is helpful to get this down before scheduling the baptism at a different location.

Q: Do parents need to have received all three Sacraments of Initiation to have their child baptized?
A. No. Both parents need to agree to the baptism, but only one parent needs to be a practicing Catholic registered at the parish.

Q: Do both parents need to be Catholic?

A: No. As long as one parent is Catholic and they other consents to the baptism, however, the presence of at least one parent is required and it is encouraged to have both present. If one chooses not to be, please have a conversation with the director of faith formation and pastoral direction will be given on your circumstances.

Q: Is there a fee?
A: There is no fee for the baptism, but there is a fee for baptism classes. The fee is $100 for both classes per family. For those outside our parish each class is $50 per person (parent or godparent).