Prerequisites for the Celebration of
Baptism at St. Hyacinth, Amarillo, Texas. 

 

As you are seeking the baptism of your child in the Roman Catholic Church, the following guidelines are presented to help you embark upon this journey of faith with Christ and his Church.

Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Baptism becomes our commitment to grow in this new life and to strive to acquire spiritual maturity. By baptism, God purifies us from sin.

Baptism is the sacrament of faith which has the Risen Christ as its source, and it is the offer of salvation for all people. Intimately linked to Confirmation and to Eucharist, Baptism is, with these two sacraments, Christian Initiation. The child is baptized in the faith of their parents, godparents and of the Church.

1. Parents requeting baptism for their child must be registered in a parish and sponsors must attend baptism classes and  must be active practicing members of the Catholic Church.  For baptism class schedule, call church office. 

2. A godparent must be Catholic, a baptized Catholic above the age of 16 years old and also has completed the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.  A baptized non-Catholic may not be a godparent but can serve as a witness along with a Catholic godparent. 

3.  Godparents cannot be the parent of the child that is baptized. 

4.  A godparent needs to regularly attend Mass.  "Nobody expects you to be perfect," says Patrick Madrid.  "The Catholic Church does not require you to have a halo.  But you have to be making a good faith effort to be a good Catholic - to love the Lord and to grow closer to him."

5.  Two godparents don't have to be married to each other, but there can only be one male sponsor or one female sponsor, or one of each.  In other words, you can not have two godfathers or two godmothers. 

6. Non-baptized persons may not serve as a godparent.  Godparents must complete a godparents form available at the church office. 

7. If the sponsors belong to another Catholic Church they must bring a letter from their Parish priest stating that they are active members in good standing and that they can act as sponsors of Baptism.   (Being a member in good standing means you have received all your sacraments, participate at weekend Mass and receive communion frequently)
                                                                                
8. Before starting the baptism classes or setting up any date for the actual baptism, parents of the child must come by the office and bring the original birth certificate of the child being baptized.  A baptism form will be filled out at this time. 

6. Only the parents of the child or legal guardian can request the Sacrament of Baptism for the child. 

For questions, call the Parish Office at 806-358-1351.