Question 1

What is required of the parents who wish to have their child Baptized at St. Thomas More Parish?

Accepted Answer

To baptize in the Catholic church, at least one parent needs to be Catholic. Baptisms at Saint Thomas More are open to registered parishioners.

Parents and Godparents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation session through a virtual format such as Zoom through an appointment with the pastor. In this way, everyone can gain insight in what to expect on the day of your child’s Baptism.

Parents are required to provide appropriate documentation for the child’s Catholic godparent(s) before the baptism is scheduled. Information about the requirements for Godparents is available below and at the Bap- tism preparation session.

Question 2

Do I have to be a registered member of the parish in order to have my child baptized?

Accepted Answer

You are required to be registered in a Catholic parish to baptized your child in the Catholic Church. If you are registered at another parish and provide the written permission from your pastor to our Baptism office, you are permitted to baptize your child at one of our Communal Baptism Liturgies.

Question 3

What is required of Catholic Godparents?

Accepted Answer

When you invite a person to serve as your child’s godparent, you are asking this individual to make a lifelong commitment to your child. The day of your child’s Baptism marks just the beginning of the godparent- godchild relationship. It is the hope of the church and the Catholic community that your child’s godparents will be lifelong companions who will nurture your child’s faith and help him or her become a true disciple of Christ. Only one Catholic godparent is required for a child to be baptized, but if two godparents are chosen one must be male and one must be female.

To serve as a Catholic godparent, an individual must be:
A baptized Catholic who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation and regularly participates in the celebration of Sunday Eucharist. If married, the Catholic godparent must be married in the Catholic Church.
Registered as an active member of a Catholic parish
Sixteen years old or older

When you ask someone to act as a Catholic Baptismal Sponsor, please have them contact their current parish and request a Godparent form or letter of good standing. This helps affirm that the Godparent has their church’s permission to do so, and meets the above guidelines for Catholic Godparents. This form or letter is required before a baptism will be scheduled. A physical copy of this form or letter should be mailed or dropped off to:

St. Thomas More Catholic Church
10935 S. Military Trail
Boynton Beach, FL 33436

Any person who was baptized in the Catholic church who wishes to serve as a godparent must meet the above requirements.

If a Godparent cannot be physically present for the Baptism, a proxy may stand in their place by the Baptismal font. The proxy is not required to provide documentation from their church, as they are giving assent on behalf of the recorded Godparent.

Question 4

Can I have a Godparent who is not Catholic?

Accepted Answer

At least one Catholic godparent is required. A non-Catholic person who was baptized in another Christian tradition may be invited to serve as a “Christian Witness.” This person will participate in the celebration and will stand alongside the Catholic godparent during the baptismal ceremony. If one Catholic Godparent and one Christian witness are chosen, one will be male and one will be female, per the Code of Canon Law for the Catholic Church.

A person who was baptized in the Catholic church and has decided to leave the Catholic church of their own volition is not considered a Christian Witness. However, your invitation to them could be an opportunity to invite them back to participation in the Catholic church.

Question 5

How many godparents should there be?

Accepted Answer

Church law only requires you to have one godparent; however, it has been tradition to have two.

Question 6

Can the same godparents have responsibility for more than one child in the same family?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as they take seriously their responsibility and intention to help the children grow in faith.

Question 7

What sex should the godparent be?

Accepted Answer

If you choose only one godparent, you are free to choose a male or a female. However, if you wish to have two godparents, there must be one male and one female.

Question 8

Can a non-Catholic serve as a godparent?

Accepted Answer

A baptized, non-Catholic may serve as an Official witness to the baptism, only if there is proper Catholic sponsor who fully meets all requirements of a godparent. The non-Catholic who is selected as a witness should be an active and participating member of his/her church community. During the baptism, a Non-Catholic witness may perform all the parts of the ceremony that a godparent does. His or her name will be entered into the Sacrament Record Book as an Official witness, together with the name of the godparent.

Question 9

What is the difference between a godparent and a witness?

Accepted Answer

Witness is the term that is only mentioned in the Code of Canon Law. Canon Law describes a witness as a baptized person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community. A godparent is a confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.

Question 10

Can someone serve as godparent by proxy (stand-in) if the godparent is unable to participate in the baptism ceremony?

Accepted Answer

If a godparent cannot attend the baptism ceremony, a proxy can stand in the place of the missing godparent. The name of that person will be entered as a proxy in the Sacramental Record Book, along with the name of the missing godparent.

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