Pre-Baptismal Session

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Preparation 

St. Bernadette's celebrates the Sacrament of Baptism on the last Sunday of each month (except December) at 1 PM, after 12 PM mass.

When you are ready to celebrate this Holy Sacrament...

1. Visit the parish office to pick up a Baptism Registration Form or download the form below. ​ ​​
2. Sign up for one of our monthly scheduled Pre-Baptismal Classes. ** Both Parents and Godparents must attend, or have taken a Pre-Baptismal class elsewhere within the past year.
3. Send the required documentation to our office.

• Copy of child's birth certificate 
• Copy of Godparent's Confirmation certificates
• (if Godparents were married in the Church) Copy of Marriage certificate will be accepted in lieu of confirmation certificates.

Please contact the parish office for further details. 209-465-3081

Registration Form

For those who wish to take the baptism class ONLY at St. Bernadette's, please fill out and return the form below.
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Baptism classes are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6pm.

Class ONLY Form

Godparents 

The role of the Godparent is, "together with the parents, to present an infant at baptism, and help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it." (Canon 872)

The Church has established the following norms governing the Qualifications Required to be a Godparent:

• Be at least sixteen years of age.
• "Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken."
• "Not be bound by any canonical penalty.."

• "Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized." (Canon 874,1)

 


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Necessity

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5]. . . Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mark 16:16]" (CCC 1257).