The Sacrament of Baptism

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.

Registered Parishioners are encouraged to call or stop by the office for details. 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 2 years.
3. Send the required documentation to our office.

• Copy of child's birth certificate 
• Copy of Godparent's Confirmation certificates
• (if applicable) Copy of Marriage certificate

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

Registration 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)

In the beginning of the Rite of Baptism of Children, the Godparents are asked if they are willing to help the parents of the one baptized in their duties as Christian parents. Thus, the function of the Godparents is not merely ceremonial or social but to assist the parents in raising their child in the practice of faith.

In addition to being fully initiated Catholic (i.e, having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) the Godparent must also be person of faith - one who regularly attends Sunday Mass, has been married according to the norms of the Catholic Church (if married), and strives to deepen his or her relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 
 


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Necessity

Christians have always interpreted the Bible literally when it declares, "Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21; cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:3–4, Col. 2:11–12). 

Thus the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), "We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins." 

And 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).

The Christian belief that baptism is necessary for salvation is so unshakable that even the Protestant Martin Luther affirmed the necessity of baptism. He wrote: "Baptism is no human plaything but is instituted by God himself. Moreover, it is solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. We are not to regard it as an indifferent matter, then, like putting on a new red coat. It is of the greatest importance that we regard baptism as excellent, glorious, and exalted" (Large Catechism 4:6).

Source: Catholic Answers