With your baptism, you were born into the life of grace.
Pope francis
Thank you for considering having your child baptized at St. Gabriel Church. Baptisms are celebrated on most Sundays at 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM. Baptisms by their nature are communal and a public declaration of the faith; you may be scheduled with other families who will be celebrating the sacrament. If your child is older than age six, please call the Parish Center for information on OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation of Children).
Baptism classes: In order for you to baptize your child at St. Gabriel Church, parents must take a Baptismal Preparation Class. Classes will be scheduled by our Deacon at his discretion. Please contact Deacon John Hurst at Hurst39@gmail.com when you are ready to schedule the required class. If you have already taken the class here within the last five years you do not need to take another class. If you have taken the class at another parish, please provide documentation.
Parents: Parents must be active, registered parishioners of St. Gabriel Church or live within the parish boundaries. If you do not live within the parish boundaries, you must provide a letter from your neighborhood parish stating that you have permission to baptize your child at St. Gabriel.
Godparents: Only one godparent is required. If there are two, one must be male and one female. They must be a practicing Catholic at least 16 years of age that has received Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. If they are married, the marriage must be recognized in the Roman Catholic Church as valid. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic Christian faith may be a witness but only with a Catholic godparent. Godparents must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class and provide a certificate of proof and they must sign the Sponsor Covenant Form attesting that they are in full communion with the Church.
Birth Certificate: A copy of your child’s birth certificate must be attached to your Baptismal Request Form.
There is a suggested $50 donation for administrative fees that can be paid at the time of the baptism. You may also choose to include a separate honorarium for the priest or deacon who performs the sacrament, but it is not required.
We must receive all necessary paperwork before any baptism date can be scheduled or confirmed.
This is a joyous occasion for your family, and we are happy to help you in any way we can. If you have any further questions, feel free to call the Parish Center at 415-731-6161.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to be a parishioner to have my child baptized at St. Gabriel?
The short answer is yes, but there can be any number of circumstances in which you might possibly have your child baptized at St. Gabriel. Maybe you went to school here and feel a special tie to the community. Perhaps your parents are active, registered members of St. Gabriel. We are open to possibly accommodating your special requests, however we strongly encourage you to baptize your child at your own neighborhood parish church.
Do the parents of the child have to be married?
No, however, we invite those who have not received the sacrament to talk to one of our parish clergy for more information on this very important sacrament.
Can a family member or someone of my choosing who is not Catholic but a Christian serve as a godparent?
No, Canon Law states that godparents are to help the newly baptized live a Christian life and faithfully fullfill the duties inherent in baptism. The godparents most important priority is to see that the child is raised in the Catholic faith, and so it only makes sense that the sponsor must be a fully-initiated Catholic.
Does my spouse or parent of my child have to be Catholic?
No, only one parent needs to be a baptized Catholic. The non-Catholic parent should agree to have the child baptized. As long as there is a founding hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith, the Church will work with the parents on baptizing the child and addressing any specific concerns.
Can I have more than two godparents?
Canon Law states that only two godparents can be officially recorded in the baptismal register. While many cultures traditionally honor multiple godparents, the Church will only recognize one male and one female. Families are welcome to involve others as spiritual mentors or special figures in their child’s life.