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Baptism

Having Your Child Baptized
- If you are not currently registered at St. Bernard, call the main office at extension 2 to register in the parish. You can find the form on our website, you can call, or you can stop by the office.
  
  Call or Email the Pastoral Associate, Barb Yoder (513-353-4207 x5).
  
  Read information on who can be a godparent.
  
  Think about when you would like the baptism to happen. Baptisms at St. Bernard are usually on the second Sunday of the month following the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Exceptions can be made for good cause.
  
  If this is your first baby, or if it has been more than two years since your last child’s baptism, please arrange a meeting with the pastoral associate to learn more about the sacrament of baptism.
  
  Set your date with the parish office, 513-353-4207 x2, Torrey Kumler.
  
  Invite 1 or 2 people to be godparents. Be sure to read up on the requirements for a godparent.
  
  Have the godparents fill out their forms and have them signed and sealed by their pastor. Once all is complete, send them to the parish office. Please place it in an envelope and deliver it to the parish in person, via the collection or mail.
  
  CONTACT INFORMATION
  Barb Yoder, Pastoral Associate: [email protected], 513-353-4207 x5
  Torrey Kumler, Admin Asst.: [email protected], 513-353-4207 x2
- How to Choose Godparents
  
  Occasionally we run into misunderstandings concerning who is permitted to act as a Godparent for the Sacrament of Baptism. So, I believe it is important to explain the Godparent's role with proper catechesis. The term "Godparent" only applies to baptized Catholics. Protestants cannot act as Godparents, but as a "Christian Witness" to the baptism. There must be at least one Catholic Godparent for a person to be baptized in the Catholic Faith. In the case of emergency baptism, this is waived. There may be one Godfather, one Godmother, or one of each [Canon Law 873]. In infant baptism, the Godparent(s) together with the parents assist the baptized to lead the Christian life, primarily by example, in raising a child in the Catholic faith. [Canon Law 872).
  Requirements to be a Catholic Godparent:
  To be accepted to undertake the duty of a Catholic Godparent, it is necessary:
  
  that one be designated by the parents of the child and have the aptitude and intention of carrying out this duty.
  
  that one be at least 16 years of age.
  
  that one is a baptized Catholic, has received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, and actively practices the Catholic Faith by regularly attending Sunday Mass and receiving the other sacraments, as necessary.
  
  that the designated Godparent is a registered and active member of a Catholic parish. If the designated Godparent is not a member of St. Bernard's, his/her pastor must sign a document verifying the qualifications of the Godparents. The request for a sponsor certificate is directed to the pastor of the parish in which he/she is registered.
  
  that one is not the father or mother of the child to be baptized.
  
  Christian Witness: A baptized Non-Catholic Christian who actively practices his/her faith, may stand with the Catholic Godparent as a Christian witness [Canons 873-874]. Baptized Catholics cannot be designated a Christian Witness. Catholics must meet the above Requirements to be a Godparent or should not be asked to perform this important role in the life of a child.
  
  Problems Encountered: The baptism of your child is a very important event in his/her life. It is the first of the three sacraments that initiate a child into the Catholic Church. Parents need to find good, practicing Catholics for Godparents. Sadly, this task can be very difficult in today's world. As a result, parents sometimes look to those who cannot meet the basic standard for Godparents. A Godparent must meet the above requirements, without exception. Parents should know and understand the proper role of Godparent or Christian Witness before asking someone to fulfill this important role. This will eliminate the embarrassment and confusion of rescinding a request to family members or friends. If you are unsure about whether one is appropriate for this role, please speak to a parish priest or pastoral associate for clarification before you ask someone to be a Catholic witness or Godparent. The parish priests and staff are always available to help you to make decisions about Godparents and Christian witnesses. Godparents and Christian witnesses serve a special role in the life of the baptized person and should be trustworthy believers of the faith as they help the Godchild attain salvation.
  
  Godparent by Proxy: If the designated Godparent cannot be physically present at the baptism, the Godparent along with the parents may appoint another person to stand in as a proxy, but the appointment must be made in such a way that there is certainty as to the person who takes the responsibility as Godparent. In the sacramental record of the baptism, the names of both the Godparent and the proxy should be entered.
- Baptism Request Form
  
  The maximum number of form submissions has been reached. This form is currently not available.
  
  Date REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter a date.
  
  Requested date for baptism; typically second Sunday of the Month following the 11 a.m. Mass Please enter a date.
  
  Family street address REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  City REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  State REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Zip REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter a zip code.
  
  Primary Email REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter an email address.
  
  Primary Phone Number REQUIRED Maximum 20 characters Please fill out this field. Please enter a phone number.
  
  Child's legal name, (first, middle & last) REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Child's date of birth REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  City and State of birth REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Father's full legal name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Father's religion REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Mother's full legal name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Mother's maiden name REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  Mother's religion REQUIRED Please fill out this field.
  
  Are the parents of the child married to each other? REQUIRED Mother & Father are married to each other Mother & Father are engaged to each other Mother & Father are not married, and do not plan to be married Please fill out this field.
  
  Where were the parents of the child married? REQUIRED A Catholic Church Other faith church Civil ceremony Please fill out this field.
  
  The name of the church or place where the marriage ceremony was celebrated. REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
  
  If parents are not married, who has custody of the child? Shared custody Mother has primary custody Father has primary custody
  
  When your information is recieved, you will recieve a follow up phone call or email. You will recieve more information about attending a baptism workship and godparent forms to be filled out by your selected godparents. All godparent forms must be signed and sealed by the pastor of the parish where your godparents are members. All paperwork must be in at least two weeks prior to baptism date. For more information or if you don't recieve a follow up call/email, please contact the parish office, 513-353-4207 x2.
  
  Submit
  
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- Godparent Form
- Christian Witness Form

Baptism

Requirements to be a Catholic Godparent: