Sacrament of Baptism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.

Congratulations! Thank you for deciding to baptize your child at St. Leo the Great. You may begin the planning process as soon as you wish - no need to wait until the baby arrives. Our guidelines for Baptism:

• Parents must meet with the pastor (takes less than an hour) for a Baptismal preparation session. It is desirable that the parents - and the Godparents - all attend.

• Baptisms are usually celebrated on a Saturday (late morning or early afternoon) or on a Sunday after the 11:30 am Mass.

• Parents must complete a Baptismal Registration form prior to the Baptism preparation session, available on this page or pick up forms in our parish office no less than two weeks before the baptism.
  

• Godparents must be Catholics over age 16 years who have received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Two Catholic Godparents (one male; one female) are the standard, however, only one Godparent must be Catholic; the other can be a Christian witness.

• Godparents must complete the Godparent Eligibility form. This is then presented to the parish where the Godparent is a registered parishioner. Once that parish signs the form and affixes its parish seal, they can either mail it to us or the Godparent can return it to our office.

• The parish asks for a donation for the Baptism preparation and for use of the church. A donation to the clergy performing the ceremony is also appreciated. There is no set fee - please offer what you can and what you think is appropriate. Any donation is gratefully accepted.
  

Naming Your Baby

Baptism is also the time when the child is “introduced” to his/her parish family. The first question asked of the parents is, “What name have you given your child?” Because of this question, the Baptism is often referred to as a Christening. When naming your child, it is the hope of the Church that you choose a name keeping with Christian sensibilities. While naming your child after a saint is not mandatory for either first or middle names, the Church expects that the chosen name would not be offensive to Catholic norms, traditions, and beliefs.