Infant Baptism

Baptisms are typically performed on Sundays at the 10am Mass, except during Lent.

The Church continues to encourage parents to bring their children from their earliest days for baptism.  Like other preparations for the birth of a child, parents ought to prepare for baptism before a child's birth. 

Registration in the parish is required.  All parishes require preparation for parents and godparents because parents are the focus of the sacrament for infants and young children.  Godparents must be practicing Catholics who have been confirmed in the Catholic Church and are no younger than age 16.  If they are not registered here, they must provide certification from their parish of their registration and preparation for serving as godparents.

In baptism there are several aspects where it is important for you to see yourself as a registered member of your parish:  First, the priest is obliged to have confidence that you are practicing Catholics, that you will do what you are pledging, that is, to bring up your child in the Catholic faith.  Second, you will be asking this parish to stand at your side to assist you as a community in rearing your child in the faith.  Third, your parish will be there to encourage you and your family with companionship, prayer, and catechesis.

Some parents find that the opportunity to baptize their child or children becomes the pathway for returning to their own enhanced practice of the Catholic faith.

We require preparation for all parents and godparents who have not had classes, or who have not prepared recently.  Our preparation is by appointment for individual families and their godparents.  More than one family is welcome to attend.  Children are welcome at the classes.  Preparation includes two classes of about an hour and a half each.  Call a least three weeks before you plan to take classes.

Parents who have had classes for another child are to call Tim Simunds for a form to be returned before baptism and updated information about scheduling a baptism at St. Alphonsus.

We celebrate baptisms when families are ready; baptisms are not planned for Lent.

It is customary for a family, according to its means, to make a donation to the parish at the time of baptism.  Some families also choose to make a gift to the officiating clergyman.  There is no fee to take the classes.

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Adult Baptisms

If you are interested in being baptized into the Catholic faith, you will need to first participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), which culminates in the Easter Vigil celebration.  If you were baptized as an infant and are returning to the Catholic Church, you do not need to be baptized again. You need only to go to Confession prior to receiving the Eucharist at Mass.