"Let the children come to me and do not hinder them.

It is to just such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." 

- Mark 10:14

 

Baptism, like the other Sacraments, is a community celebration.  God alone is the source of all life and all love.  He has blessed your child with the precious gift of life.  God wants you, as parents, to help your child discover His gift of faith.  The baptismal rite reminds the parents that they are the child’s first teachers.  Your love, your teaching, and especially your good example will help your child to grow in faith and in their relationship with God.  This is why we have a special program to prepare parents and godparents by raising their consciousness about this important responsibility.

 

The first step is to come pick up a Baptismal

Packet from the Parish Office. 

 

Requirements for Parents:

1. At least one parent must be a Catholic - intending that the child become a fully

    initiated member of the Catholic Church (Baptism-Eucharist-Confirmation).


2. In no particular order, parents must complete a Pre-Baptism Orientation 

    Appointment and a Pre-Baptism Instruction Class.


3. Prior to the Baptism all required paperwork must be submitted to the Parish

    Office. This includes:
        • Copy of the child’s birth certificate
        • Copy of the final decree of adoption (if applicable)
        • Copy of the Pre-Baptism Class Certificates for the parents and

           Godparents (if not taken at St. James)
        • For godparents residing outside of the Archdiocese of LA who are

           unable to locate a Pre-Baptism class, a letter from their parish priest 

           indicating that they are qualified to be a godparent.


4. Parents may select two godparents (one female & one male). The Church,

    however, requires only one godparent. Please see the “Requirements for

    Godparents.”


5. If a godparent can not be present at the Baptism, the parents may choose a

    proxy to stand in for them. The proxy must be a Baptized Christian, but is not

    required to attend a Pre-Baptism class.


6. Parents may not serve as their child’s godparent.

 

Requirements for Godparents:

1. Godparents must be over the age of 16, fully initiated in the Catholic Church

        (Baptism-Eucharist-Confirmation), and a practicing Catholic. A practicing  

       Catholic is one who attends Mass and receives the Sacraments regularly.

       A second godparent of the opposite sex, if chosen, may be Baptized in  

       another Christian tradition. These godparents are referred to as a “Christian

       Witness.”

2. The godparents must attend a Pre-Baptism Class. They may attend a class

        offered at a parish near their home. If they do, a certificate of attendance must

        be submitted to the Parish Office.

    3. In the case where the godparents live outside of the Archdiocese of LA and

        no classes are offered, they may submit a letter (on parish letterhead) from

        their parish priest indicating that they are qualified to be a godparent.

Baptism Class Schedule

(Reservations are Required)

 

Classes are held (once a month) in Room 6 of the Parish Center from 7:00 pm - 9:15 pm.  Parents and godparents are required to attend a class (unless they have done so within the past three years).  To register, please send an e-mail to baptismclass@aol.com.  On your e-mail, please include the names of those planning to attend (indicating if they are a parent or godparent) as well as the date of their preferred class.  Please come ten minutes early to check in. Given the hour of the day and the length of the pre-baptism class, parents and godparents are asked not to bring their children (of any age) with them to class but to leave them under the care of a family member or babysitter.

- 2013 -

April 23

May 21

June 25

July 30

August 27

September 24

October 29

November 19

December 17

 

Dates for the Celebration of Infant Baptism

 

- 2013 -

 

April
14
May
5 & 19
June
2 & 23
July
7 & 21
August
4 & 18
September
8 & 22
October
13 & 27
November
10 & 24
December
8 & 22

 

Baptisms begin at 2 pm in the Church.

Please arrive by 1:45 pm

 

To Schedule Baptism Date

Dates for the celebration of Baptism do not fill up.

You may select a date for Baptism any time after completing all of the above noted requirements (of both the parents and the godparents). 

If you are Baptizing your child at St. James, please phone the Parish Office at (310) 372-5228 or send an e-mail to deaconbob99@aol.com at least one (1) week prior to your child’s Baptism to confirm your date.

Additional Information

 

Age of Infant Baptism

Parents should do everything within their power to bring their child for baptism within a reasonable period of time following birth.  As soon as possible, even before the child is born, the parents should be in touch with the Parish Office concerning the baptism, so that proper preparation may be made for the celebration.

 

Baptism Donation

All the sacraments are free, the same as God's love for us. However, we ask you to help contribute to the on-going support of the Church. Your free-will offering should be given at the time of your child's Baptism.