We are excited to help you with the baptism of your child! Baptism brings new life into the Church and the parish. Our Office of Lifelong Faith Formation and team are here to support you!
To begin the process of having a child baptized, please complete our Baptism Inquiry Form. When completing the inquiry form, you will have the opportunity to choose your preferred baptism date – please make sure this is no less than 1 month away to allow time for all requirements to be completed. Our baptism coordinator, Lauren Huelster, will be in touch after completing the form.
If your child is over the age of 7, this process is a little different. Reach out to our Director of Lifelong Faith Formation, Elise Flick, for more information.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). If your question isn’t answered below, please contact us at baptisms@oldstmarys.com.
We welcome anyone to have their child baptized at Old St. Mary’s, as long as the family can honestly attest in the rite that they “are accepting the responsibility of training their child in the practice of the faith” and will “bring the child up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.”
Baptisms take place at one of our regularly scheduled weekend Masses so that our community can greet you and join you in prayer for your child. We carefully choose the weekends to offer as baptism dates to make sure that everyone has the best experience possible – when you fill out the Baptism Inquiry Form above, you will be able to see our upcoming baptism dates and indicate which one(s) work best for you. Please keep in mind that you must complete all requirements before your chosen date, or we will not be able to honor it – we recommend choosing a date at least 1 month out.
Baptisms are usually celebrated during Mass, allowing the whole community to share in the joy. If this isn’t possible for your family, please email baptisms@oldstmarys.com — we’d be happy to discuss your situation!
According to Canon Law, a person who meets the following criteria can be a baptismal godparent:
Only one Godparent is required, but if you choose to have two, one must be male and the other female.
We understand that many parents wish to include multiple loved ones as Godparents. While you are welcome to have others play a special role in your child’s faith journey, please note that only two names—one male and one female—can be listed on the baptism certificate. If you have multiple Godparents of the same sex, only one name will be recorded on the certificate.
Yes! We’re happy to provide a letter of good standing or complete a parish form if one has already been given to you. Please email Lauren Huelster with your request, and include any forms that need to be signed.
We’re happy to issue a letter of permission for you. We’ll need the name and location of the parish where the baptism will take place, as well as the scheduled date if known. You’re still very welcome to attend our baptismal preparation class here at Old St. Mary’s. Please email us at baptisms@oldstmarys.com.
Parents bringing their child for baptism are encouraged to actively practice their faith.
That said, we understand that every family’s faith journey is different. If you’d like to talk more about baptism and what it means for your family, please reach out to baptisms@oldstmarys.com – we’re happy to walk with you!
If a priest from outside the Archdiocese of Chicago will be presiding, a letter of good standing from their home diocese is required. We’re happy to help with this: please contact baptisms@oldstmarys.com for guidance on next steps.
A customary offering of $100 is appreciated for baptisms at Old St. Mary’s. Your generosity helps support our parish community, but please give as you are able and according to your means.
Yes! We want to help godparents prepare for this important role. If the godparents aren’t local, they can join one of our virtual baptism classes or find an in-person class at a parish near them.
If someone has served as a godparent within the last 5 years, this requirement is usually waived, but they’re always welcome to attend a class if they would like a refresher!
The process for baptism for adults is through the Order of Initiation for Adults (OCIA). You can find out more by visiting our OCIA page.