Thank you for inquiring about the Sacrament of Baptism for your child, the most precious gift God gives you. In baptizing your child, you are taking forth the responsibility of guiding him/her in the practice of the faith in order for him/her to live as a child of God in this world. 

(If you would like information about Adult Baptism please go to the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA.)
           
Our parish community extends to you a warm and loving welcome as you prepare for the celebration of your child's baptism. Our Church teaches that parents are the primary teachers of the faith, and are reminded to make it their constant care to bring up their children in the practice of the faith.  This is a lifelong promise you make to your child on the day you baptize him/her.
           
Our Baptism preparation process is offered to help you, as parents, renew and deepen your faith celebrated in the sacrament. The steps in the process of preparation adopted in our parish are the following:

•  Contact the parish office and pick up a baptism packet containing a brochure,  registration  form and some more information.
• If you are not a registered parishioner, please ask your home parish for a letter of permission to have your child baptised at St. Joseph. 
•  Review  the brochure, “Your Baby's Baptism” in which many aspects of the sacrament is offered for your consideration and reflection.
• Consider the importance of baptism, and what is expected of you as parents and those you have chosen as godparents.
• Complete the baptism registration form, as fully and neatly as you can. Please attach a copy of the child's birth certificate and copies of the Godparents Sacraments of Initiation.
• Parents and godparents must participate in the baptismal preparation class which is held once a month. These sessions are offered to help parents and godparents understand their commitment in bringing up their child in the faith. Please call the parish office to sign up for the class.
• If godparents are not registered parishioners at St. Joseph, please have them request a letter of good standing from their parish. 
• After both parents and godparents have turned in all required documents and completed the Baptism Preparation class, you may schedule the celebration by contacting the parish office.
• There is no charge for a baptism. It is customary however, for an offering to be made. This is at the discretion of the family, knowing that your donation supports the work of our parish.
• Regarding Godparents/Sponsors: For a person to act as a sponsor for baptism, he or she must be at least sixteen years old, must have already received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist or Marriage Sacrament), and must be living in a way that demonstrates that one's faith is strong enough to be able to fulfill the responsibilities involved with being a sponsor. A sponsor who is married must be married in accordance with the laws of the Church (cf.CIC,can.874). Catholics who are living with their partners or who have been married in a civil ceremony do not qualify as godparents.

  
Baptismal Preparation Class/Platicas de Bautismo

       If you would like to sign up please contact our parish office at 916-685-3681.  Once you have completed the class, please contact the Parish office to schedule the Baptism.       
 
  
       Estaremos dando las platicas en persona. Para inscribirse deberán llamar a la oficina parroquial al 916-685-3681. Ya que hayan tomado la clase deberán comunicarse de nuevo con nosotros para agendar la fecha del bautismo.       

Al considerar quien ó quienes serán los Padrinos,  favor de consultar la cita del Catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica .
                                                                                CAPÍTULO IV
                                                          DE LOS PADRINOS (Cann. 872-874)
872 En la medida de lo posible, a quien va a recibir el bautismo se le ha de dar un padrino, cuya función es asistir en su iniciación cristiana al adulto que se bautiza, y, juntamente con los padres, presentar al niño que va a recibir el bautismo y procurar que después lleve una vida cristiana congruente con el bautismo y cumpla fielmente las obligaciones inherentes al mismo.
873 Téngase un solo padrino o una sola madrina, o uno y una.
874 § 1.    Para que alguien sea admitido como padrino, es necesario que:
1 haya sido elegido por quien va a bautizarse o por sus padres o por quienes ocupan su lugar o, faltando éstos, por el párroco o ministro; y que tenga capacidad para esta misión e intención de desempeñarla;
2 haya cumplido dieciséis años, a no ser que el Obispo diocesano establezca otra edad, o que, por justa causa, el párroco o el ministro consideren admisible una excepción;
3 sea católico, esté confirmado, haya recibido ya el santísimo sacramento de la Eucaristía y lleve, al mismo tiempo, una vida congruente con la fé y con la misión que va a asumir;
4 no esté afectado por una pena canónica, legítimamente impuesta o declarada;
5 no sea el padre o la madre de quien se ha de bautizar.
 § 2.    El bautizado que pertenece a una comunidad eclesial no católica sólo puede ser admitido junto con un padrino católico, y exclusivamente en calidad de testigo del bautismo.