Infant Baptisms
(for children under the age of six)

Families should arrange for baptisms well in advance so that there will be adequate time to prepare for the ceremony. This preparation includes an interview with the pastor, followed by one pre-baptism class. The Sacrament of Baptism for infants will be celebrated at St. Augustine Parish on the following weekends in 2012. Please note and plan on attending the appropriate baptism preparation class if you intend to have a child (under the age of six) baptized. Classes are held at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory. Please call the rectory to schedule your baptism date and meeting: 510.653.8631. Children six or older are prepared for baptism through participation in our Family Faith Formation Program; please contact Rebeccah Pelle in the parish office.

2012 Baptism Dates

Godparents for Infant Baptism

What is required to be a godparent?

Each child to be baptized requires at least one godparent (also called "sponsor"). If there are to be two godparents, one is to be a man and one a woman. Church Law does not allow for multiple godparents.

At least one godparent must be 16 years old or older, have been baptized, confirmed, and received Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church, and be living a life in harmony with the Faith and the role as godparent. It is preferable that this godparent be active in his or her faith practice.

If there is a second godparent, and the second godparent is not Catholic, that godparent should possess an active Christian faith.

The role of godparents is to help the child they sponsor to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with being a baptized person. To understand the obligations of this role, and to prepare to fulfill it, St. Augustine Parish requires godparents to attend the Infant Baptism Preparation Class, preferably with the parents of the child they will be sponsoring. The role of godparents is discussed during the class. This class is normally held during the week previous to the baptismal date. Please see the posted schedule for class dates, or contact the St. Augustine Parish office at 510.653.8631.

If time or distance prevents the godparents from attending the St. Augustine Infant Baptism Preparation Class, godparents can attend the Infant Baptism Preparation Class or Program in their home parish. After their completion of the program, the home parish should be able to provide each godparent with a letter indicating that he or she is prepared to act as godparent. This letter should be delivered to St. Augustine Parish before the day of baptism.

Conversely, godparents who will be traveling out of town and need a letter from St. Augustine Parish indicating they have been prepared for the role of sponsor are welcome to attend the St. Augustine Infant Baptismal Preparation Class. Please call the St. Augustine Parish office at 510.653.8631 to register for the class.