Congratulations on deciding to baptize your child. It's the most important decision you will make in his or her life of faith.   

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door that gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213)

Please review the requirements for Catholic Godparents before registering for a Baptism. 

If you have any questions, please call the parish and speak to the pastor, Fr. Palatucci. 

Baptism requirements are straightforward.  

• Birth Certificates Must Be Presented Before the Baptism Takes Place. If you are baptizing a child for the first time, please bring the certificate to the class. If this is your second or more time baptizing and you have taken the class previously, you may bring it on the day of the Baptism and show it to the clergy performing the sacrament.   
• The parish schedules baptism dates. Please call us for more information. 
• Baptisms occur after the 11 AM Mass at St. John's. If you wish to have the Baptism at St. Charles, you need to arrange it with the secretary but with the pastor's approval.  
• First-time parents will need to take a class. Again, call the office for the schedule. 
• Godparent Requirements: 
  • Sacramental documents are required. (Proof of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion). 
  • One is only needed, but if there are two, one must be biologically male and the other biologically female. Neither can have attempted sex-alerting surgery. 
  • 14 or Older in The Archdiocese of New York. 
  • Should be living a life of Christian virtue in conformity with the Church's teaching on marriage, relationships, and faith, including:
  • Should be attending Mass every Sunday.
  • At the very least, they must complete their Easter duty by participating in Easter Sunday Mass, attending the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, and receiving Holy Communion during the Easter Season.
• If married, it must be by a Catholic Sacrament or proper dispensation to marry a non-Catholic. State license-only situations need to be discussed with the pastor: 
  • • Not cohabitating - living with someone who is not their spouse.
    • Not divorced and remarried outside the Catholic Church.
  • Have not attempted a sex change operation or changed sexual orientation. 
  • Godparents must get a notice from their parish church that they are eligible to be a godparent/sponsor/They'll need to be registered at a parish church near their home. I do not accept registration here to be a sponsor. They must be living in the parish area for at least six months. For example, a person may have been raised in Pawling, Wingdale, or Dover, but if they live in another parish, county, city, state, etc., for more than six months, their parish is closest to their current home. I cannot give them a sponsor certificate. 
• An unmarried couple can baptize their baby, but they should be in the process of normalizing their relationship with Catholic marriage. Family life is the source of civilization. Jesus demands we marry if we are creating a family. Anything other than that is sinful and offends God. 
• Single parents may baptize their children as well. 
• Any child seven or over must enroll in PREP and attend classes there for at least one year before Baptism. They will be baptized at the yearly Easter Vigil. Another date may be chosen, but this must be approved by the pastor only. 
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