Baptism

Please contact the Pastorate 24 church in you wish to have your child baptized. You will be put in touch with the Baptism Coordinator who will provide the details of the Baptism Pathway and answer any questions you may have. Fr. David Wanish is the primary contact priest for baptisms for the Rock County churches in Pastorate 24.

We’re excited to welcome you and your child into Pastorate 24 Parish family! If you are not already registered with a church, or if you are still under your parents’ registration, please contact the church you wish to register with, complete the registration form and return it to the office. Registration Form

Please introduce yourselves to Fr. David before a Mass (at any of the Pastorate 24 churches) and he will plan for a brief meeting after that Mass regarding your child’s Baptism. Fr. David will go over some of the Baptism Pathway requirements regarding you, as the parents, and the godparents. He will then advise you to contact the church Baptism Coordinator who will direct you to the Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God Online Course.

Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God is a simple and easy to understand baptism preparation program. Fr. Mike Schmitz will guide you through a series of engaging and inspiring videos that you can go through at your own pace and schedule. You will experience an incredible encounter with Jesus and with the Church and come to understand your important mission of Christian parenting.

This program uses a Parent guide (workbook/journal) that you will need to pick up from the church office before you begin the videos.

Once you have completed the course, please send your Completion Certificate to the Baptism Coordinator who will then contact the Baptism Mentor couple assigned to you to schedule the follow-up meeting with them.

You will be assigned to a Baptism Mentor Couple who is currently active and raising a family in the Catholic Church. They will get to know you personally and walk with you on your journey of faith and discovery. The mentor couple will be given your contact information, and they will schedule the meeting with you. The meeting is typically held after a Sunday mass at church; however, other arrangements may also be made. Sponsors/Godparents (if known) are welcome to attend.

Together with your Baptism Mentor Couple you will watch a short video segment from the Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God Online Course and review:

• the Sacrament of Baptism… what is it and why is it important?
• how living your baptism promises will help you and your family grow in relationship with God through living the Catholic faith;
• discerning the selection of Godparents;
• the joys and challenges of raising children in our current culture and the value of a faith lived through a parish community.

This will be a great opportunity to further get to know another couple in our parish who can share their Baptismal experiences as well as traditions they have implemented as a family that keep their family close to Christ, and why they chose the godparents.

After you have met with the Mentor Couple, please contact Fr. David to arrange a time for a more in-depth meeting with him. He is looking forward to celebrating this special day with your family. During this meeting you will review the Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God and discuss your thoughts about your child’s baptism. He will take this opportunity to get to know you and your family, and share how we, as your parish family, can help support your growth as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. This pre-baptism meeting is also a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about baptism, the baptism liturgy, godparents, the parish, etc.

It is at this step on the pathway that we will discuss the date for your child’s Baptism. Your child’s baptism date will be confirmed once the preparation process is completed.

Your church’s Baptism Coordinator will support you through the completion of paperwork and the selection of your child’s Godparents:

• Baptism Information Form – Baptism Information Form Please complete and return to the Baptism Coordinator
• Sponsor Form for Catholic Godparents – Sponsor Form Sponsors should have their parish pastor complete the form and return to the Baptism Coordinator

The selection of Godparents is an important task. Godparents are responsible for assisting in the spiritual development of your child, so it is important that they live the faith on a personal level and on a regular basis. In order to honor this important role, Godparents should:

• be practicing Catholics, participating weekly at Mass;
• be age sixteen or older;
• have been confirmed;
• if married, have their marriage recognized by the Catholic church (documents completed with a priest or deacon); and
• present a completed Sponsor Form from their home Catholic Parish.

One Godparent is required, and two Godparents (one male and one female) may be chosen. Under special circumstances, permission may be given for one non-Catholic who is a baptized Christian to be a “witness” to the baptism. Witnesses cannot be former Catholics and are not considered Godparents.

Please keep in mind that these requirements serve not to impede your child’s Baptism, but rather to lovingly support you in providing the best choice of Godparents for your child’s faith.

While not a requirement for your child’s baptism, please consider participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Just as Baptism cleanses a child’s soul of Original Sin, so the Sacrament of Reconciliation cleanses an adult’s soul from personal sins. If you have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a while, do not worry, the priest will walk you through the steps.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at various days/times in our Pastorate, please see the bulletin for current schedules.

Here in Pastorate 24 – Rock County Churches, the Sacrament of Baptism is encouraged to be celebrated during either our Saturday evening or Sunday morning liturgy. Please inform Fr. David if you’d like the baptism to be at a different time.

White gown or clothing is traditional for the child, but not required. A Baptismal Garment (full bib) and candle will be presented to the child during the baptism.

Baptism is an occasion to celebrate! Please invite as many relatives and friends as you would like!

Once your child has been baptized, their faith journey is just beginning! You will want to live and model the faith, supported by the many opportunities to worship, grow, serve, connect and give at all the churches within Pastorate 24.

You will nurture your child on their discipleship journey, supported by our Pastorate 24 Faith Formation Programs which includes 4K/5K, Youth Formation: Grades 1 through 5, Teen Formation: Grades 6 through High School and Family Faith Formation. We also offer Adult Formation through Small Group opportunities and RCIA (becoming Catholic). Please contact the Faith Formation Coordinator at your church:

St. Joseph: Kim Jensen at 608-884-3038 opt 2, cre@stjoeedgerton.org

St. Augustine/St. Paul: Amanda Adams, 608-882-4138, formation@rockcountycatholic.org