Infant Baptism Preparation Classes

General Information

Parents are required to attend a Baptism preparation class prior to scheduling the Baptism of their child. This preparatory class is held the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm, unless otherwise noted. Please consult the bulletin. The class is held in the Bradican Room, in the lower-level of the Parish enter. It is not necessary to pre-register for the class. After attending the class, the parent(s) should call the parish office to schedule the date of Baptism: 703) 451-8576, ext. 10. The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated at Saint Bernadette parish on the first and second Saturdays of each month.

Requirements for Baptism

1. The parent(s) of the child to be baptized should be registered in the parish and be in good standing. Nonparishioners may obtain a parish registration form at the preparation class.

2. If the parent(s) are not from Saint Bernadette parish and desire to have the child baptized here, a letter of permission from the home parish should be provided upon scheduling the sacrament.

Sponsors for Baptism (i.e. Godparents)

Excerpts from the 1983 Code of Canon Law, canons 872-874: Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor [i.e. godparent] who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1. Be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents, or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;

2. Have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

3. Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on [i.e. lives a life of Christian virtue, attends holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, is registered in a parish, and, if applicable, is validly married in the Catholic Church];

4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared [e.g. excommunication];

5. Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community [i.e. a non-Catholic Christian] is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.