Baptism

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Dear Parents,

Congratulations as you celebrate your child’s journey into faith. This is a great time of joy and celebration for you, your family, and your parish family here at Sacred Heart of Jesus. Your decision to have your child baptized shows that you recognize the importance of God in your life and in the life of your child. There is great responsibility in choosing to raise your child in the Catholic faith, and your parish family at Saint Jude’s looks forward to walking with you and your child on your journey.

There are a few things that we will need to do to schedule a date for your child’s baptism and some information that we will need from you as well. By completing the form below, our parish office can walk you through all of the details and answer any questions that you may have.

Online Infant Baptism Registration Form

For the Baptism of Infants:

  1. Parents must be parishioners at St. Catherine Labouré Parish (they must either reside in the territory of the parish or have obtained the permission of their local pastor to register at St. Catherine Labouré). Parents who are not parishioners may have children baptized here with the permission of their own local pastor.
  2. A completed Baptism Registration Form must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to attending the Baptism Seminar of choice.
  3. A copy of your child’s birth certificate should be submitted so that we can make sure that we have the correct information about your child.
  4. Once the online registration form is submitted (see Step 2), the Baptism Coordinator will send a link to two online videos, which parents must watch prior to scheduling the baptism.
  5. Parents are to select one or two godparents (sponsors) for their child. Please see the Sponsor (Godparent) section below.
  6. Parents may elect to make a donation to the priest, parish, or both.

A Godparent must meet the following criteria (per the 1983 Code of Canon Law):

  1. Must be over the age of 16.
  2. Must be a Baptized, Confirmed, and practicing Catholic who has also received their First Holy Communion and who Catholic who leads a life of faith in keeping with the role to be taken on.
  3. In good standing with the Catholic Church
  4. If married, must be married through the Catholic Church (cohabitation outside of marriage also precludes one from serving as a sponsor).
  5. Parents may select one male or one female Godparent, or one of each.

Godparent will need to obtain a sponsorship form from their local parishes, stating that they are registered in a parish and practicing Catholics. Godparents from St. Catherine Labouré Parish may use this form. Godparents from other parishes should ask for a form at their parish office. Submit the completed form to Catherine Labouré Parish, 4000 Derrry Street, Harrisburg, PA  17111.

Baptism preparation for children 7-14 year of age

Classes for unbaptized children ages 7 through 14 are held in Saint Catherine Labouré School on Sunday mornings, 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., from September through May, except on Federal and Religious Holiday weekends.  These classes will follow the PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) Schedule. Students at St. Catherine Labouré School will normally be prepared through the School; additional meetings will be scheduled as needed. For additional information and registration, please contact 717-564-1321 or prep@sclhbg.org.

An additional program for unbaptized children ages 7 through 14 who are coming into the church with their parent(s) may be provided. Contact the parish at 717-564-1321 or adultfaith@sclhbg.org for more information.