Baptism
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The Sacrament of Baptism
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
— MATTHEW 28:19The Sacrament of Baptism is incredibly important for any Christian and we are honored that you are interested in baptizing your child here at your St. Mark. We hope that this is the beginning of many sacraments for your family!
Preparing for this sacrament is of great importance and each parish has a unique process for their parishioners. We invite you to read through this page carefully to better understand our requirements and procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Parish Office by phone at (972) 423-5600 or email [email protected] for more information!
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Requirements
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Requirements for Parents
At St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church we require the following from parents seeking to baptize their child:
- At least one of the parents must be Catholic (baptized in the Catholic Church)
- Parents must attend a Baptism Preparation Course.
- If the parents have attended a baptism class in the past 2 years, they can provide the certificate of completion by emailing it to [email protected] to be exempt from retaking the class
- Parents must provide a copy of the birth certificate of the child to be baptized.
- If the parents are members of another Catholic parish, they must bring a letter from the respective parish stating that they have permission to baptize the child at St. Mark.
Please be sure to read the "Requirements for Godparents" to ensure the person can fulfill the requirements of a godparent.
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Requirements for godparents
At St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church we require the following from aspiring godparents:
Please make sure that you meet the requirements below before registering for the baptism class; refunds will not be given.- Only one godparent is necessary. The godparent(s) must be a fully initiated Catholic (baptized, confirmed, received Eucharist), at least 16 years old, and must be leading a sacramental life in harmony with the church (cf. CIC canon 874). Maximum of 2 Godparents per child.
- If there are two godparents, one must be male and the other female. There cannot be two male godparents or two female godparents.
- They should attend Sunday Masses and holy days, live a life according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and if they are not registered at St. Mark, they need to provide a letter from their parish along with the other required documents (copy of the confirmation certificate, if single or a copy of the Catholic marriage certificate, if married) stating they are registered members of the parish they attend.
- If the Godparent(s) is single, meaning not married nor living in common-law with somebody, he/she must provide a copy of their Certificate of Confirmation from the Catholic Church
- If the Godparent is married, he/she must provide a copy of the Catholic Marriage Certificate (must have received the following sacraments: baptism, first communion, confirmation, and marriage)
- The godparent may not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized (cf. CIC canon 874).
- A baptized and believing Christian from a separated church or community may act as a Christian witness at the request of the parents, but there must be a Catholic godparent. A lapsed Catholic should not be a Christian witness (cf. CIC canon 874).
- Godparents should attend a Baptismal Preparation Course in order to better understand their role as godparents. Such preparation also provides opportunity for renewal of, and new understandings about, the Catholic faith.
- Unfortunately, we cannot accept godparents who:
- are not Catholic
- are under the age of 16
- are living with their partner under common-law, meaning without being married through the Catholic Church
- are married outside of the Catholic Church
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Steps
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Step 1
Attend a Baptism Preparation Course
The Baptism Preparation Course is a requirement that will help parents and godparents gain a fuller appreciation of the sacrament of Baptism and what it means to raise a child in the Catholic faith. At St. Mark, we have begun to offer this course in-person again.
WHAT Baptism Preparation Course
WHEN First Tuesday of the Month at 7:00pm in English. Baptism classes in Spanish are on the Second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.
English: 7:00 pm - 1st Tuesday of the month | Spanish: 7:00 pm - 2nd Tuesday of the monthWHERE
McGivney Hall located in the St. Mark Parish Center (parish office location across from Hallmark and Michaels, next to Prosperity Bank) 1105 W. 15th St., Plano, TX 75075 (at the intersection of 15th Street and Alma) WHO The course must be completed by both parents and godparents of the child who will be baptized.
Godparents, please read the "REQUIREMENTS TO BE A GODPARENT" before registering for the class; no refunds will be given.HOW Parents and Godparent(s) must pre-register and submit payment for the class. Limited availability. No children or walk-ins allowed.
HOW MUCH Parents: $30.00 (Cost increase to $30.00 effective July 2024 class)
Married Godparents: $30.00 (Cost increase to $30.00 effective July 2024 class)
Single Godparent(s): $20.00 (Cost increase to $30.00 effective July 2024 class)In order to attend a Baptism Preparation Course we ask that you pre-register and submit payment with registration.
We encourage you to re-read the requirements to ensure that you can participate in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.
Note: Payment by credit or debit card will be required during the registration process below.Payment
Please make sure to fill out the payment form correctly.
- Make sure you are paying the correct amount, according to your status as parents, single godparent(s), or married godparents.
- If you are a parent, include the name of both parents and if you are married godparents, include the name of the both godparents.
Sign Up Below
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Step 2
Register & Submit Documents
After completing the Baptism Preparation Course and/or after our Parish Life office receives your certificate of completion, we can move forward to the next step: Registering for Baptism at St. Mark.
PLEASE NOTE: We now will require that all paperwork must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of choosing a Baptism date.This step consists of providing more information about the child, the family, and the future godparents. Again, we prompt you to reread the requirements to ensure that you can participate in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.
Parents Information
Important: Parents must provide the birth certificate of the child. You may scan the document and email it to [email protected] or you may bring it to the Parish Office during business hours for us to scan this for you.
Godparent(s) Information
Godfather Information
Godmother InformationImportant: Married Godparents must provide a Catholic Marriage Certificate. Single Godparents must provide a Confirmation Certificate. You may scan the document and email it to [email protected] or you may bring it to the Parish Office during business hours for us to scan this for you. All godparents need to provide a letter from their parish stating they are registered members of the parish they attend, if they're not registered at St. Mark
Submitting Documents
Please send in the necessary documents (listed above) via email to [email protected]. In the message box of the email please notify us if you have completed all necessary steps so we can review your file. Due to the large number of requests/emails that we receive please allow 2-3 business days after submitting all documents to receive an email. It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure everything has been submitted. We will not review any files until we have been notified via email that all documentation and registrations have been completed. All paperwork must be sumbitted at least 30 days in advance of choosing a Baptism date.
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Step 3
Schedule Baptism Date
After all of the steps above have been completed, all documents, certificates, and forms have been turned in…our Parish Life Office will contact you with a link to schedule the date for your child’s baptism. DON'T FORGET: We now require that all paperwork must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of choosing a Baptism date.
Usually, baptisms are held on Saturdays at 10:00 am; however some liturgical and secular holidays interfere with this norm. Please do not book any flights nor make invitations until your official baptism date has been confirmed.
More specific instructions about the baptism ceremony will be provided when you receive the link to schedule your child’s baptism.We are excited for you and your family as you take this next step in your journey of faith as a family in our community and in the Catholic Church. Let us know how we can support you along the way!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to be a member at St. Mark to baptize my child here?
No, we do not require membership to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. However, we invite you to register with us! If you don’t already have a home parish, we’d like to be your St. Mark! If you are a member at another catholic parish, we do need a letter from them saying that you can baptize your child here.
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Can I take the Baptism Prep Course at St. Mark if child is baptized at another church?
Yes! As long as you meet the godparent requirements, you are more than welcome to take the course here. Please remember that you may be required to present the certificate of completion to the church where the baptism will take place. Please read the "Requirements to be a Godparent" before registering for the baptism class; refunds will not be given,
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Can I be a godparent if I am civilly married?
If you are ALSO married through the Catholic Church, you may be a godparent. If your civil marriage has not been convalidated by the Church, you are not eligible.
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Can the godparents be two married adults, even if they are not married to each other?
Yes. You can have (separately) married godparents, but both must be married through the Catholic Church and both must present marriage certificates. When taking the Baptism Preparation Course, they would each pre-register as a “Single Godparent” and pay the $25.00 fee each.
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I am not sure how much I should pay for the course.
If you are a parent, as a couple, you only pay $25.00 (not each). When signing up for the class, make sure you note both parent's information.
If you are a single godparent, you pay $25.00 and when signing up for the class, make sure to put n/a for the other godparent.
If you are a married couple, you only pay $25.oo (not each) and you would note both names and contact information when signing up for the class.
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I need help submitting my documents.
You can always stop by the office and we can scan the documents at the front desk and assure they will be transferred to the Parish Life Office.
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Contact Us
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Have another question or just would like more guidance through this process? Please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Where to find us
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Contact
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Maria Ojedamojedastmarkplano.orgCoordinator for Baptisms and Funerals
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