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Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which 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)
The first step is to call our baptism coordinator to sign up for a Baptism Preparation Class. This class is required for both parents and godparents, and it is intended to help you understand how to prepare for your child’s Baptism. Parents are required to participate in this class only once and will not be asked to repeat it for subsequent children.Please note: Catholic parent(s) must be registered and active members of the parish.
If not members of Our Lady of Victory Parish, a letter of permission from the parents’ Pastor is required.Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office only after the parents and godparents have completed this class.
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BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS INFORMATION:
We offer preparation classes for PARENTS and GODPARENTS. Classes are normally held on the first Wednesday of each month. To reserve your spot for this class, please contact our Baptism Coordinator, Jennifer Stegner at (850) 496-0707. CLICK HERE to complete a Baptism Registration form prior to the class. You will need to print the document and bring it with you to the class or you can save and email it to Susan in the parish office, deshotels@olv.ptdiocese.org.
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Godparents
The role of godparents is to help their godchild lead a Christian life. Traditionally, the godparents are the ones to ensure their godchild is given a Christian upbringing if the parents are no longer able to fulfill that responsibility. They also assist the parents in the ordinary circumstances of daily life by their special concern for their godchild, by their example, and by whatever assistance they can provide in raising the child.
A godparent should be a firm and enthusiastic believer who is ready, willing and able to help their godchild live a Christian life. A godparent must meet the following criteria:
- be at least 16 years old,
- be a member of good standing in the Church and a registered member in their home parish,
- lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken,
- have received all three Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist,
- not be the child’s parent,
- godparents should be one male and one female.
A baptized non-Catholic can serve as a Christian witness, but there must also be a Catholic godparent. If you have questions on who may serve as a godparent, please ask.
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