Baptism

Baptism of children six years old and younger

Congratulations on the gift of your child! The staff at Saint Michael Parish is honored to walk with your family as you begin this sacred journey.

We rejoice in your desire to baptize your child and raise them in the Catholic faith. Baptism is a precious gift of new life in Christ and the foundation of our Christian journey. Because of its importance, the Church asks that baptism not be unnecessarily delayed. We recommend that infants be baptized within three months of birth, when possible. Please know that baptism preparation may be completed before or after your child is born.

One Simple Step to Begin

To initiate this process for children age 6 and under, or simply to start a dialogue about baptism, the first step is to fill out the “Register for Baptism” button below. After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email with next steps and additional information.

Preparation for the Sacrament

Because the sacraments are sacred gifts, the Church calls anyone seeking a sacrament to a time of thoughtful and prayerful preparation. Since infants and young children cannot yet make a personal profession of faith, parent preparation is vital. 

Baptism preparation offers parents the opportunity to:

  • Reflect on their own relationship with Christ
  • Deepen their understanding of the meaning and grace of Baptism
  • Ask questions about the sacrament and the baptismal celebration

The parent preparation class may be completed at any time prior to the baptism and is designed to support you in this important role as the primary educators of your child in faith. Registration for upcoming classes is available through the baptism registration form. 

Before completing the form, we encourage you to review the additional information on this page, especially the Q & A section, which addresses many common questions.

Children Age 7 and older

If your child is 7 years old or older, Baptism is celebrated through the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) process adapted for children. Please contact Marriann Tefft, Steward for OCIA, to begin this process at mtefft@saintmichaelparish.org or 360-292-7127.

register for baptism

Baptism Preparation

At baptism, infants and children up to six years of age are initiated into the Christian community and begin a life-long journey as a committed disciple of Christ. Since the infant or small child cannot make this commitment on their own, the parent who requests baptism for their child states that they wish to transmit the faith in which they believe and live to their child. Parents wishing to have their infant or child baptized are required to complete baptism preparation. This gives parents an opportunity to reflect on their relationship with Christ, the meaning of baptism and have questions answered concerning the sacrament  and the ceremony.

To sign up for an upcoming parent preparation class, please fill out the form linked below. After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email with more details. The parent class may be completed at any time before the baptism (including before the birth of the child).

register for baptism prep class

Who should receive Baptism preparation?

First-time expectant parents

Parents of children up to 6 years of age who are not baptized

Those anticipating the adoption of a child

Godparents are encouraged to attend

Any friend or relative of the child or parent who wishes to offer support

Rachel Yabut
Rachel YabutSteward for Baptism and Marriage
Rachel oversees the baptism facilitators who work with you in preparation for baptism.
(360) 292-7108

Godparents

The role of a godparent is not only to be a support of faith in the life of the child but also to be a representative of the community of faith into which the child is being baptized. As such, it follows that the godparent needs to be a fully initiated, active member of the Roman Catholic Church. The full requirements are as follows:

  • The Godparent must be at least 16 years of age
  • The Godparent must have received the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation in the Catholic Church
  • If married, the Godparent must have a valid Catholic marriage.
  • The Godparent must regularly participate in the Sunday Mass and are striving to live a life in harmony with the Church and its teachings
  • The Godparent cannot be the father or mother of the child being baptized

Godparents of children being baptized at Saint Michael Parish must download a copy of the Godparent/Sponsor Form linked below, complete the top portion, and have the bottom portion completed and sealed by their parish of registration. If the Godparent(s) is registered at Saint Michael Parish, they only need to complete the top portion and then submit to Rachel at the contact info above and she will verify their registration status, complete the form, and file it with the child’s paperwork.

Download the Godparent form

FAQ: Baptism of Children 6 and Under

  • We are currently performing baptisms during Mass at the Saturday 5 pm and Sunday 11:30 am and 5 pm Masses and  outside of Mass on Sunday afternoons.
  • Dates vary each month based on our liturgical calendar and other events during Mass. We are unable to offer baptisms during Lent.
  • If you have already submitted a baptism registration form and turned in all required paperwork, we’ll reach out to start the scheduling process. All questions regarding scheduling should be directed to Rachel at ryabut@saintmichaelparish.org or (360) 292-7108.
  • We are unable to schedule a baptism until we have received all required paperwork, which includes a copy of the child’s birth certificate from the state and a signed and sealed Godparent form for each Godparent.

  • Please fill out the Baptism Registration Form linked at the “Register for Baptism” button above.
  • Download the Godparent Form and send it to your child’s godparents.
    • This form must be filled out by the pastor or his representative at the parish of registration of the godparents.
    • If the godparents are members of Saint Michael Parish please fill out the form and email to Rachel Yabut at ryabut@saintmichaelparish.org or drop it off at the parish office.
  • Copy of your child’s birth certificate.
  • Completion of baptism preparation in the last five years (Submit a certificate of baptism preparation if taken in the last five years).
  • Complete the Baptism Parent Preparation Class Registration form to sign up for a class.

  • You only need one godparent. However, if you have two, you may have one male and one female godparent
  • Can I have a non-Catholic godparent? No but you can have a Christian Witness who is present along with a Catholic godparent. A baptized Catholic cannot serve as a Christian Witness.
  • What if the godparents cannot attend? This is okay, you can have what we call a proxy stand in for the godparent(s). The proxy can be anyone you know, Catholic or not. 
  • The Catholic godparent(s) must be: 
    • At least 16 years old 
    • Fully initiated Catholic (having received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
    • Single or married, however if married they must have a valid Catholic marriage (most often if they were not married in the Catholic Church this marriage is not valid). Please read this article for an explanation.
    • Must be actively and regularly participating in Sunday Mass

  • Pray Mass every Sunday
  • Pray daily individually or as a family
  • Model and instill faith in your child

  • You spouse does not need to be Catholic to baptize your child as long as they are not opposed to raising the child in the faith. 
  • It is not mandatory that the parents be married in the Catholic Church, but it is preferable; Catholic marriage is an integral part of living fully the Catholic faith that you desire to share with your child. However, as long as you intend to take responsibility for raising your child in the Catholic faith, we will not refuse baptism of the child. 
  • If you were not married in the Catholic Church, please indicate that on the registration form. You can also indicate if you would like to learn more about getting married in the Catholic Church. We are happy to support you if you would like to learn about receiving this sacrament.

The Church recommends parents have their babies baptized in the parish where they regularly attend Sunday Mass. The parish should be a place your children become familiar with and feel spiritually at home from their earliest years. 

While we do not require you to be registered, we invite you to do so here.

Of course! If you consider us your home parish, we will be happy to accommodate your wishes and baptize your baby here. However, you will need to get a letter from your current parish stating that you are active parishioners there and have permission to have your child baptized at SMP. Please submit this letter to Rachel Yabut at ryabut@saintmichaelparish.org or mail or drop it off at the parish office. Then, we will be able to proceed with the baptism process here.

Saint Michael Parish is a stewardship parish and maintains itself by the regular tithes of our parishioners. Therefore, we do not charge for any sacrament or faith formation sessions. We invite you to become partners in the parish mission by registering and signing up to give weekly or monthly.