Baptism

Please upload the necessary documents for Baptism at Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church:

• Baby's Birth Certificate
• Godparents’ Letter of Good Standing Form (if Godparent is not a registered parishioner of OLW);
• Baptismal Orientation Certificate
• Permission letter from pastor if you are not a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast given us the Sacrament of Holy Baptism,
that souls thereby being born again, may be made heirs of everlasting salvation:
We yield thee hearty thanks for this thy gift, and humbly we beseech thee to grant that we,
who have thus been made partakers of the death of thy Son, may also be partakers of his Resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, 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.'" (CCC, 1213)

Baptisms are conferred on the 3rd Saturday of each month immediately following 8am Mass. We encourage families and their guests to attend Mass, together, in thanksgiving of their child. Up to three families may have their infants baptized at the same ceremony.   

The following documents are required (upload them by clicking the button in the left margin):

• Online Sacramental Information Form (fill out below)
• Copy of baby's Birth Certificate 
• Baptismal Orientation Attendance Certificate (if not completed at OLW) 
• Godparents' Letter of Good Standing Form 
• At least one Godparent must be a fully initiated Catholic in good-standing with his or her parish and meet the critieria found in the Godparents Letter of Good Standing Form. NOTE: Godparent Letter of Good Standing is only to be used if Godparent(s) is not a registered parishioner of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham.                                    
• For non-parishioners, we require a letter from your pastor granting permission for your baby to be baptized in our parish. 

FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN (UNDER THE AGE OF 7)
We strongly encourage that all parents and godparents attend a Baptism Orientation Session, however, it is required for parents who are having their first child and godparents who have never attended a Baptismal Orientation. Please make plans well before the anticipated date of birth.

Baptismal Orientation Sessions are offered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham on the 2nd Saturday of each month 11am-Noon.  

NOTE: If you are a godparent whose godson/daughter will be baptized in another parish, but you are in need of a baptismal class/orientation, please contact Terri Bolton - terri.bolton@olwcatholic.org 

CHILDREN AGES 7-17 OR ADULTS SEEKING BAPTISM
Baptism of adults and those children who have reached the age of reason follows the form laid out in the Rites of Chistian Initiation, as described here.