The SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM is celebrated every Saturday (unless privately arranged with you and the pastor) at 12:00 PM in the Church. Parents should call the rectory’s office to arrange a brief interview with a priest two months prior to the birth of their child. At the meeting, the parents will select a date for their child’s baptism, and receive further information regarding the parish’s required one-night baptism preparation class.

Parents have an obligation to choose faithful godparents for their children. Questions abound concerning the choice of godparents. While the priests of the parish are always available to answer any such questions, the following information may be beneficial in helping parents fulfill this important task.

The role of a godparent is to help the baptized child to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism he or she has received and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. Church law dictates that there is to be one godfather or one godmother or one of each.

We kindly suggest a donation of $100.00 or more, which needs to be given in advance.

To be permitted to take on the function of a godparent a person must:

1. be 16 years or older
2. be Catholic and have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation;
3. be free of any canonical penalty
4. not be the father or mother of the child;
5. and provide the “Sponsorship Certificate” which is obtained from the godparents’ present parish (the one in which they are currently registered).

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can a non-Christian person be a godparent?
  • No, because the sponsor or Christian witness renews the promises made at their own baptism.
• Can we have someone as a “proxy” for the godparent?
  • Yes. Proxies for the godparents are acceptable when the sponsors cannot be physically present on the day of the baptism.

Print BAPTISMAL FORM Below
.

Please fill out the Baptismal form and mail together with the Sponsor Certificates and your donation to our St. Gerard’s address: 501 West Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07522.

As soon as we receive all documentation, we will call you to finalize all the arrangements.

Once again, welcome to our Parish Family.
We look forward to celebrating this joyful day with you.

SACRAMENTS FOR ADULTS

RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults – is the process by which people become members of the Roman Catholic Church. Adults who wish to be prepared for Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist are asked to contact the rectory’s office at 973-595-8446.