Newborn babies and children have always been baptized in the Church when Catholic parents wish to share with them the Catholic faith and way of life.
Normally, your neighborhood Catholic parish church (that is, your home parish) will respond positively to your request to have your child Baptized.
To have your child Baptized at St. Margaret’s:
1. You live locally within the parish boundaries (Oceanside Areas of Rancho Del Oro, Peacock Hills, Mira Costa, Fire Mountain, east of Interstate 5, south of Mesa Drive and north of the 78) OR you have registered here and have an up-to-date record of consistent worship here on Sundays, generally reflected in regular contributions.
If you live outside of the parish district and you are not currently or consistently making St. Margaret’s your Sunday place of worship but would like your child Baptized here, simply ask your neighborhood Catholic parish church (your "home" parish) to prepare you for the Sacrament and then send us notification that you have your Pastor’s permission. We’ll be happy to then schedule the Baptism here.
2. Parents bringing their children to be Baptized are implicitly saying that the Church is so important to them that it is distressful for them to have their natural children not be included in their supernatural family, the Church. Persons who undertake the hard work of marriage and child rearing are expected to solemnize their marriage with a priest or deacon. A couple’s refusal to do so will have their credibility questioned regarding their claim to truly love the Church. Parents should expect to solemnize their union before a second child is Baptized.
3. Single parents who likewise live their Catholic faith can do much to inspire their children.
The Christian community places very high expectations on their shoulders. The ideal is to have two Godparents - a Godfather and a Godmother. However, sometimes, there will only be one Godparent.
The Godparents must be:
Fully initiated in the Catholic faith-Baptized, Eucharized and Confirmed and at least 16 years old
If they are living with a partner, they must be married through the Catholic Church
Are known by their pastor/parish to practice the Catholic faith and living in harmony with the Church
When a proposed Godparent doesn’t have all their Sacraments
In short, simply because someone is a family member or a close friend, regretfully they may not always be qualified or ready to become Godparents. Instead, they might otherwise be invited to stand alongside a Godparent as a “Christian Witness” and then later be acknowledged by the Church as Godparent when they have fulfilled the basic qualifications outlined above.
Expectations of Godparents
Sometimes you may be asked to be a Godparent to a child about to be Baptized and a church asks you to provide a letter from your parish to vouch you are in good standing. For a Catholic to be qualified as a Godparent, they must be Baptized and Confirmed, attending weekly Sunday Mass, and if they are living with a partner, they are in a recognized Catholic marriage.
During a Baptism, you will be asked to make a public promise and a commitment to your Catholic Faith before witnesses. You should therefore be able to make a public promise and a commitment to your Catholic Faith before your local or home parish.
If you are having difficulty finding a qualified candidate, know that a Godparent does not have to be always physically present during the actual Baptism. If, for example, the Godparent is not able to attend the Baptism of your child, another family member or friend (who may not otherwise be able to be the actual Godparent) may stand in as their official proxy.
If you have a Godparent in mind who might qualify for this great responsibility and meet all the qualifications except the Sacrament of Confirmation, they should personally contact their own local church and inquire about how to complete their own Sacraments of Initiation.
A parish church may ask you to attend a Godparent and/or Baptism class. If you are a parishioner or live within our parish boundaries, please approach the pastor after Mass to schedule an interview and instruction.
Baptisms for the children of local parishioners and families who consistently worship at St. Margaret’s on Sundays will normally be scheduled for 10am on a Sunday each month determined by the first parent to schedule.
Families from outside the area who attend other parish churches and wish to have their child Baptized here are asked to secure a letter of permission from their own pastor.