Baptism does three things: it initiates us into the grace of Jesus Christ; it is the sign of our unity with Christ’s community, the church; and it expresses our desire to be disciples of Christ. Just as the birth of a child is important to the entire family, the baptism of the child is important to the parish family. For this reason, baptisms at Blessed Sacrament, Saint Boniface, and Saint Mary’s are typically held on Sundays during our regular mass times (with the exception of Lent, when baptisms are customarily not celebrated).

While we realize this isn’t always possible, we do ask that you try to schedule your child’s baptism three months in advance. Baptismal preparation sessions are held monthly for new parents. To schedule a baptism, make arrangements for baptism preparation sessions, or to ask any questions, please contact Sister Kathleen Wayne in the Faith Formation office at 585-507-9961 or by email at kathleen.wayne@dor.org.

Of course, babies are not the only ones who can be baptized. Older children and adults of any age can become members of the Catholic Church. Click here to learn more about the Rite Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

Godparents and Sponsors

When an infant is baptized, it is the parents who have the responsibility for choosing godparents who will serve as good examples for living the Catholic way of life. It is customary to have two godparents. A godparent can be a man or woman, and a Christian of another tradition may be chosen as a witness provided there is at least one Catholic godparent.
The Catholic godparent MUST be:

• 16 years of age or older
• Fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church (baptized, confirmed, and receiving the Eucharist)
• Ready to commit the time and personal care to nurture and support the child and parent(s)

For more information regarding Godparents read this letter by our Pastor, Father John Loncle. Click here to read letter Questions about becoming a godparent? Contact Sister Kathleen Wayne at 585-507-9961 or by email at kathleen.wayne@dor.org.