Baptism: Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Gospel of John 3:5

Baptisms are administered on the first Sunday of each month at 2:15 pm in the church. Parents, Godparents, children and guests should be in the Church by 2:00 pm on the day of the baptism. Families who arrive after 2:15 pm may have to reschedule the baptism. 

Everyone in attendance should conduct themselves in a reverent manner in church. All should keep a reverential silence in church before and after the Baptism. All participants should dress up for the Baptism ceremony. Semi-formal attire (men in jacket & tie, women in dress or pant-suit) or native semi-formal dress is appropriate. All should also participate in the Rite of Baptism by responding to the prayers.

• A copy of the child’s birth certificate 

• At least one Godparent who meets the requirements below 

• Talk with priest/deacon to schedule the baptism 

Parents must… 

• Be registered members of St. Catherine Labouré Church. 

• Be practicing Catholics (attending Mass every Sunday and coming to Confession on a regular basis) with the sincere intention of raising their children in the practice of the Catholic faith. 

• Attend a baptismal preparation class and bring a copy of the certificate of attendace. This class is given at SCL on the third Saturday of each month at 10 am in the rectory. (Please do not bring children to the class.) 

* Marital Status of parents: If parents are not married in the Catholic Church, begin to dialogue together and with the priest. 
* After your child’s baptism you are encouraged to validate your marriage. 

Godparents must…  

• Be at least 16 years of age and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. 

• Be practicing Catholics and suitable models in the practice of the faith. That is, they must attend Mass every Sunday and come to Confession regularly. 

• Present a letter from their own parish stating that they are suitable to be sponsors for baptism. 

• If married, present a copy of the marriage certificate, which must be valid in the Church. 

• Attend the baptism class either at St. Catherine’s or in their own parish and bring a copy of the certificate of attendance. 

* At least one but not more than two Godparents are required. 
* Non-Catholics who are baptized practicing members of other Christian faiths may serve as Christian witnesses at the child’s baptism. 

Donations: In order to help cover the expenses of the parish, the family is asked to make a donation to the church. 

Please come to the rectory office (open M-F 8:30am-5:00pm) to fill out an information sheet for your child's baptism. Call the rectory at 301-946-3636 with any questions!

To be a Godparent for the Sacrament Baptism or a sponsor for Confirmation you must... 

• Be at least 16 years of age and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. 
• Be practicing Catholics and suitable models in the practice of the faith. That is, they must attend Mass every Sunday and come to Confession regularly. 
• If married, present a copy of your marriage certificate, which must be valid in the Church. 

If you do not regularly go to Mass at St. Catherine Laboure, please request a letter from the parish which you attend most frequently. 

If you regularly attend St. Catherine Laboure: We have a simple policy. Members fall into one of two categories: 

Parishioners of St. Catherine Labouré: 
------ attend Mass weekly, 
------ participate in parish events, 
------ are registered in the Parish Office, and 
------ have an active account in our computer. 

*Active parishioners are eligible for sponsor letters. 

Friends of SCL may include those who:  
------ attend Mass and parish events 
------ and/or are registered in the Parish Office 
------ but who have an inactive account in our computer system. 

*Friends are not eligible for sponsor letters. 

Which category fits you best? Please pray about it and consider becoming a parishioner and supporting our parish. 

If you need a sponsor letter immediately and are not an active parishioner, you are welcome to register today! In registering, you express your commitment to attend Mass weekly, be a part the parish by donating your time and talents to parish events, and give financial support through the weekly collection. Please fill out a registration form completely and make an initial donation of at least $10 to indicate your commitment. We will be happy to provide you with a sponsor letter after registration. 

*What does having an active account in the computer system mean? 
Our computer system keeps track of parishioners based on weekly contributions, which also serve as a record of attendance at Mass. Only clearly marked contributions can be credited to your account. A recent and consistent contribution history is necessary to be considered active. 

To have your account credited, please place your offering in a plain envelope and clearly write your NAME, ADDRESS, and AMOUNT of contribution. Unmarked contributions (loose cash) cannot be credited to an account. 

Please note: We do not look at the amount of contribution, but the consistency of your support for our parish. Thank you for being a part of our St. Catherine Labouré community!