Baptism

"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 children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is a sacrament of regeneration through water in the word." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213) 

At St. John, we celebrate the sacrament of Baptism communally, in the context of the Sunday Eucharist. Our whole community welcomes the child and joins in the joy of becoming a new creation, baptized by the cleansing water of God.

Infant baptism (birth to age 7) occurs four times a year, at all weekend masses. If your child is over age 7, we invite them to participate in our Rite of Christian Initiation for Children classes, to prepare for baptism at the Easter Vigil.

We don’t hold private baptisms, unless there is an exceptional circumstance. Baptism celebrates the initiation of the child into the parish community and it is very important that the community is present at the time of the celebration, and that the celebration take place in the context of the liturgy of the mass. 

Baptism dates:

March    8 & 9 

June       14 & 15

Next dates will be announced soon!

Prior to baptizing a child, families (parents and godparents) are asked to attend our

Baptism Preparation Class. This class is led by a couple in our parish, and is held online, at 7pm. Class dates are:  February 19 & May 2025 (exact date TBD)

Here is the form to register for the February 19 baptism preparation class. Use this whether you are a parent or a godparent.

Families wanting to baptize their child should reach out to the Director of Sacramental Preparation, Julia Rudden, at jrudden@stjohnsea.org.   

Baptism Information Form *registration form (this will download the form)

Godparent Letter and Form

If you have an urgent need for an emergency baptism due to threat of imminent death, please contact the emergency pastoral care line at (206) 271-3543.