Baptism

Infant English baptisms are celebrated on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 8:00 AM.

Infant Spanish baptisms are celebrated on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 8:00 AM.

Our parish rejoices when a new member is added to our Catholic Family through the sacrament of Baptism.

Adults considering entrance into the Catholic Church can learn more about the process on our Adult Programs page.

Here are the steps to take before an infant or child's Baptism date can be scheduled:

• If you are not a parishioner at St William, you will need to obtain a letter of permission from your current parish or the parish in your boundary.
• Parent(s) and godparent(s) must attend an entire Baptism Preparation class. Written proof of attendance at a Baptism Preparation class at Saint William or another Catholic Church within the last two years must be provided with other paperwork.
• Parents must provide a copy of the child's state-issued birth certificate or the Verification of Birth Facts from the hospital where the child was born.
• All required documents must be turned in at the same time. Parents should stop by the parish office to drop off these documents. Doing so provides parents with the opportunity to ask questions and gives staff the chance to review qualifications for godparents as well as the necessary documents.

Baptism preparation classes are held on the 3rd Saturday of every month in the Parish. Spanish classes begin at 8:30 AM and English classes begin at 10:00 AM.  Late arrivals will not be accepted. Registration is mandatory.

To register for baptism classes, please come to the Front Office to register in person. Space is limited and we do not accept walk-ins. Registration closes one week before the day of the class.

Both parents and Godparents are required to attend and participate in an entire baptism class offered at Saint William; therefore, **CHILDREN OLDER THAN 6 MONTHS OLD ARE NOT ALLOWED** in the class, and parents should make the appropriate arrangements for their children.

Childcare is available on Saturdays of Baptism preparation classes. Please come to the front office at least one week before the class to reserve a spot for your child/children. 

Consent of at least one of the parents is required for a child to be baptized and there must be a “well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion” (Code of Canon Law 868).

To have a child baptized at Saint William, parent(s) must live within the parish boundaries or be registered parishioners of Saint William. If parents do not live within the boundaries a permission letter from the pastor of your corresponding parish is required to have the child baptized at Saint William.

The one to be baptized is required to have a godparent. One godparent is sufficient; but there may be two godparents, one of each gender. Requirements to be a godparent include:

• A godparent for a Catholic baptism must be a fully initiated, practicing Catholic. A “fully initiated, practicing Catholic” must have received all of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Eucharist (First Communion) and Confirmation, and must attend Mass regularly.
• Godparents must be 16 years of age or older. Parents of the child cannot be his or her godparents.
• Godparents must live lives of faith befitting the role of godparents.
• If godparents are married, their marriage(s) must be recognized by the Catholic Church as valid.
• Godparents must complete and sign the Baptism Sponsor Covenant Form.
• Godparents must participate in a Baptism Preparation class at Saint William, or provide written proof of attendance at a Baptism Preparation class at another Catholic parish within the last two years.

The Sacrament of Baptism will be scheduled after all requirements are fulfilled by the parent(s) and godparent(s). If the person selected as a godparent is not fully initiated into the Catholic Church, and/or is not in a Catholic marriage, he/she may be eligible to be a Christian witness, but not a godparent.

If there are any questions or concerns about baptismal preparation at Saint William, please call the parish office at 512-255-4473.

For more information about Baptism requirements and scheduling, please contact the parish office at: 512-255-4473.