The sacrament of Baptism is administered by the priests of the parish. Please call the rectory to arrange the time and date of Baptism and the individual instruction appointment with the priest assigned to the particular month.
A Pre-Baptism class is required prior to having your child baptized. If you have not taken one yet, please call (914.668.9815) or email the parish office to schedule a class.
When choosing Godparents, it is important to not get caught up in the “popularity contest” within family and friends. According to the Code of Canon Law, “Insofar as possible, one to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who is to assist an adult in Christian initiation, or, together with the parents, to present an infant at the baptism, and who will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it” (No. 872). This statement clearly reflects the historical roots of the role of sponsor.
To be a sponsor, a person must be chosen by the person to be baptized, or by the parents or guardians of a child, or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister of the sacrament. The sponsor must not only have the intention of being a sponsor but also meet proper qualifications. The sponsor must have completed his sixteenth year. He must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of holy Eucharist and Confirmation, and “leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken.” Moreover, the sponsor cannot be impeded by some canonical penalty. Note that the mother and father of the child cannot serve as sponsors. Also note that these are the same requirements for confirmation sponsors. (Cf. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1). Strictly speaking, a person only needs one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but the preferred is to have two sponsors, one male and one female. Also, in the case of an emergency, such as imminent death, no sponsor is needed.
Here we should pause to clarify who qualifies as a Catholic godparent. A Catholic who does not practice the faith by regularly attending Mass or who is in an invalid marriage disqualifies himself from being a godparent. Moreover, if a person is Catholic but antagonistic to the faith, i.e. has the attitude “I am a Catholic but…,” and would not be a good example and witness to the faith also disqualifies himself. If a person is not striving to fulfill his own obligations of baptism and confirmation, he will not fulfill the responsibilities of helping another to do so.
Letters of Recommendation are required for sponsors. At least one of the Godparents must be a practicing Catholic, who is able to get a letter of Recommendation. For those who are protestant and will be a “Christian Witness”, a letter is also to be requested from their Pastor.