St. Stephen Church at 6044 SW 19th Street, Miramar, FL 33023 US - Baptismal Preparation
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Registrations for Baptisms are on Mondays-Fridays in the Church office and the parents must be present. Parents that are not married by the Church must first be interviewed by the Church Pastor. Godparents should be practicing Catholics and be members of this Parish. If they are not members of this Parish they should bring a letter from the Pastor of the Parish they are members of.
The baptized are from 0 months to 5 years of age. After the age of 5, parents hould make arrangements with the Religious Education Office/CCD. Spanish classes are the second Sunday of the month at 2:00pm and in English the Saturday before the Baptism at 6:00pm. Spanish Baptisms are the third Sunday of the month at 2:00pm in the Church. English Baptisms are the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Please Call the Rectory at: (954) 987-1100.
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I often get asked what the requirements are for godparents chosen by catechumens or by families of children to be baptized. Here are the norms from the Catholic Church for all to be aware:
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Godparents (or sponsors) are persons, other than the parents of the one to be baptized, who must have the capability and intention of carrying out their responsibilities as a catholic in a mature way.
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A candidate for baptism may have either a godmother or godfather or both a godfather and godmother.
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A person sixteen years of age is presumed to have the requisite maturity, but the archbishop, pastor, priest or deacon may decide there is just reason for an exception to be made.
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Those designated as godparents must have received all the Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist. And be living a life consistent with faith and the responsibilities of a godparent -- they must not be living in sin (ie., if married, must be a sacramental union in the Catholic Church). In addition, the godparents must also be registered members of the Catholic Church and canonically free to carry out their duties.
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A baptized and believing Christian not belonging to the Catholic Church may act as a Christian witness along with a Catholic godparent. A non-baptized person may not serve as sponsor, god parent or witness.
For further reading: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Washington D.C.: USCCB, 1988. pp. xiv-xvii.
