Baptism is the initial sacrament. Cleansed and freed from sin, all those baptized become members of the Church's body and enter into a new life in Christ.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church recommends that preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism begins three months in advance of the anticipated date of the ceremony. Preparation may begin before the birth of the child.
(For children over the age of seven years, please see the information for Older Children.)
Baptisms are celebrated Sunday afternoons at 1:00 PM.
To prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism, parents must attend a baptismal catechesis class to deepen their understanding of their roles in the religious formation of the child. Godparents may also attend a baptismal catechesis class, but are not required. Parents may contact IHM parish to register for the one-hour class, which is offered monthly on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am via Zoom.
About Godparents
The parent or guardian of the child chooses the godparent(s). Two godparents may be chosen, but only one is required. If two godparents are chosen, there must be one male and one female. Each godparent must meet the following criteria:
Christian Baptismal Witness
If a family wishes to include one person who is a baptized Christian, but not Catholic, they may include that person as a Christian Baptismal Witness. Please see the following forms for more infomation.
Please complete and submit the registration forms and review the Godparent and Christian Baptismal Witness forms as necessary to begin the process.
Questions? Please contact us at 650-593-6157 or rlang@ihmbelmont.org. We look forward to learning more about your family!