INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

 1.                   You must be a registered member of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church to have your children baptized here. If you are registered at another parish, you will need the written permission of your pastor to have your child baptized at St. Robert. This is a guideline of the Lansing Diocese in accordance with Church Law.

2.                   Attendance is required at both baptismal preparation sessions. Even if you have previously attended preparation classes at St. Robert or another parish for other children, you must still attend current sessions at St. Robert. Godparents are asked to accompany parents to at least one of the preparation classes (preferably, session 1).

3.                   Godparents must be fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. (Note: A baptized person belonging to a non-Catholic church may be admitted as a Christian witness along with a practicing Catholic godparent.) Catholic godparents must be Confirmed and practicing members who belong to a parish community, attend   Mass weekly, and are capable of witnessing the life of faith to your child. Canon 874 states that sponsors must:  “…lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken.”