The sacrament of baptism is ordinarily celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, following the Noon Mass.

Please call the Parish Office at (248) 446-8700, at least two months in advance,  to make arrangements.

There is a required Baptismal Preparation class which is normally offered on the first Wednesday of every month.

No stipend or offering for the sacrament of baptism is required or expected.

Baptism Guidelines

Congratulations! God has blessed you with the gift of new life and now you are inquiring into baptizing your child in the Catholic Church. Your parish community celebrates with you and wants to help you prepare fully and well for this most important event in the life of your child and your family.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that: "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated in the Church and made sharers in her mission?." [No. 1213]

So baptism is, then, first and most importantly one of the sacraments of initiation, whereby a person becomes a member of the Christian community. (The other two sacraments of initiation are Confirmation and Eucharist.) In baptism, your child becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ and a part of the body of Christ, the church. And the church, likewise, is enriched with the gift of a new believer.

Important Information about the Rite of Baptism for Children

Role of Parents

In the rite of baptism, parents are asked whether they understand that their role and their duty is to bring their child up to keep God's commandments as taught by Jesus Christ. This presumes that at least one parent is a practicing member of the Catholic Church, regularly worshiping and receiving the Eucharist, and committed to sharing that faith with the child to be baptized.

Requesting baptism for a child confers on the parents a serious responsibility to follow through in raising the child as a Catholic person, sharing their faith, ensuring that the sacraments of initiation (Confirmation and Eucharist) are received, and acting as good models of the mature Catholic faith.

Role of Godparents

Ideally, godparents will play an important and life-long role in the life of the child. Therefore, they should be chosen with care. The church requires only one godparent of either gender. If two godparents are selected, they must be of different genders. Godparents must be baptized, confirmed Catholics who have received the Eucharist. Godparents must be at least 16 years old and must lead a life "in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." [Code of Canon Law, No. 874]

A baptized person not of the Catholic faith may act as a witness along with a Catholic godparent.

Ideally, the one who serves as a godparent at baptism will also act as the child's confirmation sponsor later on. This also suggests the importance of choosing godparents thoughtfully and prayerfully and with an eye toward the future.

Baptism of Older Children

The celebration of baptism for older children (who are no longer infants) is scheduled on a case-by-case basis, ensuring proper catechesis for the child to be baptized, as well as parents and godparents. For information, please call the Parish Office at (248) 446-8700.

Parish Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism

Because of the importance of the sacrament of baptism and the commitment it requires of parents, all parents are expected to participate in the baptism preparation offered by Saint Joseph Parish. Godparents are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The class consists of one session, usually offered on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.

The evening of preparation will provide important information on the sacraments, baptism, the rite of baptism, and sharing faith with children.

Child care is not provided.

Dates and Times for the Celebration

Infant baptism is normally celebrated at Saint Joseph Parish on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, following the Noon Mass. Because of holidays or occasional conflicts, the schedule may be adjusted. The Parish Office can confirm a date with you.

The Record of Baptism

The record of your child's baptism will be kept permanently at Saint Joseph Parish. In the future, you may request a copy of the record for sacramental purposes by calling the Parish Office.

Subsequently received sacraments (First Communion, confirmation, marriage) are also recorded at the parish of baptism.

Making Changes in the Baptismal Record

In most cases, changes may not be made to a baptismal (or other sacramental) record, such as a desire by parents to change the godparents at some time after the baptism. Sacramental records preserve and describe an event at a moment in time and ordinarily may not be altered in any way.

Order of Service in the Rite of Baptism for Children

The celebration of infant baptism follows this order of service:

Reception of the Children 

Celebration of God's Word 

Celebration of the Sacrament 

Blessing of the Baptismal Water 

Renunciation of Sin, Profession of Faith 

Baptism 

Anointing with Christ 

Clothing with the Baptismal Garment 

The lighting of the Baptismal Candle 

Prayer over the Ears and Mouth 

Conclusion of the Rite

At Saint Joseph Parish, the celebration begins in the church proper, moves to the gathering space around the baptismal font for the pouring of water and associated rites, and then returns to the church for the concluding rites. Family members and friends are encouraged to participate fully in the celebration of the sacrament by singing, making the responses, and by being actively engaged in the rite.

Baptism and Marriage

The birth of a child and preparation for baptism is often a time when parents reflect on the deeper values in life. For couples who were married outside the church (whose marriages were not witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon), the baptism of a child presents an opportunity to have their marriage convalidated (blessed) by the church. In some cases, an annulment for a previous marriage may be necessary before the convalidation can take place.

A member of the parish staff will be happy to talk to you about your specific situation and help you with the process of convalidation (and an annulment, if necessary).