Baptism at st. john's
"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 sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Catechism of the Catholic Church §1213
Baptism Prep & Requirements
Eligibility
Infant baptism is celebrated for children from birth through age six. Children aged seven and older follow the OCIA process.
Parish Registration
Parents must be registered, active parishioners of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for at least six (6) months prior to scheduling the baptism (or) submit a letter of permission signed by the pastor of their home parish.
Baptism Preparation
All parents and Godparents must take the St. John's baptism prep class. This is a requirement. Baptism prep classes at St. John's are conducted through private sessions by appointment only. Contact the Parish Office (904-246-6014) to schedule.
Required Documents
All parents and Godparents must complete the following before the baptism can be scheduled: (1) Baptism Info Form (2) Sponsor/Godparent Forms (signed by home parish priest). (3) Letter of Permission (if applicable)
Godparent Requirements
At least one practicing Catholic Godparent is required. The Godparents must be at least sixteen (16) years of age and must have received Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion, and must be a practicing Catholic living in harmony with the faith. Godparents cannot be the child's parent.
If a family wishes to designate a baptized non-Catholic Christian Witness as a secondary Godparent, they must provide the Parish Office with a copy of the individual's Christian Baptismal Certificate prior to scheduling a baptism. At least one Godparent must be a practicing Catholic. Families cannot only have a Christian Witness.
If you wish to invite a celebrant for a sacrament other than our pastor, we kindly ask that the visiting celebrant contact the Parish Office directly in advance. This helps ensure that all arrangements are coordinated smoothly and in keeping with parish guidelines.
Sponsor Forms
We receive many requests from parishioners to be godparents or sponsors for the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Part of those requests requires us to verify that a person is an "active member" of St. John's. While assessments of an inquirer's status will be made individually, the main factors that will be considered in making that determination are as follows:
An “active member” of this parish is one who:
~Is properly registered and in the parish data system for 6 months
~Faithfully attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days
~Participates in parish activities when possible
~Uses the parish envelope system or contributes via on-line giving
Contact Us for Details
Baptismal dates are not set until a Baptismal Class has been completed and ALL paperwork (including Sponsor Eligibility Forms) have been submitted and approved.
Marriage Preparation
STEPS FOR GETTING MARRIED
These steps are a general guide and not an exhaustive list of everything you need to do in the Diocese of St. Augustine to prepare for your marriage.
1. Notify the Parish
To schedule a wedding, the Diocese of St. Augustine requires at least 8 months of marriage preparation before the actual wedding. This means that an engaged couple must meet with their parish priest or deacon at least 8 months prior to their proposed wedding date.
2. Take a Relationship Inventory
There are 2 relationship inventories available to help engaged couples identify and address key issues which may need to be worked through prior to marriage. These are tools designed to strengthen your relationship by promoting discussions regarding important aspects of married life.
It is highly recommended that you take FOCCUS or PREPARE/ENRICH as soon as possible. The results will be sent to your Priest, Deacon, or another qualified facilitator for discussion.
Click here for more information about FOCCUS.
Click here for more information about PREPARE/ENRICH.
3. Attend a Marriage Preparation Course
There are 2 primary marriage preparation courses in the Diocese of St. Augustine: Pre Cana and Engaged Encounter. These courses differ in format but are each designed to help engaged couples grow in their understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage by covering topics such as sexuality, family, and their role in the Church.
Click here for more information about Pre Cana.
Click here for more information about Engaged Encounter.
4. Attend a Course in Natural Family Planning (Recommended)
There is one thing that Natural Family Planning (NFP) is, and two things it is not.
IT IS: 1.) It is a low cost, modern method of achieving or avoiding pregnancy in which the couple learns to observe and chart the woman's naturally-occurring, biological indicators of fertility.
IT IS NOT: 1) It is not the much-criticized "rhythm" method of yesteryear. NFP is at least as effective in avoiding pregnancy as the most effective modern methods of contraception. 2) It is not contraception. In using NFP, a couple works with the sacredness, beauty, and goodness of their fertility.
Couples who use NFP tend to have healthier, stronger, and happier marriages than those who use contraception.
This NFP course requires meetings spread over several months; therefore, couples are urged to sign up as soon as possible.
Click here to locate an instructor.
5. Plan the Liturgy/Wedding
Your decision to be married within the Church is a serious one. Marriage is one of the seven Sacraments and is a visible manifestation of an invisible grace that transforms you – it is the beginning of your life together as one. Your wedding within the Church is a very sacred event and so the planning of the liturgical celebration should reflect this.
The Priest or Deacon will provide you the resources you need to prepare for your wedding celebration and will guide you according to the norms of the Church.
6. Become One!
Profess your vows to one another before the altar of God and, with the exchange of the rings, unite yourselves as husband and wife, to have and to hold until death do you part.
Then celebrate with friends and family this new Sacrament that you have become!
Wedding Fee Discount
A registered, active parishioner of St. John's may be eligible for a discounted rate: defined as an individual who is officially registered with our parish and who has been contributing regularly for at least one (1) year prior to the signing of the wedding contract. The active, registered parishioner must be the individual for whom the event is being held, or the spouse, parent, or child of the individual for whom the event is being held. No other relationships qualify for a discount.
If you would like to have your wedding at St. John's,
please contact the Parish Office (904) 246-6014. Note - Desired Wedding Dates are not confirmed until reviewed and approved by Pastor.
Funerals
Planning a funeral? Call our Parish Office at (904) 246-6014 for support and connection.