Question about age for infant baptism

[redheadscu]

My husband and I recently had our first child, who is now 6 weeks old. I am Catholic and my husband is Baptist. I would like to have our son baptized. I have struggled over the years with not attending church regularly. I really want our son to grow up having a relationship with God and am hopeful that in doing so, it will help me in my faith journey as well.

The parish where we are registered only performs baptism during certain months. Due to the availability of the godparent, if we have our son baptized at this parish, he would already be 9 months old. Is that waiting too long? It is my understanding that baptism is encouraged within the first few months.

Also, from the informational pamphlet I received, I think the parish might require us to have our marriage blessed by the church before they would baptize our son. We were married by a Baptist minister who is also a close family friend. I’m also not sure if the parish would want me to have a better track record of attending Mass regularly before they will perform the baptism.

Is it okay for me to wait until my son is 9 months old, or should I try to pursue having him baptized in another parish that performs the baptisms more frequently? (thereby avoiding the godparents scheduling conflict) Or would any parish want us to have our marriage blessed first, possibly making the scheduling problem a moot point?

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

At our parish, new parents must attend a couple of classes regarding the sacrament of Baptism so everyone has a clear understanding of the sacrament. As for Godparents, they must bring proof that they are actively practicing their faith. “Proof” means a signed letter from their parish that they have been actively attending for a minimum of 3 months.

At my parish the way they determine “attendance” is tracking your offertory envelope. If you attend Mass and are registered at the parish they assign your name a certain number and then provide you with offertory envelopes with that number on it. Please remember: they are tracking attendance for the purpose of providing “proof”, not necessarily the amount you may/may not put in the offertory.

 

[Joan_M]

According to Canon Law, Can. 867: Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it.

So, waiting 9 months is not the right thing to do. However, their also needs to be “a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.” (Can. 868, #2).

If a godparent is not going to be available at the time for baptism, anyone can be proxy (standing in for the absent godparent).

Talk to your priest.

 

[1ke]

The **first **thing you should do is, after Easter, make an appointment with your parish priest. Talk to him about your entire situation, including your invalid marriage situation. He will guide you on what you need to do.