Requirement for copy of baptismal certificate no older than six months?

[Marie13]

Hello, this is my first post. A friend is in a difficult situation, and I was hoping you might have some answers.

My friend is a Catholic woman who is getting married for the first time in her late 40s. She is marrying a wonderful gentleman, also Catholic, who is a widower. They’re running into an issue with the parish’s requirement for a copy of her baptismal certificate that’s been issued within the past six months.

My friend is getting married halfway across the country from where she grew up. The parish where she was baptized was closed decades ago. She has a copy of her baptismal certificate, but it’s 40+ years old, from when her parents put her in Catholic grammar school.

I have to admit I don’t understand the requirement that the copy of the baptismal certificate must be issued within the past six months. Where do parish records go when parishes are closed down? The diocese? I suggested my friend call the diocese in which she was baptized, but she keeps playing phone tag with someone there.

Any other suggestions? Her wedding plans are currently on hold since her current parish won’t do anything until my friend produces a current copy of her baptismal certificate?

Thank you!

 

[AnastasiaRomano]

The reason the baptismal certificate has to be recent is because a baptismal certificate will also be notated with other sacraments – like marriage. So a recent baptismal certificate would confirm that she has not been married in the Church.

Her parish’s old records might be at the diocese, or it’s possible they were transferred to another nearby parish… The diocese should know where the records went, once she’s able to reach someone there.

 

[isu]

The Priest could also help with the search. My baptism records are lost, not even the military diocese can find them. Thankfully, I still had a copy of my First Communion papers. Because of that, the Priest was able to perform the marriage. Granted it took a while and special permission from the Bishop because we had to make sure that the diocese could not find my baptism records.

So, don’t let your friend worry too much. At least she has the original baptism record.

 

[His_helpmeet]

I would suggest that she write to the diocese. They will know where the parish records have gone, and then she could get the copy from them. Usually if the parish closes, those records are absorbed by another parish.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Ah, the memories.

I was born, raised, and married in three different countries. When I got married, I also played phone (and email) tag with The Keeper of My Baptismal Record (cue Ride of the Valkyries) for months until I finally appealed to my pastor for assistance. He smiled, asked for the contact info, and said the parish would take care of it. Two weeks later he had a fresh copy of my baptismal certificate in hand and we went from there.

So that’s my suggestion: if your friend continues have difficulty contacting the appropriate person at the diocesan offices, perhaps the parish where she will be wed would be willing to give it a try on her behalf. YMMV, but it worked for me!

As to why such a recent copy is required, Anastasia hit that nail on the head.

 

[Catya]

If you really and truly cannot find your certificate, it’s usually permissible to have two persons who were present at your baptism sign an affadavit. The dicoese you’re getting married in likely has such an affadavit form just for such occasions.

 

[maryjk]

Ah, the memories.

I was born, raised, and married in three different countries. When I got married, I also played phone (and email) tag with The Keeper of My Baptismal Record (cue Ride of the Valkyries) for months until I finally appealed to my pastor for assistance. He smiled, asked for the contact info, and said the parish would take care of it. Two weeks later he had a fresh copy of my baptismal certificate in hand and we went from there.

When I got married, the priest asked for the name and location of my Baptismal Church.

He, well the office I am sure, took it from there.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

When I got married, the priest asked for the name and location of my Baptismal Church.

He, well the office I am sure, took it from there.

Oh good, I’m glad I’m not the only one with an experience like this. If it worked for us, maybe it’ll work for the OP’s friend too.

 

[tafan]

Hello, this is my first post. A friend is in a difficult situation, and I was hoping you might have some answers.

My friend is a Catholic woman who is getting married for the first time in her late 40s. She is marrying a wonderful gentleman, also Catholic, who is a widower. They’re running into an issue with the parish’s requirement for a copy of her baptismal certificate that’s been issued within the past six months.

My friend is getting married halfway across the country from where she grew up. The parish where she was baptized was closed decades ago. She has a copy of her baptismal certificate, but it’s 40+ years old, from when her parents put her in Catholic grammar school.

I have to admit I don’t understand the requirement that the copy of the baptismal certificate must be issued within the past six months. Where do parish records go when parishes are closed down? The diocese? I suggested my friend call the diocese in which she was baptized, but she keeps playing phone tag with someone there.

Any other suggestions? Her wedding plans are currently on hold since her current parish won’t do anything until my friend produces a current copy of her baptismal certificate?

Thank you!

As others have stated, there is a very good reason for a recent copy of a baptismal certificate: that is the way sacramental records are maintained by the church. Confirmations, marriages, and holy orders information is sent to the parish one was baptized at, and that parish maintains the “master copy” of your sacramental history.

If a parish closes, the diocese should take on this responsibility, it is quite important to the Church, and AFAIK it is done this way throughout the Western Church.

I am actually quite surprised the parish your friend is not helping at is not taking a more active role. Many times, they do it all, as noted. And I know for a fact, many parishes in Mexico will not like to send a new copy of a baptismal certificate to an individual, just to another Catholic parish. Although an individual can go and get one in person, they won’t send it.

Tell your friend to talk to the pastor again and see what help they can provide.

 

[VivienneJ]

I am actually quite surprised the parish your friend is not helping at is not taking a more active role. Many times, they do it all, as noted. And I know for a fact, many parishes in Mexico will not like to send a new copy of a baptismal certificate to an individual, just to another Catholic parish. Although an individual can go and get one in person, they won’t send it.

Tell your friend to talk to the pastor again and see what help they can provide.

This is what I keep thinking. When I worked as parish secretary (granted in the Anglican church, but we also required baptismal certificates) there were many times I contacted the parish concerned, and on many occasions, the Diocesan archives, because in my Diocese that is where all records went after a certain number of years. I got to know the archivists well, which days they worked, the best times to phone them, what information to have ready for them and when it was better to make the request in writing.

I do hope your friend’s pastor will be able to help with this.

 

[EasterJoy]

Yes, you contact the diocese for such old records. If the records exist, they’ll know where. If the records were destroyed, they’ll be able to explain why, and an affidavit will have to suffice. Such recent records are undoubtedly on file with the diocese, though; they don’t keep just one set of records any more.