Baptism

Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway into life in the Holy Spirit and the door that gives access to all the other Sacraments.  To read more about Baptism, click here (Catechism of the Catholic Church on Baptism).

Infants
Congratulations to you on the occasion of your child’s birth!  We look forward to welcoming your child into the Christian community through the Sacrament of Baptism.  While recognizing that parents have the primary responsibility of bringing up their child in the practice of the faith, we wish to support you amid the challenges of contemporary living.  We encourage parents to be a part of our worshiping community each and every weekend.

Baptism is the most important event in our spiritual lives; the beginning of a new life in Christ and His church.  Your role as parents, the primary educators of your child, begun at conception, now takes a new focus and importance.
 
The Rite of Baptism give a clear emphasis and explanation of that role.  For this reason, it is required that BOTH PARENTS AND GODPARENTS, who have not done so, attend an instructional meeting held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 441 Fellsway West, Medford, to discuss the Rite of Baptism in greater detail. This Catechesis for first time parents and Godparents is held at St. Francis of Assisi on the last Sunday of every month following the 11:00 AM Mass in the Upper Church. 

Baptism at St. Francis of Assisi: Second Sunday of the month 12:30 PM.  
Baptism at St. Joseph:  Third Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM.  

Please call the parish office to register - 781-396-0423.

A suggested Baptism offering of $50.00 will be greatly appreciated for the continued growth and support of our parish community.  We thank you in advance for your generosity.

Sponsors for Baptism (Godparents)
The role of the Sponsor or Godparent is, together with the parents, to present the child for baptism and to help the child to live a Christian life befitting the baptized and to faithfully fulfill the duties inherent in Baptism.
 
To be a sponsor, one must be:

  • Appointed by the parents or whomever stands in their place, and the person so appointed must accept this role and be suitable for it. 
  • Be a Catholic who is not less than sixteen (16) years of age, who has been confirmed and has received the Blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of Faith, which befits the role of a sponsor. 
  • Have no canonical penalty imposed or declared​.
  • Not be the mother or father of the child to be baptized.
 
A baptized non-Catholic may be a Christian witness, together with a Catholic sponsor.  However, a non-Christian may not act as sponsor/witness.

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Adults
Thank you for your interest in becoming Catholic! We look forward to accompanying you on your journey
of discernment. For more information, please visit the RCIA section of this website or Collaborative Office at 781-396-0423. 


Choosing a Sponsor
"Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Luke 18:16).