Baptism

Baptisms are celebrated twice per month at Our Lady of Grace Parish, on the second and fourth Sunday at 1:30pm. Parents who wish to have a child baptized should contact the parish, after which an interview with one of the priests will be scheduled. It is required that the parents and godparents attend an evening preparation course, which is held once a month.

The parents of the child to be baptized should be members of the parish. This means that they live within the geographical boundaries of the parish, or if living outside Aurora have registered with Our Lady of Grace Parish. In any case, they should also be regularly attending Sunday Mass.

In the case of infant baptism, the parents make the decision to baptize their child, thus initiating him/her into the life of the Church. They make the promise to teach the faith and raise the child according to Catholic principles. Thus, at least one of the parents themselves should be baptized and practicing Catholics. If the parents are not practicing Catholics, then there must be some assurance that the child will be taught the faith and brought to Mass regularly.

The parents should also have been married in the Catholic Church or had permission from their bishop to be married in another Christian church. If this is not the case, then the possibility will be presented of having the marriage blessed in the Catholic Church.

Godparents have the role of assisting the parents to raise children in the Catholic faith. The godparents must be at least 16 years of age, baptized and confirmed, and practicing Catholics. It is possible for a non-Catholic to be chosen as a Christian witness, provided that they are a baptized Christian.

The Church does not charge a fee for the sacraments, but a donation will be accepted by the parish to cover costs. A receipt will be issued for tax purposes.