St Mary's Cathedral Parish
Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt
St Mary's Cathedral
Nazareth House
Villa Maria
Parish Priest: Father Noel Rucastle
Assistant Priest: Father Aloysius Abone
Parish Office: 021-4611167 Fax: 021-4618111
16 Bouquet St, Cape Town, 8001
APPLICATION FOR BAPTISM
(To be completed by parents)
Guidelines and Policies
The following guidelines and policies are given to prepare and empower parents bringing children for baptism to
assume their role and responsibility in the sacramental life of the Church.
1. Beginning: The parents and baptismal team need ample time to prepare for the baptismal celebration.
Therefore, parents seeking baptism for their child are invited to contact the parish office immediately after the
birth to make arrangements for the preparation classes and the baptismal date.
2. Welcoming: Baptism’s will be done 6 times a year with 3 sessions and a recognition Mass held the same
month. Preceding the Baptism.
3. Assessment of readiness: C 868 - “For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:
(1) That the parents or at least one of them or the person who lawfully takes their place must consent;
(2) That there must be a well - founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion…”
Therefore, attendance by both parents is required, regardless if the spouse is Catholic, unless pastoral
considerations have been made. Couples who are in an irregular marriage (not witnessed by a Catholic priest or
deacon) or have other impediments that prohibit them from full communion in the Church are encouraged to seek
whatever avenues necessary to restore them to full communion and membership in the Catholic Church, by
contacting the parish office and arranging an appointment with the Priest. Assurances must be given by the parents
that the gift of faith given freely by God in Baptism will be given opportunity to grow by an authentic education in the
faith and Christian life. If the Priest deems that these assurances are not serious there can be grounds for delaying
the sacrament. At times, longer periods of preparation may be necessary in order to assure both the integrity of the
sacraments and the child’s future development as a Christian.
4. Godparent/sponsor: “Insofar as possible, a person to be baptised is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult
in Christian Initiation, or, together with the parents, presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized
to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligation inherent in it.” (CCL, # 872)
A suitable sponsor (commonly referred to as godparent) is to be chosen following the norms of the Code of Canon
Law. To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must: - be designated by the parents or the one who takes their
place
1. Have completed the sixteenth year of age
2. Be fully initiated (has already received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) and actively
practicing the Catholic faith
3. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared (e.g. one who is in an irregular
marriage cannot be a sponsor)
4. Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized
5. There can be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each
6. A non-Catholic, baptised person can participate only in the role as a witness of the baptism.
5. Catechesis: “Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years….Family catechesis
precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith.” (CCC, # 2226)
Six (6) hours of baptismal catechesis will be provided by the Priest and/or his trained delegates. Consisting of 3 Two
(2) Hour sessions and a recognition Mass. Both parents are to attend. Because of the role of Godparents in the
witnessing of a committed life of faith, they too are to attend.
6. Celebration: Infants will be baptised either during or after the 10am Mass. If parents choose to baptise at another
Catholic church, please be assured that all necessary paper work will be provided upon completion of the Baptism
preparation program. As for the rite of Baptism itself, immersion or pouring of water will be used.
Policies of St Mary's Cathedral Parish
1. Completion of the Baptismal Preparation Program (6 hours – 3 x 2 hour sessions) for all parents presenting infants
for baptism except for those who have completed the preparation program within the past 3 years.
2. At least one parent be a practicing Catholic and a member of St Mary's Cathedral Parish.
3. Attendance at all sessions by parents is required, whether or not the spouse is Catholic. Godparents are
encouraged to attend all sessions so they may feel comfortable with their role. They are required to attend the first
and last session and the recognition Mass.
4. A Godparent Statement letter needs to be signed and returned no later than the 1st session. See “Choosing a
Godparent” section, for more details.
5. Couples who are in an irregular marriage (not witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon) or circumstances are
encouraged to seek whatever avenues necessary to restore them to full communion and membership in the Catholic
Church by contacting one of the priests.
6. Infants should be baptized in their community parish, however, for those parents who choose to baptize elsewhere
please be assured that all necessary paperwork will be provided upon completion of the Baptism preparation
program.
7. Baptism of the infant will be by immersion/pouring of water unless there are medical contraindications.
8. There is a R100.00 registration fee which covers materials, books, paper work etc. Please include this with the
application form to any Parish Priest.
a) a gift may also be presented to the Priest.
b) It is customary to make an offering (Stole fee) to the church on day of Baptism.