Baptism

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-28

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word. – CCC 1213

If you are seeking Baptism as an adult, visit our Becoming Catholic page. We are happy to celebrate your Baptism and your initiation into supernatural life.

If you are looking for Baptism for your newborn child, congratulations! We are happy that God has blessed your family with new life. As good parents you care for the physical and emotional needs of your child, and as Christian parents you will care for the spiritual needs of your son or daughter by presenting your child for baptism. Baptism is the foundational sacrament of Christian life and for membership in God’s Church. Jesus Christ, while on the cross, gave us baptism from the very waters that poured from his pierced heart, and in this sacrament we see how much God truly loves us. The Sacrament of baptism has profound and eternal effects.

Parents of the child need to be registered, active and contributing members of the St. Ignatius parish for 6 months prior to the beginning of Baptism preparation.

The following information has been provided to help parents understand the process of having their child baptized in the Catholic Church. The guidelines below should be helpful with preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism at St. Ignatius Parish. Please read these guidelines carefully and notify the Parish Office with any questions or concerns.

DID YOU KNOW? The sacraments were instituted by Christ and belong to the divine deposit of faith! Therefore, only the supreme authority of the Church can approve or define what is needed for their validity.

Infants & Children Under 7

Baptism for Infant/Child Under 7 Years Old

If you are looking for baptism for your newborn child, congratulations! It will be a privilege to welcome your baby or child into our faith. Please read the information below to help get you started.

First Steps

Parents and the Godparents must attend a Baptismal Preparation class. This is the first step and before you schedule a date for your child’s baptism, parents must complete the class.

Classes are held in the church basement (Brady Hall) from 9:00 am-10:30am every other month. Here are the dates for 2023: January 14, 2023; March 11, 2023; May 13, 2023; July 8, 2023; September 9, 2023; November 11, 2023. To register for a class, please contact the parish office: 303-322-8042

A class can also be taken at another Catholic church, with a letter or certificate from the church verifying attendance. Class dates are accepted for up to two years before another class is required.

Next Steps

Please fill out the Baptism Information Form, and the Godparent Sponsor Form and return to the parish office. You can find those forms under the tab “Required Documents” in the Baptism section of the website.

The godparent(s) must send their sponsor forms into the parish as an original copy.

Final Step

Schedule the date of the Baptism with the parish office: 303-322-8042
In general, we hold Baptisms after the 10:00am Mass, at 11:30am. We are happy to work with you within the parameters of the parish calendar to schedule a date that works well for you.

7-17 years old

Baptism for Children 7 to 17 Years Old
Children this age will be enrolled in RCIA adapted for children (also sometimes referred to as RCIA,or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children or RCIT, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Teens) when the class is available. Classes for these  programs will be offered at least every other year.

Please contact Toni Armstead, our RE Coordinator at toni@loyoladenver.org for more information.

Adults

Baptism for Adults
Adults are baptized as part of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. This program to prepare for Sacraments and reception into the Catholic Chruch meets weekly from mid-September through the spring. Baptism, as well as the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist will be received at the Easter Vigil.

Please contact Margaret Wright, RCIA Coordinator, at 720-863-8420 for more information.

Required Documents

We are happy to make these forms available online. If you haven’t already, though, please call or email Laurie to set up a brief phone interview to discuss your individual situation so we can adequately prepare for your baby’s baptism. 

Baptismal Information FormGodparent/Sponsor Eligibility Form

Schedule a Baptism

We currently hold baptisms at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. For the health and safety of our families, only one family will be scheduled on one date. Dates are available depending on the parish calendar. To schedule a date after the required paperwork has been submitted, please contact the parish office.

FAQ

Can we schedule a date for the Baptism prior to taking the class and returning our forms?

Unfortunately, no. There are certain requirements that the Archdiocese of Denver, and we have to have those forms in order to Baptized.

Our experience has been that when we schedule the date without first getting the class taken and the forms in, we never get the forms back and the class doesn’t happen. And then we have to cancel and reschedule the baptism. And that is a situation we very much want to avoid. Thanks for understanding!

Having trouble/problems? Call us! We are happy to help you trouble-shoot. We will also do our best to help navigate unique circumstances.

What are the requirements for godparents?

Godparents will be life-long supporters to your child for living a life of faith. At least one godparent must be a Catholic over the age of 16 who has received the sacrament of Confirmation.

There may be one or two registered godparents. If not Catholic, but Christian, one godparent can be designated as a Christian witness.

How long is the ceremony? Is it a full Mass?

Baptisms are only the Rite of Baptism and are not a full Mass. You can plan on about 45 minutes.

Anything else I should know?

A key element of the Rite of Baptism is the parents’ promise to bring the child up in the Catholic faith. If the parents cannot make this promise, the baptism should be deferred. If this is the case, a further conversation with a priest or member of our ministry team could be helpful to you.

Baptism Registration

Register Now

When a person is baptized he or she is:

Made in new creation, an adopted son or daughter of God, who has become partaker of the divine nature.

CCC 1265

A member of the Body of Christ, the Church.

CCC 1267

Freed from the power of darkness and is brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God.

CCC 1250

Able to believe in God, to hope in him, an to love him through the theological virtues;
Given the power to love and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit though the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
Helped to grow in the goodness through the moral virtues.

CCC 1266

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