Saint Cyprian Parish

in Sunnyvale, CA | Diocese of San Jose

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The Sacrament of Baptism

- Baptism
  
  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."
  This sacrament is called Baptism , after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein ) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."
  This sacrament is also called " the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit ," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."
  "This bath is called enlightenment , because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ." Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been "enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he becomes "light" himself:
  
  Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.
  
  Sources: Catechism of the Catholic Church No 1213-1216.
- Baptism for Older Children and Adults
  
  For Baptism of children 7 years and older, or adults, please contact Alde Vera or call the parish office at (408) 739-8506, at least 2 months in advance.
- What is Required for a Child's Baptism?
  
  Please plan in advance in order to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism for your child under the age of 7.
  
  The following will provide you with the important information you need to move forward:
  
  We require that both parents meet with the priest, and then prepare for their child’s reception of the Sacrament of Baptism by taking our Baptism Preparation Class. We are also requiring the child’s godparent(s) to take the Baptism Preparation Class. For Baptism Prep Class in English, contact the parish office. For Baptism Prep Class in Spanish, contact Alde at 408-739-1669 or [email protected]. If parents or godparents have completed a Baptism Prep class within the last three years, they are not required to take the class again. They will just have to provide a copy of the certificate they received when they took the class.
  
  In order to perform and record your child’s Baptism, we require a copy of the child’s Birth Certificate.
  
  A child may have up to two godparents. At least one of the godparents must fulfill the criteria of a “Sponsor,” as listed below. The other godparent may be either a Co-sponsor (if they too fulfill the Sponsor requirements) or a “Christian Witness.” A godparent acting as a Christian Witness must be Christian and over the age of 16. If there are two godparents, they must be of opposite biological sex.
  
  The requirements for a Sponsor are as follows:
  Must be 16 years of age or older.
  May not be a parent of the child.
  Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.
  Must themselves have received Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
  If they are married, they must have been married in the Catholic church (or had their marriage blessed [con-validated] by the Church).
  
  Every godparent who is a Sponsor is required to fill out and return a “Sponsor Attestation” form.
  
  If a godparent cannot physically be present at the baptism, another suitable person must be designated to serve as a proxy. The Church requires no specific stipulations regarding who may serve as a proxy. However, if two people have been designated to serve as proxy, they must be of opposite biological sex. The proxy names will only appear in the notations with their name and “Proxy” written afterward. The proxy names are not placed on the baptismal certificate, only the godparents.
  
  We usually do not perform baptisms at our Parish during Lent except for a serious reason. Any request to have a baptism performed within Lent must be discussed and approved by the Pastor. A child in danger of death, is to be baptized without delay.
  
  The Church Law says that “although baptism can be celebrated on any day, it is nevertheless recommended that it be celebrated ordinarily on Sunday or, if possible, at the Easter Vigil.” (Can. 856 ) You may choose to have your child baptized within one of the following weekend Masses: 5:00PM Mass on Saturdays, 10:00AM Mass and 11:30AM Spanish Mass on Sundays. You may also opt for a private baptism. Private baptisms are performed on Saturday mornings in the church at either 10:00AM or 11:00AM.
  
  You may reserve a desired time for the baptism by contacting our office. We will block off your preferred time on our calendar, however, we will not formally schedule or confirm the date and time until all documentation (e.g., birth certificate, sponsor attestation) has been provided and both parents and sponsors have completed the Baptism Preparation Class.
  
  If you as parents are not registered members of St. Cyprian Parish and would like to be, you may fill out a registration form. Canon law requires that if you are registered at another parish, you have the Pastor of your Parish send us a letter giving us permission to baptize your child.
  
  All documents listed above may be returned together as one package as follows:
  Either By Email: Scan and email to [email protected] or [email protected] .
  Or By Mail: Send to St. Cyprian Parish, 1133 W. Washington Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Attn: Baptism Preparation
  Or by dropping off at the parish office during office hours
- Begin Here
  
  To begin Baptism Preparation for children under the age of 7, the first step is to complete our Baptism Preparation Form:
  
  BAPTISM FORM
- Comenzar Aquí
  
  Para comenzar la Preparación para el Bautismo de niños menores de 7 años, el primer paso es completar nuestro Formulario de Preparación para el Bautismo:
  
  ADD BUTTON FOR SPANISH FORM