Infant Baptism (under the age of 7): Congratulations! Whether you currently experiencing the joy of pregnancy or have recently given birth we, at St. Mary's, would love to assist you in the baptism of your little child. The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated in English on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 10:00 am. Prior to baptism, parents are asked to register at the parish and attend a baptismal preparation class if this is the first child you will have baptized at St. Mary. You can register for the baptism by calling the parish office. At least one of the godparents must be a Catholic in good standing. Below is the sponsor affidavit that needs to be signed by the godparent's church.
There is a $50 registration fee due at the time of registration. The fee may be paid at the parish office or online.
Baptism for those in grade school and high school: If your grade school (second grade or older) or high school aged child would like to be baptized, we are happy to help. Preparation for these youth are done through our Religious Education Department. These youth will be enrolled in a "Special Sacraments" class for at least a year prior to receiving First Communion. They would receive the Sacrament of Baptism on or before First Communion Mass. And if they are in high school, they will also receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. At least one of the godparents must be a Catholic in good standing. To the left is the sponsor affidavit that needs to be signed by the godparent's church.
Adult Baptism: Jesus' final words to His apostles, before He ascended into Heaven, was to "go out to all the world and baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit..."
Therefore, here at St. Mary's, we would like to assist all adults by becoming baptized, receiving Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Most adults wishing to receive these Sacraments will go through a program called R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process through which interested adults are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic Faith and way of life. The RCIA is a communal process and involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential convert toward the final rite at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Roman Catholic Church.
The goal of the RCIA is an intimate union with God and his Holy Church. This goal is obtained through the ritual of reception into the Catholic Church and the three sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. This course is taught by our RCIA team and is open to anyone. If you are still interested in becoming Catholic, please contact the parish at 815-338-3377 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or register online below.
Baptism Registration Information
English Baptism
Classes for English baptisms are now held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in the Conway Center Meeting Room. We ask that both parents and Godparents attend this sacramental preparation class. The class is valid for 2 years. Each child to be baptized must have at least one Catholic Godparent. According to Canon Law, there can only be one Godmother and one Godfather on record. To register for a baptism, please call the office.
The baptism ceremony is celebrated on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at 10:00 am (except in December). There are no baptisms in December. All baptisms are celebrated outside of Mass and therefore, do not fulfill the Sunday obligation. We ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to check-in and review the necessary form to ensure correct information will be recorded in the Church records and on the Baptismal Certificate. The Baptismal Certificate will then be mailed after the sacrament has been received.
Spanish Baptism
Classes for Hispanic baptisms are usually held on the fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00 pm in the St. Joseph Basement. We ask that both parents and Godparents be present for the class. Godparents can fulfill this obligation at their home parish if they do not reside within the parish's boundaries, and must bring proof to the parish office prior to the date of baptism. The class is valid for 2 years. Godparents must be in good standing with the Catholic Church. It is required to make an appointment to sign up for the baptism and bring the following:
- Copy of the child's Birth Certificate
- Copy of the godparents' Marriage Certificate
The baptism ceremony in Spanish is celebrated on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 10:00 am (except in December.) There are no baptisms in December. All baptisms are celebrated outside of Mass and therefore, do not fulfill the Sunday obligation. We ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to check-in and review the necessary form to ensure correct information will be recorded in the Church records and on the Baptismal Certificate. The Baptismal Certificate will then be mailed after the sacrament has been received.
If you need to schedule a baptism, please call the parish office Monday-Friday between 9 AM-4 PM at 815-338-3377.
Please contact Maricela Duenas for more information.
