Baptism

For Infants For Children For Adults CERTIFICATE REQUEST

Mass Times

All times listed are in Central Time (CST)

Sunday

Main Church
7:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
1:00 PM (Spanish)
6:00 PM

Monday

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
9:00 AM

Tuesday

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
9:00 AM
6:45PM

Wednesday

Main Church
6:00 AM
8:30 AM

Thursday

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
9:00 AM
6:45 PM

Friday

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel
9:00 AM

Saturday

Our Lady of the Angels Chapel*
*The First Saturday of every month, Mass and
Confessions are moved to the Main Church.

10:00 AM Daily Mass

Main Church
5:00 PM Vigil

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Infants

Infant Baptism (0 – 6 Years Old)

We are excited to be a part of your child’s relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through the Sacrament of Baptism! It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new Christian into the Church and into our parish community. Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit. As the doorway into God’s Church, Baptism enables your child to grow in holiness by receiving the other Sacraments as they mature.

Preparation for Registration

✔ Is your child 6 years old or younger?

✔ Have the parents of the child attended a Baptismal Preparation class?

✔ Are the parents of the child registered parishioners of St Anthony of Padua?

If you can answer YES to all the questions above, you may be ready to request the Sacrament of Baptism for your child. Register to attend a Baptism Preparation class where you will receive a Baptism Packet which contains the necessary forms and information.

Required Documents

Sacrament of Baptism – Request Form.
Verification of Completion of Baptism Preparation class for both parents. If parents attended a Baptism Preparation class within the past three years at a parish other than St Anthony of Padua, you will need to obtain and submit a verification of where and when the class was completed.
Godparent Information Forms must be completed and signed by the godparent – one for each godparent. You will find the requirements and obligations for godparents listed in your Baptismal Pack or download a copy here, in English Godparent/Christian Witness Commitment Form or in Español Forma de Padrino/Madrina/Testigo Cristiano.
Official Birth Certificate. We will need a copy of your child’s official Birth Certificate as soon a possible in the process. The latest this copy may be submitted is 2 weeks prior to your scheduled baptism in order to create your child’s Baptismal Certificate.
Parish Registration. You will need to provide your parish registration number. If you do not know your number, send an inquiry to support@ap.church and we will be happy to look it up for you. If you are not a member of our parish, we will need to receive a Letter of Assurance from the pastor of your current church. [Note: if you need a Letter of Assurance from St Anthony of Padua because your child is celebrating baptism at another Catholic parish, please contact Sue Dewlen with your request. ]

Schedule of Classes & Baptism Dates Baptism Preparation Class - Part 1 Online Baptism Certificate Reissue Request Solicitud de reemisión de certificado de bautismo

How can we help?

Let us know if you need any assistance with the registration process. If you prefer, we are happy to set up an appointment to meet in person to guide you through the steps or answer any questions you may have about infant baptism.

God bless you and your family!

Claudia Avena

Baptism Coordinator (Bilingüe)

832-482-4033

cavena@ap.church

Children

Becoming Catholic for Children (OCIA) (7-18 years old)

If you are interested in learning more about your child becoming Catholic, please read through the information below. Children that are at least 7 years old and in grades 1- 12th grade and have not been baptized or were baptized in a faith other than the Catholic Church will be placed in our wonderful program, Becoming Catholic for Children. We require that the child attends at least one year of Faith Formation prior to entering their second year towards becoming Catholic. Children should also attend Mass weekly with their families. If your child has not received any formation up to this point, please enroll them in a year of Faith Formation. This is closed for the 2024-2025 Faith Formation year!

YEAR 1

Child will attend weekly Faith Formation classes

YEAR 2

AGE 7 THROUGH 8TH GRADE – OCIA participants and their families will sit together at the 9:00 am Mass on Sundays. During Mass, the children are dismissed after the homily (around 9:30) for Breaking Open the Word (BOW). After Breaking Open the Word, they attend their weekly OCIC session until 11:15 am. Parents join the children at the once-a-month sessions after attending the 9AM Mass.
9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE – High school aged children will participate in Youth Ministry programs for 2 years. The second year of formation will take place on Wednesday nights as a part of the Teen Confirmation Program, which meets on Wednesday Nights, instead of the Sunday morning classes.

All of the children and teens who haven’t been baptized in any faith will receive Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation during the Easter Vigil Mass. All the children and teens who were baptized in a faith other than Catholic will make a Profession of Faith, and receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation during the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass.

Program Coordinator:

Leslie Bevilacqua

Sacramental Preparation & RCIA for Children Coordinator (Bilingüe)

832-482-4062

lbevilacqua@ap.church

OCIA for Children Class Schedule Requirements for Choosing a Sponsor Sponsor Form Saint Name Form

Adult

RCIA/Initiation (18+ years old)

Becoming Catholic/Christian Initiation

If you desire to follow Jesus Christ and be a member of his Catholic Church, then the Becoming Catholic process is for you. This process is a time of spiritual growth through prayer, reflection, and discernment, a time to learn more about the Catholic faith, and an opportunity to become part of the Catholic community of St. Anthony of Padua.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming Catholic, please read through the FAQs and fill out the interest form below so we can learn more about you and help you find the path that suits your particular needs.

Please note: If you are married, and your spouse is a baptized Catholic, but you were not married in the Catholic Church, you will need to be married in the Catholic Church BEFORE becoming Catholic. More information can be found here.

Katie Krall

Manager of Adult Faith Formation & Sacraments

kkrall@ap.church

Becoming Catholic Interest Form

BECOMING CATHOLIC FAQS

1. How do I become a Catholic Christian?

Any person who wants to become Catholic may do so by entering the Becoming Catholic process. During this process, you will begin to participate in the liturgical celebrations of the Church, learn more about the Catholic faith, become a member of the St. Anthony of Padua community, and prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.

2. Who can participate in the Becoming Catholic process?

Those who have never been baptized: the Becoming Catholic process will prepare you to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist (Holy Communion).
Those who have already been validly baptized in another Christian faith: the Becoming Catholic process will prepare you to make a Profession of the Catholic faith, and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist (Holy Communion).
*If you are a baptized Catholic, and wish to receive the sacrament of Confirmation and/or Eucharist, please visit our Adult Confirmation page.

3. How long does the Becoming Catholic process take?

The time that you take to discern whether you want to become Catholic can take weeks, months, or years. The more formal preparation process also varies from person to person. For example, someone who is married to a Catholic and has been attending Mass with their spouse for 25 years will have a different experience than someone who has never attended Mass or heard the Gospel. A good time frame to keep in mind is one liturgical year or more. This allows you to live out the Catholic faith for at least a year before committing to being Catholic for the rest of your life. Regardless of your situation, we will work with you to get you on the best path forward and help you discern when you are ready to receive the sacraments.

4. How long does the RCIA process take?

The time that you take to discern whether you want to become Catholic (Precatechumenate) can take weeks, months, or years. The more formal process that includes Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, and Mystagogy lasts for about 9 months. This formal process follows the school year – beginning each September and concluding the following May.

5. On what days will we be meeting? Can I just take an online course?

The foundational part of this process is regularly attending Sunday Mass. In addition to Mass, most events take place on Sunday throughout the Becoming Catholic process. Occasionally, there will be events on certain evenings of the week, but that will depend on your particular path. An online course can help you understand more about the faith, but it cannot replace an entire way of life. Becoming Catholic is much more than a class. The process will enfold you into the St. Anthony of Padua community, lead you in prayer and reflection, assist you with discernment, and offer you the opportunity to attend Sunday Mass.

6. You said I should attend Mass. Am I allowed to do that even though I’m not Catholic?

Yes, you are welcome to attend Mass, especially since, as a Catholic, you will be attending Mass weekly, if not more often! A very important thing to know when attending Mass is that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Because of this, you are asked to not yet receive Jesus in the Eucharist (at Communion) until you have fully prepared and entered into the sacraments. Click Here for Mass Times.

7. How do I get started with the Becoming Catholic process?

Please fill out the Becoming Catholic Interest Form. Once we receive your interest form, we will reach out to you to set up an appointment to learn more about your faith journey, answer any questions you might have, and get you started on the best path forward. We look forward to hearing from you!

Certificate Request

Did you receive your sacraments here at St. Anthony’s? Are you in need of a re-issuance of one of your Certificates? If you need a new certificate, please submit an online Certificate Request Form.

CERTIFICATE REQUEST FORM - ONLINE

Please note – only Parents, Legal Guardians or the person themselves can request to have their certificate re-issued. Photo ID is required to retrieve any certificates. Please allow 5 business days to process the request.

Diane Czerniak

Manager of Children’s Faith Formation & Sacraments