Congratulations!

Before we begin baptismal preparation remember the following requirements to receive baptism in this Diocese:

For Parents:

For a child to be baptized in the Roman Catholic tradition there must be a basis for hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith.  In practice this means that at least parent is Catholic. 

The church welcomes every parent to bring their child forward for baptism, no matter what their marital circumstances may be.  Parents who were not married in the Catholic Church might consider the possibility of having the marriage convalidated in the church.  Our Pastor will gladly assist couples in that process.  This is not necessary for a child to be baptized. 

At Our Lady of Hope we require at least one parent to attend a baptism preparation session that is approximately one hour long.  Once you have completed this session we will schedule the date and time for your child's baptism.  Baptism may be scheduled during or after any weekend Mass.

we are willing to baptize babies from your family who live out of town, however we will require a letter of permission from the parish that the parents are currently attending.  This must be received before the baptism can be scheduled. 

There is no fee for baptism, but many parents make a "thanksgiving offering" at the time of baptism.  We suggest an offering of $20 if that feels right for you.  You may place the offering in an envelope and give it to the priest on the day of the baptism.  The offering stays at Our Lady of Hope parish.

For Godparents:

You may have more than one Godparent, but the Catholic Church requires that at least one Godparent be at least 16 years of age and have received the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, and be active in practicing their faith.  If married, the Godparent must be married in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Godparent is required to provide a letter of recommendation from their current parish stating that they meet the requirements to serve as a Godparent.  This letter must be received before the date of Baptism. 

Parents may have a Christian witness and serve with the Godparent.  This Christian witness may be a Catholic not meeting all of the requirements for a Godparent or they may be a practicing Christian of another denomination. 

When you are ready, contact:

Our Lady of Hope
18 Greenwood Place
Buffalo, NY 14213
716-885-2469
[email protected]