The Sacrament of Baptism is the doorway to Christian life, initiating individuals into the Church and offering them a new life in Christ, thereby welcoming families into the Church community and fostering their faith journey. Baptism prepares individuals for further sacraments, such as Confirmation and the Eucharist, which deepen their faith and relationship with God and the Church. Baptism washes away original sin and all personal sins, freeing individuals from the power of sin and death.

As we welcome an infant/young child into the Catholic Church through Baptism, we place the highest value on inviting the family to a lifelong journey of faith that involves active engagement with our parish community.

When are baptisms held?
Baptisms are held on the first and third Saturdays at 10:30 AM and the first and third Sundays at 1:00 PM. Please note that baptisms are not held during the Lenten season.

Will there be a baptismal ceremony for our family individually, or will the ceremony include several children being baptized together?
While many services are privately done for a single child, scheduling sometimes requires more than one Baptism within a single service. Every effort is made to limit the service to only two families. The priest or deacon will conduct the service in a way that will give each child individual prayer and attention during the service

May we bring guests to the service?
Absolutely. Your child’s entrance into the Catholic community should be a momentous occasion, witnessed and celebrated by the entire Catholic community. Your family and friends, Catholics and non-Catholics are encouraged to attend.

How long is the Baptism Service?
The Baptism service usually takes about 45 minutes.

May we take photographs or video during the Baptism?
Yes – we encourage guests to take plenty of pictures. However, anyone with an official role in the Baptism (parent, sponsor or witness) should give their full attention to their role in the service.

Must I be a member of the parish?
Generally, yes. Every Catholic should be a registered member of the local parish where he or she regularly attends Mass and that parish is the place where the members of your family should normally receive the Sacraments.

If you are not currently registered, but regularly come to Mass at Notre Dame (or are beginning to do so), you will be encouraged to register here. There is occasionally a situation in which parents who live far from Cedar Knolls want to have a child baptized here because the majority of their relatives live here. This is permitted, but the parents must (1) be registered members of their own local parish; (2) complete the baptismal preparation required by their home parish, and (3) obtain the permission of their pastor for the Baptism to occur here.

I am not married. Can my child be baptized?
Yes. A child may be baptized as long as there is a well-founded hope that he or she will be brought up in the practice of the Faith. This is present so long as one parent is willing to practice the Catholic Faith and share it with the child.

Neither my spouse nor I are Catholic. Can our child be baptized?
Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the Catholic Faith. In order to do so, at least one parent should be Catholic.

If you are not currently Catholic but wish to enter the Church yourself in conjunction with the Baptism of your child, we would be happy to make the arrangements to do so. This process would involve prayer, instruction, and sharing in the life of the Catholic community. Please contact our Faith Formation Director 973-538-1358 ext. 121 [email protected] for information.

How many Godparents should we have?
The Church's Canon Law states that there should be one or two Godparents. If there are two, they should be a Godfather and a Godmother.

Can we have more than two sponsors (Godparents) for our child?
No. The Church does not want the responsibility of sponsors to be diluted. The maximum number of sponsors is two. If there are two, it is recommended that one be male and one female.

Who can be Godparents? Godparents should be Catholics over 16 years of age who themselves regularly come to Mass.

Can a non-Catholic be a sponsor?
No. In order to sponsor someone to become a member of the Catholic Church, one must be a Catholic.  If a child has only one sponsor, a non-Catholic Christian may serve as an additional witness of the Baptism and be recorded as such. The rules about gender do not apply to a witness. For example, a child may have a female sponsor and a female witness. Nor is there any requirement that a witness be an active member of his or her denomination.