Infants and children below the age of seven (7) are eligible to be baptized at the request of a parent. Children seven and older will need to be enrolled in religious education and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children to prepare them to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion together. Please contact Rachel Vaughn at [email protected] if your child is seven or older. 

If you live in Austin and worship at St Austin, we will happily guide you through the brief preparation process to have your child baptized. If you are not yet registered with the parish, we will ask you to do so when you schedule the baptism. We can also discuss providing a letter of permission to have your child baptized at another Catholic parish. 

If you live outside of Austin or belong to another Catholic parish within the Diocese of Austin, you will need your pastor’s permission to have your child baptized at St. Austin. Your local parish will also discuss the options for baptism preparation. We know families often travel to celebrate baptisms closer to relatives and godparents, and we often welcome back alumni of St Austin’s Catholic School who wish to have their child baptized in the same church where their own faith was nourished. 

Step 1: Register (see Baptism Request Form below) & email a copy of your child’s birth certificate to [email protected]. 

Step 2: Schedule the baptism and preparation course. Ms. Pat Lucksinger will reach-out after receiving your registration form to schedule the baptism, preparation course, and discuss permissions from your pastor, if needed.  

Step 3: Prayerfully prepare yourself and the godparent(s). Attend a baptism preparation course and invite the godparent(s) to do the same. Have them sign the Godparent Covenant and email it to [email protected] in advance. If you have a Christian witness, have him or her sign a Christian Witness Covenant.

Baptisms are generally celebrated twice a month on Saturdays in small groups of no more than five.

• We also encourage you to consider a baptism during a Sunday Mass in celebration of Christ's Resurrection and surrounded by the broader parish community.

Upcoming Saturday options include:

• November 16, 2024 at 10 am
• November 30, 2024 at 10 am
• December 14, 2024 at 10 am
• January 11, 2025 at 10 am
• January 25, 2025 at 10 am
• February 8, 2025 at 10 am
• February 22, 2025 at 10 am
• April 26, 2025 at 10 am
• May 10, 2025 at 10 am
• May 24, 2025 at 10 am

Godparents assist Christian parents in their duties to keep the light of Christ burning brightly so that they may live out the commandment to love God and our neighbors. 

• Only one godparent is required for Baptism. 

• Up to two godparents can be designated so long as one is female and the other is male. 

• A godparent must have been baptized, received First Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation, and live a life of faith befitting the role of sponsor. 

• A godparent must be at least 16 years of age.

• A godparent may not be under any canonical penalties. 

• A godparent cannot be the mother or father of the one to be baptized.

In addition to the godparent, a non-Catholic Christian may serve as a Christian witness for the infant to be baptized. It is his/her responsibility to foster the godchild's faith throughout his/her life and to encourage the godchild to live out his/her baptismal vows in their Catholic Christian tradition.

The full requirements for godparents (sponsors) are located in  Canon Law. 

Godparents and Christian witnesses will be asked to complete and submit a respective covenant form before the baptism:  

• Godparent Covenant

• Christian Witness Covenant

St Austin offers a brief preparation course every other month for parents and godparents on Sunday afternoons in the new Parish Ministry Center and School.

Upcoming dates include: 

• Sunday, November 17 – 2 pm
• Sunday, January 19 – 2 pm
• Sunday, March 16 – 2 pm
• Sunday, May 18 – 2 pm

Directions and parking information are available here: staustin.org/parking. 

If you were asked to be a godparent elsewhere and would like to register for the course, please email Pat Lucksinger at [email protected].