SCHEDULING A BAPTISM

Parents need to be registered and active parishioners for at least three (3) months prior to scheduling a baptism.
Baptism instructions are required for first-time parents and Godparents. These are held as needed for participating registered parishioners, usually once a month on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Room located in the Cathedral Center. Both parents and both Godparents are required to attend. Please call (337-232-1322) to register for the class.
Baptisms are usually held on the First & Third Saturdays of every month following the 4:00 p.m. Mass in the Cathedral with a Cathedral priest or Deacon. Because of space constraints, only three (3) babies can be baptized per Saturday.
Your physical address constitutes our parish. You may also live outside of our geographical boundaries, but you must be committed to register with "a church parish" or the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. In order to be considered a parishioner of a church parish, you must be committed to a parish to raise your children as Catholics and to officially register with a Church parish.
In the event of a mixed religion marriage, the Catholic party must remember his/her commitment made to the Church at their wedding ceremony in promising to raise the children as Catholics.
If you are not a registered parishioner of St. John Cathedral, a $35 fee applies. A Letter of Permission from your Pastor of your Church to baptize your child at St. John Cathedral is required. This letter must state that you are an active, registered parishioner with your parish church. This must be received in our office two weeks prior to scheduling a baptism.
We will provide a white woven cross overlay and the baptismal candle for yours to keep. You will also receive your child's baptismal certificate, which is to be kept in a safe place.
If the parents are unmarried, we will not be able to list the name of the father of the baby unless we receive either a copy of the State Certificate of Live Birth listing the father’s name or a legal copy defined by Canon law 877, which reads ‘the name of the father is to be entered if his paternity is established either by some public document or by his own declaration in the presence of the parish priest and two witnesses.’ This sworn statement must be notarized. Either one of the public documents must be provided at least two (2) weeks prior to the baptism taking place.
Unless there is some danger to the child of the unmarried parents, it would be recommended there be a delay in Baptism until the needed documentation is received; or, if the mother wants the child baptized sooner, the omitted information can be supplied later.
According to the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Lafayette and in accordance with Canon Law, we are unable to issue a revised Baptismal Certificate without showing the father’s name as it appears in our original records unless we are supplied newly issued Birth Certificates from the state with the father’s name change or proof of adoption by present husband.
According to Canon Law, you are required to have at least one active, confirmed Roman Catholic Godparent over 16 years of age who is in good standing with the Church. If there are two Godparents, they must be of the opposite sex. If there is only one, a baptized Christian can serve as a witness. A baptized non-Catholic may be a Christian Witness for the baptism (which will be duly listed on the baptismal certificate) but he or she cannot be listed as a godparent. A baptized Catholic, who does not meet all the proper sacramental requirements of a Godparent, such as never been confirmed, an invalid marriage, etc., cannot be listed as a Christian Witness.
Click here to download a Godparent Certification Form. This form must be completed and turned in at least two weeks prior to the child’s baptism.
If you request a priest or deacon whose assignment is not in the Diocese of Lafayette, verification of the priest or deacon is required from the Bishop of that celebrant’s Diocese, stating that the celebrant is in good standing. It is the responsibility of parents to obtain and present this verification to St. John Cathedral prior to scheduling the Baptism.
To register your child or to find out more information on Baptism classes, contact: Margaret Simon, Parish Ministries, 337-232-1322 or by e-mail at msimon@saintjohncathedral.org.