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Baptism

- Welcome!
  
  God knows each of us by name and lovingly calls us to Himself. Whether you are bringing your child for Baptism or preparing to be baptized yourself, we are honored to accompany you as you begin your journey of faith and are welcomed into God's family, the Church.
  
  At St. Mark, Baptisms are ordinarily celebrated during one of our Sunday Masses in the presence of the parish community. A private celebration following the final Sunday Mass may also be arranged.
- BAPTISM OF INFANTS
  
  If your child is younger than 7 years old, the preparation process for reception of the sacrament, for registered parishioners of St Mark, consists of two preparation sessions (60 mins each) where both parents and godparents attend.
  
  To start the baptism prep process, whether you're currently registered or not, please fill out this form and upload the following documents to the form:
  Birth Certificate of the Child
  Confirmation Certificates of Godparents/Sponsors
  For guidelines on choosing Godparents - please click here.
  For more information contact Deacon Charlie Echeverry:
  D[email protected]
- BAPTISM OF CHILDREN, AGE 7+
  
  Start your child’s faith journey with us!
  Baptism of children is a beautiful and ancient tradition of the Church. Through Baptism, we are welcomed into the life of Christ and the family of the Church.
  For children age 7 and older, Baptism includes a period of preparation because the Church recognizes that children at this age have reached the “age of reason.” This means they are beginning to understand, choose, and respond to God in a more personal way. That will include their formation for their 1st Communion.
  At St. Mark, we want every child to be given the time and space to learn about Jesus, discover the gifts of our Catholic faith, and grow in their own desire to share in His life and light through their Baptism.
  Children preparing for Baptism will normally participate in our regular Religious Education program, which meets two Sundays a month during the school year. Parents and godparents will also take part in preparation so that the child is supported by their family and their parish community.
  Special needs can be accommodated.
  
  Students enrolled at Saint Mark School would normally only require one year of formation, due to their ongoing immersion in Catholic life.
  For more information, please contact:
  Maryam Fitchew
  Director of Family Catechesis
  310-821-5058
  [email protected]
- BAPTISM OF TEENAGERS
  
  A teen who is a minor and wants to be baptized, will generally join the Confirmation program, and receive some extra formation for a deeper understanding of what is involved in becoming Catholic and taking up the responsibilities of the faith.
  
  To enroll in Confirmation, contact our Director of Youth Formation. [email protected]
- BAPTISM OF ADULTS
  
  The "Order of Christian Initiation of Adults" (previously knows as "RCIA") is not a formation program but a comprehensive structure, going back to the early church, within which the sacraments of initiation and reception into the Church take place.
  
  At Saint Mark, we consider the unique needs of each person seeking Baptism to find a path that best fits their life circumstances, while maintaining the basic framework of Inquiry, Catechumenate and Election.
  
  When adults (18+) are baptized in the Catholic Church they receive all three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. The substance of their formation takes place within the context of our Explorers Group, led by our pastor, Father Albert.
  
  For your Explorers Group intake interview, please first complete this Questionnaire Adult Sacraments and you will be contacted by Fr Albert, [email protected]
  
  NOTE: THE REGISTRATION FOR ADULT BAPTISM IN 2026 HAS CLOSED.
  YOU CAN NOW SUBSCRIBE FOR 2027.