1. Register in the Parish: Parents of the child to be baptized should register as members of the St. Ann Parish or at their other parish for at least three (3) months prior to initiating the process for baptism.

2. Contact the Baptism Coordinator: Set an appointment to initiate the process. Contact DRE 561-832-3757 ext. 305

3. Required Documentation for Baptism: The following items are required to be submitted to the parish’s Baptism Coordinator prior to the baptism being scheduled:

• (A baptism will not be scheduled until the Baptism Preparation Program is completed and all documents are submitted to the Parish Office.)
• A completed Baptismal Application
• A letter from parish (other than St. Ann) stating that godparents are confirmed, active/registered members of that community (for at least three (3) months).
• A letter confirming attendance at a Baptismal Preparation Class (here or at another Catholic parish).
• If one of the parents is non-Catholic, he/she must provide the church with written correspondence which states that they agree that the child(ren) will be raised in the Catholic faith. Additionally, they are encouraged to attend and participate in the Baptismal Preparation Program.
• The parents or at least one of the parents or the person who lawfully takes their place, must give consent for the lawful baptism of an infant. There must be a well-founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion.

The Church requests two godparents. Godparents play a very important role in your child’s spiritual life. They should serve as role models of the faith. The child should be able to look to their godparent as an example of how the church teaches us to live our Catholic faith. They should support not only the child but the parents as well. Additionally, in their role as godparent, they represent the larger Church community. The St. Ann Parish strictly adheres to Canon Law and Diocesan policies in all aspects of baptism.

Godparents are expected to:

• Accompany the parent/guardian during the time of baptismal preparation.
• Present the infant child for baptism.
• Be active stewards regarding the continuing faith journey of the child.
• Assist in guiding the child in the Catholic faith.

To be admitted to the role of godparent, a person must:

• Be designated by the parent/guardian.
• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Be practicing Catholic who participates in the Eucharistic celebration on Sundays (e.g., attends Mass regularly, is in good sacramental standing, and is able to receive Holy Communion).
• Be a fully initiated Catholic (e.g., someone who has been baptized, confirmed, and received First Communion in the Catholic Church), who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on.
• Not be restricted from such a role due to any canonical penalty or impediment.
• Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
• If they are parishioners of a parish other than St. Ann, present a letter (a certificate) from their home parish pastor attesting that they are a practicing Catholic and in good standing.
• Be present for the baptism. If it is impossible to be in attendance, a proxy is acceptable.

Additionally:

• If there are two godparents, one must be male and the other female.                                         (BOTH MUST BE CATHOLIC)
• The two godparents do not necessarily have to be married to each other (a brother and a sister; an uncle and a friend).
• At least one Catholic godparent is required.

Saturday
4:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Monday through Friday
By appointment at the Parish Office during regular office hours. Call 561-832-3757

Faith formation through the parish is two years. For your convenience, we have included the Registration form.

Please fill out the form and then email it to: Email the Director of Religious Education Here or drop off a copy at St. Ann’s Parish Center.

Click the LINK BELOW to download and print the updated registration.

For Children in between 8 and 10 years of age that have already completed the pre-communion year: First Communion Form English & First Communion Form Spanish

For Children 11 years of age or older that have not received One or More sacraments:  RCIA for Children

Please contact DRE at 561-832-3757 ext. 304 for further information.

We are happy that your family is preparing to receive First Communion this year. It is a joyous occasion and we look forward to working with you to make this a memorable event in your family. In order to better prepare your child we need your collaboration by adhering to the following guidelines.

1. First Communion is a two-year program, normally 1st grade is Pre-Communion and 2nd grade is First communion. We understand some children, for various reasons, are past 2nd grade and have not done their First Communion. If this is the case with your child, please contact our Director of Religious Education, Veronica Matias at (561)832-3757 or email: ReligiousEd@stannchurch.net.
   • We have classes of Pre-Communion and First Communion for all the grades.
2. The child should know the basic prayers of The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father); Hail Mary, Glory, and Act of Contrition.
3. Attendance to class is of extreme importance. No more than 4 excused attendances will be allowed for the child to do First Communion.
4. Parents must attend the 4 meetings a year on Thursday nights (see the calendar for exact dates).
5. We will have a First Communion retreat. The retreat is mandatory.
6. Child and parents must attend the Reconciliation Service.
7. We must have a copy of the child’s birth certificate and baptism certificate in the office.
8. Parents must sign out their children every Sunday after class.
9. Students must come to weekly Mass as part of their preparation for First Communion.

Guidelines and Parish expectations of the Confirmation Candidates

Confirmation candidates, their parents and their sponsors must show readiness for the sacrament by fulfilling the following parish expectations.

Parents:

1. Will collaborate with the program by helping the candidate to come to all the assigned classes, arriving on time, and participating in the scheduled parent meeting.
2. Will come to the Confirmation Retreat at the assigned time.
3. Will motivate the candidate, by word and example, to attend weekly Sunday Mass.

Sponsors:

1. Will fulfill the requisites of sponsorship
   1. Be a fully initiated Catholic 16 years or older (must be baptized, confirmed and received communion).
   2. If married must have the marriage sacramentally blessed by the Catholic Church.
   3. Must be active participating member of a Catholic parish, attend Mass regularly, and have the capacity to receive communion on the day of Confirmation.
2. Sponsors will attend to the meetings scheduled for them.
3. Sponsors will help the candidate in his/her journey by mentoring him/her in the faith and actively inquiring about the candidate’s progress in the classes by meeting with them several times during the year.

Candidates:

1. Each candidate shall strive to conduct him/herself as a Christian at school, at home, and in outside activities.
2. Each candidate will make prayer a special part of his/her life, especially by the practice of weekly Mass attendance. He/she will also demonstrate an understanding of the healing power of God by regular participation in the Rite of Reconciliation and confession.
3. Each candidate will actively participate in two service projects with their class, supervised by their catechists and Director of Religious Education.
4. Each candidate is expected to participate in a retreat day and all activities planned in the program.
5. Each candidate will commit himself /herself to further his/her Catholic religious training.

At Confirmation, you deepen your commitment to the Church and to your faith. Choosing a saint name for Confirmation is a very important step in your Sacramental Preparation. It is an acknowledgment that the Holy Spirit will change you through the grace of this Sacrament. In Scripture, Jesus changed the name of some of his disciples to signify that their role had been changed and that they were becoming, in a sense, a new person with a new identity. Just like you on the day of Confirmation. For example, Abram became Abraham (Genesis 17:5), Sarai became Sarah (Genesis 17:15), and Simon became Peter (Matthew 16:18). So, as a symbol of this change, you get to choose a new name. You see, at Baptism, your parents chose your Baptismal name, which became your new Christian identity in the Church through the waters of Baptism. Now, you get to choose your Confirmation Name. When the Bishop asks you what your Saint name is, he will be recalling your baptismal name as a sign of your new identity.

Confirmation names should either be an approved Catholic Saint or the candidate’s baptismal name, assuming it is a Catholic Saint Name. When choosing a saint name, you should choose someone who exemplifies a quality, characteristic or special quality of holiness that you wish to have, somebody whose life you want to emulate, or somebody you have something in common with. Choose a saint that inspires you, a spiritual role model that can help guide you throughout your faith journey and one you wish to emulate. By researching saint names, you will come to realize that they failed and succeeded, struggled as we all do, had faults and gifts like us, but they strived to live a virtuous and holy life and were faithful disciples with an extraordinary faith in God. Ask yourself what kind of person you want to become, then pray about your decision, research a saint name, and ask your parents and priests for help.

Remember That It Must Be A Catholic Saint’s Name. If you aren’t sure, then please ask. Websites that might be helpful to you are:

• http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/
• www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/patrons.asp
• www.catholic.org/saints/
• www.scborromeo.org/patron_s.htm

Write a one-page essay and include a picture if you wish, be creative, and have fun. Questions to discuss would be: Why did you choose this saint’s names for Confirmation? When and where was your saint born? What did your saint do for a living and why were they considered to be a saint? What struggles did they go through and what made them special?

For Your Marriage helps couples at all stages of life to understand and live God’s plan for happy, holy marriages by providing educational and spiritual resources.

The Role of the Sponsor

A sponsor for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process is a companion for someone walking the journey to initiation. They are not a catechist, so do not worry if you “don’t know a ton” about the Catholic Faith.

Sponsors represent the parish community to the catechumen/candidate as well as stand on behalf of the catechumen/candidate to the parish. The sponsor should be someone who really strives to live out their Catholic faith in a rich, joyful, and dedicated way.
From the Rites of Acceptance and Welcome their role is:

• To be a bridge between the catechumen or candidate and the parish community
• To share with the catechumen or candidate the practices, traditions, and prayers of our Catholic Faith
• To assist the parish initiation team in the formation process

Who Can Be a Sponsor

• Must be a fully initiated Catholic (Baptism, Confirmation, 1st Holy Communion)
• A sponsor must lead a life in harmony with the nature of the ministry of a sponsor (regular attendance of Mass, reception of the Eucharist)
• A sponsor must attend the few required sessions to the best of his/her ability

A Note on Spouses

Spouses can be sponsors, but it is not encouraged. The sponsor must be objective in discerning the individual’s desire and readiness to be fully initiated into the Church. Spouses may not be able to provide this objectivity, though exceptions can be made.
Sponsor Commitment

Thank you for deciding to be a sponsor. The responsibilities are few, but crucial, to the OCIA process.

• Email, phone call, or invite out for coffee your candidate a few times a month to “check in” on their process of discernment
• Attend the liturgical rites (dates listed below). If you cannot attend, we will enlist a proxy to stand in for you.
• Always invited, but not required, to attend Thursday evening class (6:30-8 PM)
• Attend Mass with OCIA student at the 11:30 AM Mass once a month
• Invite them to parish events, like Fish Fries or the Fall Festival, so they experience the community life of the parish, not just the sacramental