Andy Doll, Church Receptionist
(785) 843-6286
At Corpus Christi, and as a Catholic Church, we believe it is our duty to assist parents to fully understand the commitment they are undertaking for their child and the entire family through the Sacrament of Baptism. Baptisms at Corpus Christi involve several steps. Once these steps are completed, you may schedule the actual baptism with the help of Leslie Koerner in the parish office.
Baptism makes one a member of the body of Christ. Baptism incorporates us into the Church and gives us a rebirth as sons and daughters of God. The principal effects of Baptism are purification from sins and a new birth in the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church baptizes all ages.
Baptisms are normally scheduled on the 2nd full weekend of every month in Church. Please call Leslie Koerner in the Parish Office at (785) 843-6286 for more information and scheduling.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." MT 28:19-20 Infant baptism is a sign of God’s desire to give us “more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Obviously, the tiny baby cannot ask for or even imagine the richness of new life in God. It is a gift, one so precious that, by its very nature, it calls for a response. In the case of infant baptism, the immediate response of joy, gratitude and commitment is offered by the parents, the godparents and the entire Christian community.
Parents of Children to be Baptized
Parents must be registered and actively practicing Stewardship at Corpus Christi for at least 6 months to have their child Baptized at Corpus Christi. This helps the pastor better fulfill Church law which states that there be well-founded hope that the child will be raised as an active practicing Catholic. If parents are not members of Corpus Christi, they must provide a letter from their Catholic parish stating they are registered and active in their parish in order to have their child baptized at Corpus Christi.
The Church requires formation and catechesis for parents in preparation for the baptism of their children. Only one class is required. At Corpus Christi, the Baptism Preparation Class is held the first Saturday every other month at 9:00 a.m. in the Administration Office on the first floor of the parish offices. You enter the building through the parish office entrance doors to the north of Fr. Jim Hall. Baptism class lasts approximately 1 hour. You must take, or have taken, a Baptism Preparation Class in the last 3 years before proceeding with the baptism itself.
Parents who desire to have their children baptized Catholic are making a commitment to follow the precepts of the Catholic Church and teaching by example their children to do the same. The Precepts of the Church describe our obligations in prayer and in living a moral life. All Catholics are called to move beyond the minimum by growing in love of God and love of neighbor.
The Precepts are as follows:
- Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Confession of serious sin at least once a year.
- Reception of Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season.
- Observance of the days of fast and abstinence.
- Providing for the material needs of the Church.
You may register for a baptism prep class HERE or call the Parish Office at (785) 843-6286 and speak with Leslie to register for a Baptismal Preparation Class.
Godparents
As you begin to prepare for your child’s baptism, one of your first decisions will be the selection of godparents/sponsors. Prior to inviting a relative or close friend to assume the role of godparent, it is important for you to understand what our church teaches. Godparents play a very important role in your child’s spiritual life and should serve as role models of the faith. It is a blessing and a privilege to be a godparent.
Your child should be able to look to their godparents as an example of how the Catholic church teaches us to live our Catholic faith. They should support you in your work as parents to teach your child our Catholic faith.
Additionally, in their role as a godparent, they represent the larger church community. As you see, being a godparent is not only an honor, but also a tremendous responsibility. Our parish provides the following guidelines to help parents choose the best possible godparents for their children.
What are the Requirements for Godparents?
Canon 872 and 874 of the code of Canon Law lists these requirements for sponsors (Godparents) in Baptism. Canon 873 states one sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.
We, as Church, believe it is our duty to offer you, as parents, the opportunity to fully understand the commitment you are undertaking for your child and yourselves through the Sacrament of Baptism. Baptisms at Corpus Christi are a two-step process. Once these steps are completed, you will be contacted by Leslie Koerner, to schedule your baptism.
A godparent must:
- Be at least sixteen (16) years of age.
- Be a fully initiated Catholic (must have received all three sacraments of initiation, baptism, confirmation and Eucharist).
- Be an active practicing Catholic and a Catholic in good standing who leads a life of faith necessary to fulfill the responsibility of being a sponsor.
- Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
- If married, the sponsor must be validly married in the Catholic Church.
- If single or divorced, may not be cohabiting with someone without the benefit of the Sacrament of marriage.
- May not be the father or the mother of the person to be baptized.
A godparent's responsibilities extend far beyond standing with the family at church. A godparent is expected to be a spiritual guide for the child.
Whether the child is a blood relative or the child of a close friend, the expectation is that every effort will be made to get to know your godchild well and help the parents by sharing your faith with the child in every way possible, from the day of the baptismal ceremony to all the days beyond. It is a great honor to be a godparent, and we want your child's godparents to be ready to joyfully live out this tremendous calling.
The person wishing to be a godparent must complete the Godparents Endorsement Form HERE.
Baptism Dates for 2026
All baptisms are held the second weekend of the month.
January 10 & 11 | February 15 | March 14 & 15 | April 11 & 12 | May 9 & 10
