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Welcome and Congratulations!

Baptism is the sacrament of grace, welcome and initiation for an infant, young child or adult to the community of faith. We celebrate with you and your family and know that your lives are ever changed.  We rejoice with you in this blessing, as this new life brings hope and promise for a future.

At St. Nicholas, we look forward to celebrating the sacrament as we welcome your child to the Catholic community of faith.  Whether this sacrament is conferred during our monthly English or Spanish language ceremonies, a robust welcome by the community of faith is an integral part of this sacrament.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are Baptisms celebrated at St. Nicholas?
  • English language Baptisms are celebrated on the third Sunday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the church.
  • Spanish language Baptisms are offered on the second Sunday of each month at 3:00 p.m. as well as on the first Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. 
  • If needed, we will do our best to schedule a baptism to meet special family situations.  This will always be dependent on the parish calendar and availability of a priest or deacon as presider.
  • There are no Baptisms during Lent.
  • We encourage families to arrive about 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to get settled and to welcome their family and friends.
How do I schedule a Baptism?
What are the requirements for Baptism?
  • Parents planning a baptism should participate in a Preparation Program, taught in either English or Spanish by the coordinator of each program. 
  • The English language Preparation Program is offered on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.; the Spanish language Preparation Program is offered on the third Thursday of each month, also at 6:00 p.m. in the Church. The Preparation Program needs to be completed prior to the Baptism.
  • A copy of the birth certificate of the individual to be baptized must be verified to confirm the legal name and spelling of names for the baptism certificate.  A copy of the certificate can be brought to the preparation class or to the parish office at 806 Ridge Avenue, Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  We only need to see the certificate and will return it to you.
For more information on our Preparation Program:
Is there an age limit for Baptism?
  • Typically, baptisms are celebrated with infants and young children.
  • For youth over 8 years old, it will be necessary to complete an alternate formation program for the youth prior to receiving the sacrament, as we do with teens and adults. For information, please speak with our Director of Long Faith Formation at 847.864.1185 ex 23 or kfarrell@archchicago.org.
What is a godparent?  Who can be a godparent?
Godparents are individuals invited to stand with the family of the baptized as faith model/s and mentor/s in support of the parents’ desire to raise the child in the Catholic faith. 
  • Godparents can be family members or friends and older than 16 years of age. 
  • At least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic, having received baptism and confirmation. It is common in some cultures to name more than one godparent or sponsor at the time of Baptism.  We are glad to add these names to the certificate you will receive, though only two godparents’ names will be entered in the official sacramental record.
Is there a fee for Baptism?
There is NO FEE associated with the sacrament of Baptism at St. Nicholas Church.  We ask that you consider a free will offering to the church of $50 or whatever you are able to offer.  We look forward to working with you in the months ahead as you prepare to welcome your child into the faith community of St. Nicholas.