Sacraments

Baptism

How Do I Arrange for My Child's Baptism?

The steps involved include:

  1. Calling Stacy Golden at 443-261-0105 who will take information about you and your family and your goals for baptism.
  2. Attending the Baptismal Preparation Class if you have not attended it in the past 2 years or attended the class at another parish.
  3. Selecting Godparents and providing documentation that they are eligible to serve.
  4. Arranging a date for the baptism.
What are the Requirements for Godparents?

Canon Law allows for two (2) Godparents of Record - One female and one male.

Catholics serving as Godparents must:

  1. Be mature enough to undertake this responsibility.
  2. Have received the three sacraments of initiation, namely Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
  3. Be at least 16 years old (or have the pastors permission).
  4. Know the fundamentals of the faith and be a practicing Catholic who goes to Mass on Sunday.
  5. Be canonically free to carry out the office (e.g., if married, married in the Catholic church).
  6. Not be parents of the child.

A baptized, practicing Christian of another denomination can serve in place of one of the Catholic Godparents, provided there is a Catholic Godparent. However, a non-confirmed or non-practicing Catholic cannot serve as the second Godparent, even if there is a confirmed, practicing Catholic Godparent.

Being a Godparent is not just an honor given to a good friend or relative. Being a Godparent requires a real appreciation and personal practice of the faith, as well as a sense of responsibility toward the person being baptized. Therefore, one should not ask a relative to be a Godparent simply because he or she is a relative.  A good rule of thumb in selecting Godparents is to ask if they would be a good coach to help your child become a disciple of Jesus and a faithful Catholic.

It is the policy of St. John's that each Catholic Godparent provide a certification of eligibility. This verification can be obtained from his or her CURRENT parish office and should be turned in to St. Johns at least 2 weeks prior to the baptism.  To obtain one, have the Godparent call his/her Church office, explain that he/she has been asked to be a Godparent and ask for some kind of statement that he/she is eligible to serve as a Godparent.  Many parishes have forms specifically for this, occasionally a parish writes a letter.  Whatever they normally do is acceptable to us.

When are Baptisms Scheduled?

Baptisms are scheduled on Saturdays at Noon. We hold a communal Baptism ceremony on most weekends.  These services include just the Baptism, and does not include a full Mass or fulfill your weekly Sunday Mass oblgation.

 

Can I have My Child Baptized at St. Johns if I am not a Member of this Parish?

Although it is ideal to have your child baptized at your home parish, we understand that there may be circumstances in which it would be more convenient for a relative if the baptism were here at St. John's. We ask that you go through the baptismal preparation process at your home church and get a letter from them giving our parish permission to perform the baptism.

If you have questions that were not addressed above, please contact Stacy Golden at 443-261-0105 or email.

First Reconciliation

How Do I Arrange for My Child's First Reconciliation?
  • Information for First Reconciliation is distributed to current 2nd grade Faith Formation and St. John the Evangelist School families.
  • If your child is 3rd grade or older, contact the office of Faith Formation at 410-647-4892.
What are the Requirements for First Reconciliation?
  • Families must be registered parishioners of St. John the Evangelist
  • The child must have been enrolled for two or more years in a parish Faith Formation program, or in Catholic School
  • The child must enroll and complete the First Reconciliation preparation program designated by the parish.

 

When is the Sacrament of First Reconciliation Celebrated?

To be determined due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Other Questions

If you have any questions regarding First Reconciliation preparation you can contact the Office of Faith Formation at 410-647-4892.

First Eucharist

Information about First Eucharist Preparation will be distributed to families of children participating in our Faith Formation program and those enrolled in our parish school who are parishioners.

How Do I Arrange for My Child's First Eucharist?
  • Information for First Eucharist is distributed to current 2nd grade St. John the Evangelist Parish families.
  • If your child is 3rd grade or older, contact the office of Faith Formation at 410-647-4892.
What are the Requirements for First Eucharist?
  • Families must be registered parishioners of St. John the Evangelist.
  • The child must have been enrolled for two or more years in a parish Faith Formation program, or in Catholic School.
  • The sacrament of Reconciliation must be celebrated prior to First Eucharist.
  • The child must enroll and complete the First Eucharist preparation program designated by the parish.

 

When is the Sacrament of First Eucharist Celebrated?

To be determined due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Other Questions

If you have any questions regarding First Eucharist preparation you can contact the Office of Faith Formation at 410-647-4884.

Confirmation

Information about our Confirmation preparation process will be distributed to families of youth who have participated in our Faith Formation program and those who were enrolled in our parish school who are parishioners.  If you are new to the parish and have a child who may be eligible for Confirmation preparation please email Mary Rogers at mrogers@stjohnsp.org.

Adults who have not been confirmed should contact Fr. Evan Ponton at the Parish Center at 410-647-4884, eponton@stjohnsp.org to set up an appointment to discuss the preparation process. Additionally, these adults are encouraged to participate in Alpha if they have not yet done so.

Marriage

How Do I Arrange to be Married at St. Johns?

Couples planning to marry must contact one of the Priests or Deacons 9 to 12 months prior to the tentative date of marriage. Participation in Witness to Love, our marriage preparation program is required. Call the parish office to be put in touch with a Priest or Deacon.

What are the Policies and Procedures for Weddings at St. John's?
Download Wedding Procedures Here
Marriage Resources
Links to Marriage resources from The Archdiocese of Baltimore which includes info on pre-Cana and Engaged Encounter Marriage Preparation options, as well as marriage enrichment ideas. Foryourmarriage.org, an initiative of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to strengthen marriages. General Marriage and Family Information from USCCB
Where can I get Information about the Annulment Process?

While recognizing that with the exchange of marital vows God takes two persons and makes them one flesh, the Church knows that there are times when an element necessary for a valid marriage is missing. If a person claims that something was missing from a marriage to make it invalid, that person has the right to seek the assistance of a tribunal.

Most often the person asking for a declaration of nullity (commonly referred to as an annulment) will be a Catholic or a person who is now seeking to marry a Catholic. Information on the annulment process can be obtained from the archdiocesan website or by calling the marriage tribunal office. For a quick intro to the subject, and to avoid much misinformation, read 12 Myths about Marriage Annulments in the Catholic Church.

Holy Orders / Vocations

Links for information about Holy Orders

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament should be celebrated at the beginning of a serious illness. Please notify the Parish Office when a parishioner is hospitalized. If you are unable to attend mass and wish to receive Holy Communion call the Parish Office to make arrangements for regular visits.