Important information regarding the Sacramental Sponsorship of Godparents
The Code of Canon Law provides the directives for all of the Latin Rite Catholic Church’s functions. Approved and promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983, the Code contains the legislation around the operations of the Catholic Church throughout the world. This includes the regulations involving the celebration of the Sacraments.
A sponsor for the Sacrament of Baptism “will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it. (Can. 872)
Only one male or one female sponsor or one of each sex is to be employed. (Can.873) That is, there cannot be “two godfathers” or “two godmothers.”
To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must:
have completed the sixteenth year…
be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith…
not be the father or the mother of the one to be baptized
A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be admitted except as a witness to baptism and together with a Catholic sponsor. (Can. 874)
Additionally, one, but preferably both of the godparents must also be fully Initiated in the Faith, meaning that they have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church. They should attend Mass regularly and be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Please contact the rectory at least three months in advance of the date you would like to schedule your child's Baptism.
All parents are required to attend a Baptismal catechesis class, approximately one hour long, before the priest or deacon can offer Baptism, unless an emergency necessitates otherwise.
Mass is celebrated daily at St. Philomena Parish. For those who are homebound and unable to attend Mass in person, view our daily live stream here
Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Monday from 12:40-6:30pm.
First Eucharist takes place during the second grade for our Aquinas Academy and Religious Education students. Click here for our Religious education page for more information on Sacramental prep.
For older children, or adults wishing to become Catholic, or for those who are Catholic but have not received their first Eucharist, click here for our OCIA program.
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ... If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church
If you, or a loved one is in need of the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick, call the rectory at 973-992-0994
"The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. . . . God himself is the author of marriage"
-The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Contact the rectory at 973-992-0994 at least one year in advance to schedule your wedding at Saint Philomena Parish, to begin the marriage preparation process with a priest or deacon.
Wedding music guidelines can be found here