Sacramental Information

BAPTISM – MARRIAGE – RECONCILIATION – & LETTER OF ELIGIBILITY 

 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2013, Baptisms will NOT  be scheduled until all of the required paperwork is on file in the rectory office.  This paperwork includes:

A Baptismal Registration form

A Letter of Eligibility for EACH Roman Catholic godparent

            Or

A Proof of Baptism for a Christian Witness

We can  set the date for the Baptism only after all of the above paperwork is submitted to the Rectory Office.  

Parents must also attend a Pre-Jordan Preparatory Class,
held on the first Monday of every other month in McKenna Hall (next to the Rectory).  Next Class will be held Monday, July 1 at 7:00 pm.  Parents are required to attend along with the child’s Sponsors / Godparents, during the pregnancy.  Please do not wait until the child is born to attend.

GODPARENTS

A Godparent should be an example of our Catholic faith, and must be:

1. Catholic and over 16 years of age:
- Check whether or not your prospective godparent is a Catholic. According to the Code of Canon Law, the godparent must be a Catholic. A non-Catholic godparent is acceptable, only if you have a Catholic godparent as well.

2.  Fully initiated and registered in a Catholic Parish.
- Check whether or not the prospective godparent has received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist. According to the Code of Canon Law, the godparent must have received these sacraments of initiation, and must also be a practicing Catholic, registered and active in a Catholic parish, who lives the life of faith.

Read more: How to choose godparents for a Roman Catholic baptism | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5137991_choose-godparents-roman-catholic-baptism.html#ixzz27gfjbohf

If you wish to become a godparent and are a non-parishioner, you must provide a letter of eligibility (see below) from your current parish at least two weeks prior to baptism;
- If you wish to become a godparent of a child in another parish, you must be a current, active member of St. John’s to receive a letter of eligibility (see below);
- If you are not a parishioner of St. John’s but are actively registered in another parish, you must contact the parish you are currently registered in for a letter of eligibility (see below).  We cannot provide any information for inactive non-parishioners.

What is a Letter of Eligibility?
A Letter of Eligibility is an official statement from the Pastor saying:

1.  You are currently active in our Catholic faith,

2.  You have fully received the sacraments, and

3.  You are actively registered in the parish.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide letters of eligibility for prior or inactive parishioners.  

If you are a current parishioner of St. John’s and the person you are sponsoring is receiving a sacrament St. John’s, you do not need this letter.  It is only if you are sponsoring someone in another parish.

Again, if you are an active member of the parish, you may request a Letter of Eligibility signed by the Pastor.  This letter acknowledges that you currently registered and receive the sacraments regularly, at least 16 years of age, Confirmed, (married in the Catholic Church if applicable), and have been a member of the parish for at least six months.

Parishioners in need of a letter should contact the rectory as soon as it is requested.  Call us at 215-482-4600 or e-mail us at sjbphila@aol.com and include your name, address, and phone number, and the name of the parish requesting the letter.

On the day of your child’s Baptism
Family and Friends are encouraged to attend your child’s baptism, this is a wonderful and exciting time!  We ask that if you are expecting guests, please invite them to attend 11:00 am mass.  If they are unable to attend mass, they are welcome to wait outside of Church or in the Social Hall under the church until the mass is over and the congregation has exited the church.  We respectfully ask that if guests are not attending mass, please do not to wait in the vestibule of Church while mass is being said.   The congregation will be exiting the church between 11:45 and 12 noon and the tables and chairs in the vestibule are needed for parish functions before and after mass.  Your guests may enter the church for your child’s baptism after the mass is over.

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SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
Couples must make arrangements with a priest of the parish at least six months before the wedding. The priest will assist with all the necessary arrangements.

Pre-Cana Preparatory Class – Date TBD
Couples must attend the Archdiocesan Sacramental Preparation class (Pre-Cana).   It is a full-day class with other couples concluding with mass and day’s end. There is one Pre-Cana for all Manayunk Parishioners gettting married, they are held at Holy Family Church at 242 Hermitage Street. Call Holy Family’s Rectory to register at 215.482.0450.

Couples must register at least two weeks in advance of the class, and cost is $60/couple due upon registration.  The day begins promptly at 8:00 am and concludes after 4:00 pm mass is ended (about 5:00 pm). The following link will help answer some of the Frequently Asked Questions regarding Marriage in the Catholic Church.
http://archphila.org/evangelization/famlife/famlife_pdf/MarriagePrepFAQ-fr%20AH%20070210.pdf

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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturdays: 3:00 pm  to 3:30 pm, or anytime by appointment.

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What is a Letter of Eligibility?
A Letter of Eligibility is an official statement from the Pastor saying:

1.  You are currently active in our Catholic faith,

2.  You have fully received the sacraments, and

3.  You are actively registered in the parish.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide letters of eligibility for prior or inactive parishioners.  

If you are a current parishioner of St. John’s and the candidate you are sponsoring is receiving a sacrament St. John’s, you do not need this letter.  It is only if you are sponsoring someone in another parish.

But, if you are an active member of the parish, and are sponsoring a candidate at another parish, you may request a Letter of Eligibility signed by the Pastor.  This letter acknowledges that you currently registered and receive the sacraments regularly, at least 16 years of age, Confirmed, (married in the Catholic Church if applicable), and have been a member of the parish for at least six months.

Parishioners in need of a letter should contact the rectory as soon as it is requested.  Call us at 215-482-4600 or e-mail us at sjbphila@aol.com and include your name, address, and phone number, and the name of the parish requesting the letter.