Baptisms

Thank you for choosing to celebrate your child’s baptism in St. Mary's Abbey Church.
 
1. To begin the baptismal preparation process, please make an appointment with the monk celebrating your child’s baptism.  At that time, you will complete the Application for Having Your Child Baptized. Please refer to the instruction document to fill out this form. This form is to be returned to the abbey administrative assistant, Mrs. Karen Schiner, as soon as possible to confirm the date of your child’s baptism. Upon receipt of this application form, the abbey church will be reserved. You can reach Karen at (973) 538-3235 or at [email protected].
 
2. You are expected to comply with the policies of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey regarding baptismal preparation. Pre-baptismal instruction for first-time parents (and godparents is possible) isrequired and are made directly with the monk celebrating your child’s baptism.
 
3. A record of your child’s baptism is kept at the local parish, St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Morristown; no baptismal records are maintained at St Mary's Abbey.  Subsequent requests for baptismal certificates should be made directly to St. Margaret’s Church at (973) 538-0874, or by writing to:
 

Parish Secretary
St. Margaret of Scotland Church
6 Sussex Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960

 
4. An offering of $100 (in a check payable to St. Mary's Abbey) is requested for the use of the church, and should be submitted to Karen Schiner prior to the Baptism. Receipt of the above form and offering guarantees the requested date.  The offering to St. Mary's Abbey does not include a stipend for the priest or deacon, which should be made separately.
 
5. At least one godparent must be a Roman Catholic, at least 16 years of age, who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation and regularly shares in the sacramental life of the Church.
 
6. According to the abbey Book of Customs, baptisms are ordinarily held on Saturdays or Sundays, as follows:

• Saturdays: no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and no later than 4:00 p.m.

• Sundays: immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Abbey Mass and no later than 4:00 p.m.

7. Ordinarily, there are no baptisms celebrated during Lent.