Baptisms are held immediately following the 11:15 AM Sunday Mass unless another time is arranged. Both parents are to complete a baptism preparation class before the baptism of their child, although parents who have completed this class for an older child do not need to repeat it. Parents are encouraged to attend the class as early as possible – up to 3 months prior to the arrival of their baby. Please call or e-mail St. Mary Church to arrange for the baptism of your child or for more information.

Godparents/Christian Witnesses
Every person being baptized, whether child or adult, is to have a sponsor. The sponsors in baptism have traditionally been called "godparents." For adults, the baptismal sponsor(s) assist them in growing in their Catholic faith. For infants, the sponsor(s) give this assistance together with the child's parents. The minimum requirement is one sponsor, but usually when infants are baptized they have two, a man and a woman. Please verify that your intended sponsor(s) meet these requirements before you ask them to take on this role.

Canon law permits only one godparent of each gender – a godmother and a godfather (canon 873). The requirements to be a Catholic godparent are (canon 874 §1):

• Must be designated by the person being baptized (for non-infants); for infants, must be designated by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister of baptism
• Must have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function
• Must be 16 years of age or older
• Must be a Catholic who has received Confirmation and made his or her first Communion
• Must lead a life of faith in keeping with being a godparent: practicing the faith (weekly Mass attendance), not cohabiting, not in a marriage that is not recognized by the Church (e.g., Catholic having only had a non-Catholic wedding ceremony without proper dispensation unless having married an Eastern Orthodox Christian in an Orthodox ceremony, divorced and have attempted remarriage without a declaration of nullity or have attempted to marry someone who is divorced who does not have a declaration of nullity), not a member of a society contrary to the Faith (e.g., the Masons), etc.
• Must not be bound by a canonical penalty that was imposed or declared
• Must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized

Every effort should be made to select Catholic godparents since their role is to assist the one being baptized to grow in the Catholic faith. For a good reason, an Eastern Orthodox Christian can be a godparent in conjunction with a Catholic as the other godparent so long as there is provision for the Catholic education of the one being baptized and the Orthodox Christian is suitable (Ecumenical Directory n. 98b). A baptized Protestant Christian, while not able to serve as a godparent, can serve as a Christian witness in conjunction with a Catholic godparent (canon 874 §2, Ecumenical Directory n. 98a). If there is one godparent and a Christian witness, then one must be male and the other female.

An Eastern Orthodox godparent must meet the following requirements:

• Must be designated by the person being baptized (for non-infants); for infants, must be designated by the parents or the person who takes their place
• Must have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function
• Must be 16 years of age or older
• Must be living an upright life (e.g., practicing his/her faith, not cohabiting, not divorced and have attempted remarriage without a declaration of nullity or have attempted to marry someone who is divorced who does not have a declaration of nullity, etc.)
• Must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized
• Must not be a Catholic who has left the Catholic Church

A Protestant Christian witness must meet the following requirements:

• Must be designated by the person being baptized (for non-infants); for infants, must be designated by the parents or the person who takes their place
• Must be 16 years of age or older
• Must have been baptized using a Trinitarian formula (cannot be unbaptized)
• Must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized
• Must not be a Catholic who has left the Catholic Church

Youth participate in the sacramental preparation program coordinated by the Director of Religious Education in their 2nd grade year. Students must have completed one year of religious education prior to 2nd grade. See the Religious Education (CCD) page or contact the parish for more information.

Youth participate in the sacramental preparation program coordinated by the DRE. Grades 8-9 are confirmed every two years. Our next Confirmation is scheduled to take place in 2023. See the Religious Education (CCD) page or contact the parish for more information.  Adults eligible for confirmation are usually confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass, but can be confirmed almost anytime after they meet all of the requirements.

Only parishioners or adult children of parishioners are eligible to be married at St. Mary Church. Arrangements are to be made by calling or e-mailing the parish at least 6 months in advance. It is necessary to schedule your wedding date with the parish prior to booking a reception hall. Marriage preparation includes completing the Fully Engaged program, as well as the Gift of Self Seminar offered by the Diocese of Rockford. Click here to register for the Gift of Self Seminar.

Please notify the parish if you or someone you know will be hospitalized or confined at home and would like to be anointed by a priest.  This sacrament is basically for Catholics who are seriously ill or are frail, regardless of how much they practiced the Catholic faith.  They do not need to be in imminent danger of death, but for a Catholic who is in danger of death, please call us and ask for this sacrament.

If you or someone you know is interested in the permanent diaconate, please contact Fr. Morrissy or call Fr. Ken Wasilewiski at the Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Office, (815) 399-4300.

If you or someone you know is interested in the priesthood, please contact Fr. Morrissy or call the Diocesan Vocation Office, (815) 399-4300.