Baptismal Certificate

Don't request your baptismal certificate until 6 months prior to Confirmation date. We don't know our confirmation date yet.

How to request a Baptismal Certificate

In accordance with Archdiocesan policy, any confirmation candidate receiving the sacrament of Confirmation who was baptized at a parish other than St. John the Baptist, must contact the previous parish to request a copy of their baptismal certificate even if your child attended St. John’s school or received previous sacraments such as Reconciliation or First Communion through the parish . In order to be considered valid, the certificate must be mailed directly from the parish of origin to St. John’s. Contact your church of baptism to request a baptismal certificate.  Below is a baptismal certificate request that you can modify (insert names, dates, etc) and email to your church of baptism or you may call them directly to verify their request process.

To whom this may concern,

I need a baptismal certificate to be sent to my parish for (child’s full name, First, Middle & Last) who is preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.

(child’s name) was born on (date of birth) and was baptized (give a year or a range of years if you are unsure) at (church of baptism, city and state).

When you get a chance, would you please send a copy of my child’s baptism info (baptismal certificate) to the below parish address where my child is being prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation?

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Attn Angie Faith, Department of Religious Education

4625 West 125th Street Savage, MN, 55378

Why does the Archdiocese need the original Baptismal Certificate?

Below is information from Susan Mulheron, Canonical Chancellor, regarding Baptismal Certificates needed for Confirmation.

 “First, there is the necessary verification that a person is baptized before they can be admitted to any other sacrament, which is properly done by presenting an authentic baptismal certificate. A sacramental certificate does more, however, than just verifying that a person has been baptized. It is a legal document verifying the person’s official status in the Church. After it is issued at the time of baptism, a person’s record may be updated to reflect changes in status, including changes in name, parents, ascription, etc. A person may not remember or may not be aware of some updates that have been made to their own or their child’s record. It would not be unheard of for a child to be fully initiated, including Confirmation, such as at the age of reason in another diocese or in danger of death, and then being presented for initiation again along with their peers. There could be a situation where, especially when the parents are divorced, that a family may not be communicating well with each other in terms of developments in a child’s personal status or sacramental initiation. Requiring a recent certificate prior to sacramental milestones helps ensure: 

1. The person’s current juridic/sacramental status is verified prior to further initiation taking place. 

2. Appropriate updating and maintenance of the person’s sacramental records. 

3. Correct information being recorded at the time the sacrament is received. 

The person has a right to sacramental records that are accurately recorded and maintained. More frequent requests for certificates also help to identify missing or incorrect information sooner, which makes it easier to re-create records or fill in the gaps while memories are fresher and more witnesses are available to provide testimony if necessary.