Baptism and Initiation for Adolescents and Adults
Please click for information on the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
Baptism for Infants and Young Children
Parents: You must be registered members of the Parish or have a letter from your pastor. You must attend a preparation session in Heritage House on the second Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM. Call the Parish Office (856-235-0181) to make arrangements for a baptism.
Godparents: If you are not a registered member of Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, you must submit a Letter of Eligibility issued by a priest from your parish to be admitted as a sponsor at Good Counsel. Letters of Eligibility must be received by the Parish Office a week before the Baptism.
Schedule for Celebrating Baptism
Baptisms occur each month in the church at 1:30 PM on the First, Third, & Fourth Sundays.
Naming a Child
The 1983 Code of Canon Law (canon 855) gives greater freedom to parents in selecting a name for their new child. It simply states that “Parents, Sponsors, and the pastor are to see that a name foreign to a Christian mentality is not given.” This relaxation should not be understood as a denigration of Christian names or of the religious and cultural significance attached to a “Saint’s Name.” Therefore, it is in this light that parents should name their children: family, cultural, and religious heritage should exert an influence. Thus, a new baby may be named after a grandparent or a favorite relative. Parents may want to use national or ethnic names to respect the family’s culture. Some names with strong non-Christian identification may seem inappropriate.