Baptismal Certificate

by Paul Turner

That parish updates the record of your baptism throughout your life. A notation is added whenever an event happens that affects your status in the church. If you were confirmed, if you were married in the church, if you were ordained a deacon or a priest, if you professed vows in a religious community or if your marriage was annulled or dissolved in the Catholic Church, a notation has been made in your original baptismal record at the parish where you were baptized.

The original baptismal certificate in your possession then becomes outdated at intervals in your life. When a Catholic gets engaged, the parish preparing the couple for marriage will need an updated copy of the baptismal certificate — one that shows the current record of marital status. Catholics can obtain this document by contacting the parish where they were baptized.

The church maintains baptismal records as accurately as possible. If a parish closes for any reason, the baptismal records and other documents are moved to another parish. The diocesan chancery office can usually help locate baptismal records.

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Copyright © 2002, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.  For permission e-mail info@rpinet.com.
Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.