Parents are kindly requested to make arrangements through the Parish Office at least one month in advance and have all paperwork turned in ten days prior to the baptism. Email office@straymonds.org for more information.

Parents are required to participate in a baptismal class and are encouraged to do that before the birth of their child. Please call the Parish Office (703-440-0535) to sign up for a class. If unable to attend one or our classes, you may attend another Catholic baptism class (and provide our Parish Office a letter from that church).

You must be registered in the Parish three months prior to Baptism.

Baptism Registration Form

The above registration form is required in order to reserve the date for baptism. Please contact the parish office to reserve a date.


GODPARENTS: A person may only have one or two godparents (also called sponsors); if two are chosen, one must be male and the other female.

In order for someone to be eligible as a godparent they must be chosen by the parents, have the ability and the intention to fulfill the role, be at least 16 years of age, and be a confirmed Roman Catholic, who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist, is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic Faith (including Marriage) and will be a good role model for the one being baptized, and be neither the father nor the mother of the child.

Role of the Godparents

Christian Witness – Not a baptized Catholic

A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community may be admitted only as a “Christian witness” (not a godparent) provided that there is at least one Roman Catholic godparent who fulfills the above criteria.

A non-baptized person cannot be a witness (Code of Canon Law, cc. 872-874; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1255). A Christian witness must be at least 16 years of age, be validly baptized [Canon # 874.2],must be living an upright life and cannot be the mother or the father of the person to be baptized. [Canon Law # 874.1.5]

If you have any questions or to schedule a baptism, please contact the office at 703-440-0535.