Baptisms, because they are joyful events joining new members to the Body of Christ, are public events at St Innocent's. Almost all Baptisms take place during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday or another Feast day. Only for extraordinary reasons would we celebrate a Baptism "privately."

We expect that children who are Baptized will be reared as members of the Church, with Sponsors and parents seeing to it that the child is raised in a Christian home and is brought to services and to Communion regularly. To do anything less is a great disservice to the child.

For this reason, Baptisms are typically performed for persons who are members of St Innocent's parish, with Sponsors/Godparents who are known to be practicing, faithful Orthodox Christians. 

Fr Michael may refuse to perform a Baptism if these expectations cannot be met.

Fr Michael follows the OCA's Guidlines for Clergy with respect to Baptisms. The text can be found here.