• Children's Baptism: Procedure
• Online Baptism Seminar
• Documents Required
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

ABOUT

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (CCC 1213, see also  Mathew 28:19,  John 3:5,  Acts 10:47-48,  Acts 2:38-39)

ADULT BAPTISM

EMERGENCY MEDICAL CASES (Adults/Children)

Note: The information below applies to children under 5 years old. For other children, please email the Parish Office to find out the process, and mention the age of the child. 

We welcome you to baptize your child here at St. Joseph cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Parents have a serious obligation to baptize their children as early as possible. Baptism is an important part of their duty to raise the children in the faith handed down by Jesus in the Catholic Church. Our parish is happy to support families and parents in this important task.

We recommend that parents and godparents prepare for the baptism as early as possible - even before the child is born, or at least 3 months before the baptism. This enables the preparation to be more relaxed and meaningful.  

Please follow the steps below to book your child's baptism at St. Joseph's:.

1. Choose the godparents (please see our FAQ  for the criteria for church godparents) and assemble the required documents (click here) for parents and godparents.

2. Parents and godparents must complete the Baptism Seminar/Preparation Course. The Baptism Seminar at St. Joseph is currently conducted online (click here to register). There are no requirements for registration or taking the course. We recommend the course is completed before the baby is born.  

3. After the Seminar Week ends (and not prior), parents will receive the Form for the Baptism Register and Seminar Participation Certificates. Baptism can be booked at any time after receiving the Form and Participation Certificates. 

4. To book the baptism, please bring the completed Form and all required documents (incomplete or pending documents not accepted) to the Parish Office. The Office will then advise you of the available schedule.

Days/Hours for Baptism: contact Parish Office for schedule. Baptisms can be booked 7 or more days before the available date. Parish Baptisms are usually conducted on Friday evenings at 4:45 p.m. 

Note 1:  Families are advised not to make any other arrangements (applying for leave, invitations, etc.) for the baptism until the date is booked and confirmed at the Parish Office, to avoid any disappointments. Planned dates are frequently not available.

Note 2: Couples not married in the Catholic Church must speak with a priest before booking the baptism, and not plan for the baptism until after this meeting. Please expect a 2 month gap or more between meeting and possible baptism. Information on booking an appointment with the priest is provided during the Baptism Seminar. The priest will discuss the individual situation of the couple and give any further forms, procedures or steps needed.  

5. Baptism. English baptisms are on Fridays at 4:45 p.m. Arabic/Syro-Malabar baptism is arranged with the priest through the Parish Office. There is currently no restriction on attendees. 

For more information, please see our FAQ.

The following required documents can be submitted to the Parish office to book the baptism. 

• Completed Form for Baptismal Register (sent by the Parish Office to all parents who have successfully completed the St. Joseph Online Baptism Seminar. If you have done a Seminar elsewhere, and it is accepted by the Parish Office, then please email the Office for this Form).
• Photocopy/ Scan of the parents' Church Marriage Certificate. If not married in the church, must speak with a priest after the Baptism Seminar. Families should not plan for the baptism until they have spoken with the priest. 
• Photocopy/ Scan of child's Birth Certificate
• Photocopy/ Scan of child's Passport  
• Photocopy/Scan of proof that Godparent(s) have received the Sacrament of Confirmation (e.g. old or new Confirmation Certificate. Please see FAQ for other possible proofs. Baptism certificate not accepted except for Orthodox/Eastern Catholics.) [Click here to find out why we ask that godparents should be confirmed]. Please email us if you cannot find a suitable godparent or have difficulty providing the certificate. 
• Baptism Seminar Certificate for Catholic parents and godparents. If seminar done at a Catholic church outside UAE, kindly contact the Parish Office to find out if it is accepted. 

NOTES:

• If you have trouble with any requirement (e.g. getting certificates), please email our Parish Office to see what are the possible solutions, after reading our FAQ.
• Godparents must be baptized and confirmed practicing Catholics. There can be one godfather OR one godmother OR one godfather and one godmother.  For more information, please see the FAQ. 
• Parents and Godparents must be regularly attending the Sunday Mass, receiving the sacraments, and living a Christian life of prayer and charity. This is part of the baptism promise. Parents/Godparents who are not practicing Catholics should begin practicing before the baptism of their child. 
• Parents not living in Abu Dhabi (St. Joseph Parish) also require a 'no objection'/permission letter from their parish priest. 
• The Baptism Certificate can function as an identity document, hence information (e.g. names) is copied only from the birth certificate, and not any other document (e.g. passport). If names of parents or children are incorrect on the birth certificate, parents should correct the birth certificate as soon as possible, before the baptism.  

St. Joseph Cathedral Online Baptism Seminar consists of an online video and individual online responses. Links are sent to parents and godparents by 8PM on the date they select during registration. (If you do not receive the link, please check your "Spam" or "Junk" mail; otherwise, email the Parish Office.)

The links are available for one week, and parents and godparents can complete the seminar at their convenience at any time during that week. Note that  Seminar Participation certificates are only released after the Seminar week and not before, even if participants have submitted their response early. Please see the FAQ for more information on the Seminar.

Click the appropriate button below to register. There are no requirements for registration. 

REGISTRATION FOR the parents

Registration for the Godparents

The Parish Office receives many questions on Baptism and our procedures. We have made a list of the most common questions we receive. Click the link below to see if your question is answered here, before contacting the Parish Office ([email protected])

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Note: Time taken from the Online Baptism Seminar to having the baptism ceremony is at least 30 days. Parents are asked to be mindful of this and begin the seminar as soon as possible, even before the birth of the child. For emergency (e.g. medical) circumstances, please contact the Parish Office.