MarysLittleFlower Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 I wasn't baptized Catholic and when I was becoming Catholic I needed documents. I was confirmed the same church where I was baptized. However when I phoned the church they couldn't find my documents because of some moving situation. I don't know when I was baptized though I remember it (I wasn't a baby) and it was for sure valid. Anyway the priest got me to find witnesses who would sign so I didn't need a conditional Baptism. If I enter a religious order I see in canon law I'd have to provide those documents. All I have is a certificate that I became Catholic, and it says there I had my "Sacraments of Initiation" and that's it. So my question is would they accept this or should I keep trying to track down the Baptism certificate? What if I never find it? Question two. What is free status? Canon here:Can. 645 §1. Before candidates are admittedto the novitiate, they must show proof ofbaptism, confirmation, and free status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Have you tried ringing the Vocations Director in your diocese? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarysLittleFlower Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 No but if I don't find the documents after another try in September, I'll phone the Vocations director:) good idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthfinder Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Free status should mean that they are canonically free to enter (age, not married, not coerced). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarysLittleFlower Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Try calling the parish you were baptized in again to get a copy of your records. Every parish has a registry of their sacraments, and when you receive a sacrament (confirmation, matrimony, etc) they are supposed to notify your baptismal parish so they can make a note in the register. That's why you usually need a recently generated baptismal certificate, because it will have notations on there if you've received some other sacrament since baptism. For example, in my diocese before you get married you have to submit a baptismal certificate dated (generated) within the last six months to help prove that you're free to marry (free status). Every parish has a register, which is the official-official book (or books) that goes up to the diocese archives after 100 years. It's the one that's supposed to last forever, more or less. Certificates are official-looking documents printed off based on information from the register. Usually those include the parish's seal to help demonstrate authenticity and offical-ness. If you get to the point where you need a certificate and the parish is being dumb and can't provide one (sadly it happens), your sworn testimony form with witness signatures will be perfectly fine. I have a friend who is a religious sister, she spent time doing retreats in inner cities on the East Coast and her special job was helping people get caught up on their sacrament and paperwork. She did a lot of those testimony forms, they're perfectly legal and sufficient. Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
He is Risen! Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 I had a situation like this when I entered the community I was in. I was baptized at an overseas military chapel and I needed proof of it for when I converted and entered the church. Impossible to track down. It finally came down to my mother calling the Catholic church parish office and vouching for me (I think I also showed the lady at the office a photo of it, lol). It was not very official at all so maybe that was just that particular parish. That info was put onto my certificate/ records for when I entered the church and I later used it to apply for entrance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarysLittleFlower Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 He is Risen, did you have a date of the Baptism? Do you think they'd accept even without a date? All I have is my memory and my parents / Godmother as witnesses. I do have my certificate of becoming Catholic where it says I've been baptised, but no date! Try calling the parish you were baptized in again to get a copy of your records. Every parish has a registry of their sacraments, and when you receive a sacrament (confirmation, matrimony, etc) they are supposed to notify your baptismal parish so they can make a note in the register. That's why you usually need a recently generated baptismal certificate, because it will have notations on there if you've received some other sacrament since baptism. For example, in my diocese before you get married you have to submit a baptismal certificate dated (generated) within the last six months to help prove that you're free to marry (free status). Every parish has a register, which is the official-official book (or books) that goes up to the diocese archives after 100 years. It's the one that's supposed to last forever, more or less. Certificates are official-looking documents printed off based on information from the register. Usually those include the parish's seal to help demonstrate authenticity and offical-ness. If you get to the point where you need a certificate and the parish is being dumb and can't provide one (sadly it happens), your sworn testimony form with witness signatures will be perfectly fine. I have a friend who is a religious sister, she spent time doing retreats in inner cities on the East Coast and her special job was helping people get caught up on their sacrament and paperwork. She did a lot of those testimony forms, they're perfectly legal and sufficient. Hope that helps. Thanks, I'd have to ask them.. I don't even know how it works in this particular parish because when I asked before they couldn't find it due to moving the documents. I hope it didn't get lost I'll ask again and ask about the register.... I don't know if I could contact them in the future though to ask them to update the register for me as you mentioned doing with a baptismal parish, because they're not Catholic. I'd probably have to contact the parish where I became Catholic? However I received all the first Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, first Communion) in this parish (they have valid Sacraments), and I guess that's all I'd be getting if I enter an order, until Anointing of the Sick. If I can't get the certificate ever, my parents are witnesses. However what happens if someone has no witnesses? Just curious what they do then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissylou Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 They may well accept the documentation of the parish where you became Catholic. ABSOLUTE WORST CASE SCENARIO you can do a conditional baptism ("If you are not already baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"). That isn't great, because baptism is a once-and-for-always sort of thing and a conditional baptism is confusing. But if worst comes to worst that can happen. This does not seem the sort of thing that will keep you out of religious life, it just may cause some extra hassle on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
He is Risen! Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 I did have to provide the date and the name of the church. Mine was easy enough to remember though, Christmas day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheresaThoma Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 It may just be that they are moving things and don't have access to the records right now. I would definitely try again in a few months. I don't have a separate baptismal and confirmation certificate because I am a convert and was baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil. From what I understand the religious order just needs proof that you did validly receive baptism and confirmation. So the certificate that you have saying you recieved your Sacraments of initiation should be enough. If they need clarification perhaps the pastor at your parish would be able to write a letter explaining the situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Sorry, I was unclear. I was talking about contacting the parish where you became Catholic. If they can't find ANYONE who would swear to it, anyone at all, then they'd do a conditional baptism. But in nearly all cases they can find someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicanHeart Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Bump. My biggest concern about applying for Religious Life is not being able to find my Baptism and Confirmation certificates. I KNOW I was Baptized and Confirmed because there are definitely photos to prove it and I remember my Confirmation well. My Pastor Confirmed me so he should remember and be able to help with that but I don't know what to do about my Baptism Certificate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AveMariaPurissima Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Bump. My biggest concern about applying for Religious Life is not being able to find my Baptism and Confirmation certificates. I KNOW I was Baptized and Confirmed because there are definitely photos to prove it and I remember my Confirmation well. My Pastor Confirmed me so he should remember and be able to help with that but I don't know what to do about my Baptism Certificate Do you know what parish you were baptized at? They should have it on record, as well as notations of any sacraments you've received since. If you contact them, they'll be able to send you your Baptism certificate, which will also include up-to-date notations of the other sacraments you've received. (including Confirmation) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicanHeart Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Do you know what parish you were baptized at? They should have it on record, as well as notations of any sacraments you've received since. If you contact them, they'll be able to send you your Baptism certificate, which will also include up-to-date notations of the other sacraments you've received. (including Confirmation) I know where I was Baptized but not quite sure of the name of the Church. I was Baptized outside of my Parish because my dad insisted on a certain Priest baptizing me. I'm going to have to look it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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