Question for Catholics about Baptism

[teachermom2834]

What is customary in your area/ parish as far as a stipend for a private Baptism?

Call me clueless but I had my other babies Baptized and never even realized this was customary. I never offered a donation/ stipend with the others. I know I could ask at the parish office but I'm embarassed at this point to be asking such a question. They all know me and I'm involved in the parish and have had babies Baptized at this church before.

How is this handled? Do you just hand the priest cash or send a card or something?

I will probably be having a Deacon that I know well do the Baptism. It seems weird to hand him money. I was thinking of a thank you card after the fact.

I was thinking in the $25 range but then read online a little bit and it seemed like it was more like $100.

Help me out here, please!!

Marie

[3littlekeets]

In our parish, 50-100 seems customary. We gave our priest, who is an absolute doll, 50.00 plus a round of golf at his favorite course:D. But honestly , I don't think the amount matters. We just put in in an envelope and handed it to him at the end of the service.

Good luck!

[Jennifer in MI]

My dh is an Episcopal priest. He said it really depends upon the area. Where we were before now, he'd get $20 or so for a baptism. Here, he gets nothing. Really, it's considered part of his job, so I never really understood the donation in the first place!

He said to go ahead and ask the parish admistrator. They are used to such questions.

If you choose to go with a donation, most often, they are put in a card and handed to the priest at the event (or at the celebration afterward).

[K&Rs Mom]

It never occurred to me that we should do this. Both of my girls were baptized by our previous priest, and we didn't give him a gift.

I have an uncle who is an Episcopal minister, and he does get something for doing a wedding, but he's never mentioned anything for baptisms.

OTOH, I only know that a donation is common for funeral luncheons because I have worked on so many with our ladies' group. If I hadn't been involved "behind the scenes" I wouldn't have known that either. So it's entirely possible this is a common practice and I'm just oblivious.... :rolleyes: