Hi Vicky,

Thanks for the question. I'm glad you wrote.

You said:
Before I ask my question, I think a bit of history is needed.

My sister has just recently welcomed a daughter into the world. There were some health complications at birth which impeded her baptism. As a very close family, we began to discuss religion and the different sects out there. My whole family was baptized in the United faith, however we were schooled in the Catholic ways and school boards.

Before addressing your niece's situation, if your family was baptized as Unitarians or in the Universalists congregation, their baptism was invalid. There is a certain:

1. form (the words)
   
2. matter (material used) and
   
3. intent that must be present.
   

In another posting Fr. Jonathan (in the last reply) gave a list of churches with valid and invalid baptisms:

• How do I know whether my Baptism from my previous denomination is valid?
  

I think it's great that your family is close and that you can discuss religion in an open manner.
I wish more Catholic families would do this.

That said, and in lieu of your family being schooled in Catholic ways, your whole family may want to discuss the pluses and any negatives to becoming Catholic.

It was the only Church Jesus founded on St. Peter before He gloriously ascended into Heaven and He promised St. Peter and his successors that the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church on official Teachings of faith and morals. (See Matthew 16:13-20;1 Timothy 3:15)

You said:
During the family discussion, we decided that the baby should be baptized and raised in the Catholic Church. Even though my family is not Catholic we do practice and follow the teachings of Our Lord.

Although my sister is not a Catholic, she plans on raising her daughter according to Catholic teachings.

• That said, would we be able to baptize my niece in the Catholic Church even if my sister is not a Catholic?

In order for her child to be baptized in the Church, there has to be a good hope that she would be raised Catholic.

For this to happen the Church would assume your sister:

• understands and knows what the Church teaches, and
  
• practices that faith.
  

Personally speaking, it's great! Through the Eucharist you are able to let the work of Jesus really manifest itself in the world because you are weekly renewing your covenant and partaking in Divine Nature when receiving the Blessed Sacrament. This divine partaking helps the Christian discern good, holy choices from bad, demonic choices from week to week.

You said:
I also have a question about myself. I was baptized in the United Church but never found what I was looking for in a religious sense. I felt lost and only when I began high school and was taught the ways of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Our Lord, did I find comfort and love. I would love to begin the rest of my life as a devout Catholic but I am lost as to how to begin.

• If my current faith does nothing for me, can I change faiths?
  

I found so much comfort, joy, love, and acceptance with the Catholic teachings and speaking from the faith I was baptized in, I feel empty and lost.

• Can I be baptized this late in life?

Yes and Yes!

Check out our FAQ page under: How do I become Catholic and related questions.

All you, or any of your family members, have to do is make an appointment with the pastor
at the nearest Catholic parish and share with him your interest in becoming Catholic.

Encourage them to consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.

I hope this helps,

Mike