Thank you for wanting your baby to join our family by baptism. By asking for your baby’s baptism you will be publicly thanking God for his gift to you.

Your baby’s baptism is a time of joy and celebration. It is a birth into the Christian Community and is in every way as solemn and as important as the birth itself. Your baby will be born with your features and will pick up your mannerisms; as he/she grows older your child will grow up, too, with your faith.

The very fact that you have asked to have your baby baptised is a sure sign that you recognize the importance of God in your life. As you teach your child to pray, you yourself will deepen your prayer life; as you teach your child to appreciate the Mass, your own faith will be enriched.

Your baby’s baptism is only the beginning of a new life in which you will grow closer to one another in the family and closer to God. The Church welcomes your child into its midst with love and prayers for the future peace and happiness of your family in the years ahead.

Baptism means \’plunging\’ – Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan by John. The sign of the Holy Spirit was seen, and the Father\’s voice was heard. \’This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him\’ (Matt.3:17)

Jesus called his death and resurrection a \’baptism\’. To his apostles he said, \’Are you willing to be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized\’. In this baptism Jesus was \’plunged\’ into death but the Father raised him up by giving him the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is the sign instituted by Jesus to unite us with his own baptism.

Our baptism is simply the beginning of our life of faith. The beginning of getting to know and understand what being loved by God means. Baptism is God\’s token to us of his great love -it\’s a love token. In all sacraments faith carries us forward to the sacrament, but when we are babies it is the faith of our parents which carries us to the sacrament. It follows then that to fulfill the true meaning of the sacrament and to achieve the authenticity of the sign of Baptism, there must be continuing teaching and example of living faith. If this doesn\’t happen, although the sacrament is valid, the significance of it is prevented from having its full effect.

It\’s easy to see, then, that what happens after baptism is vitally important if we are to experience the fulfillment of the promise of this fundamental sacrament.

WATER: This is for cleansing and is a sign that our sins are washed away. Baptism cleanses us of our original sin with which we are all born. Water is also necessary for life and also is a sign too, that the life of the risen Christ is ours.
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SIGN OF THE CROSS: A sign on something shows its origins or ownership. The sign of the cross is the mark of Christians for Jesus Christ. Parents and god-parents trace it on the child’s forehead to show that the baby belongs to Christ who now offers his grace and help to face the world.

OILS: The Bishop on Holy Thursday blesses the oils. Oil of Baptism is olive oil rubbed on the breast of the baby as a sign of strengthening with the power of Christ. Oil of Chrism is a mixture of olive oil & balsam (sweet smelling ointment) and is rubbed on the crown of the head. It is a sign of the sealing with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and will be used again on Confirmation Day.

WHITE GARMENT: This garment (usually a shawl) is a relic of the new clothes worn by Christians after Baptism in the first centuries. It is a sign of innocence and the new life of resurrection.

CANDLES: These symbolize Christ – the Light of the World. The baptismal candle is lit from the paschal candle, which was lit on Easter Night. The baptismal candle reminds us that the light of Christ has entered the child’s life; and its flame symbolizes the flame of faith, which will burn through the life of the child.

BAPTISMAL REGISTER: Your baby’s baptism will be recorded in the parish Baptismal Register. In the years ahead proof of baptism may be obtained in the form of a certificate issued of the basis if this registration.

Along with parents, it is your privilege to present this child to the Church for Baptism and to speak on behalf of the child. The parents have chosen you to share with them the responsibility and honour of helping this child to grow in the Christian life. The Baptism ceremony will help you understand and prepare for this important role in the life of your godchild.

You are now preparing to have your child baptised, to introduce him/her to God\’s life and the life of the Christian community. In this you have just an essential a role as you had in the birth of your son/daughter.

The Baptism ceremony has been designed to emphasize the responsibility you as parents undertake when you ask to have your child baptised.

The Baptismal Rite aims:

1. to help you take an active part in your child\’s Baptism;

2. to make this event an experience that is memorable and has meaning;

3. to instruct and assist you in your role as Christian parents.

The coming of new life into the world is something to celebrate and the rite of baptism emphasizes our joy in receiving a new member into God\’s family.

May this newly-born baby, who is now about to be reborn into the life of Jesus, bring joy into your life and may you help your child grow in the joy of being a true member of God\’s people.

Fr. Francis Judge 096-31677

Fr. Gabriel Rosbotham 096-31344