Baptism

Baptism Preparation

Your baby’s baptism is a time for celebration and joy. And, naturally, you want the best for your baby. We want to help you plan and prepare for the baptism in the best possible way.

Your most important preparation is to look at your own faith. When you approach the church about having your child baptised you will be encouraged to think through your own faith and the part it plays in your life. The very fact that you have asked to have your baby baptised shows that you recognise the importance of God in your life. From the earliest days children too young to answer for themselves have been baptised, usually as they accompanied their parents into the Church. For the church recognises the desire of Christian parents to share the life of Christ with their children. Jesus Christ, like you, wants the best for your 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 form of a certificate issued based on this registration. Your child’s confirmation, marriage or ordination will also be noted alongside this entry in the register.

How to book your child’s baptism date

• Baptisms take place in our parish on the first and third Sunday of each month at 12noon and 12.45pm.
• You can only book the baptism date when your child has been born, not before.
• Ring the parish office to check if the date you would like is free. You will provisionally book the date and either go online and download the request form or the parish secretary can email this to you.
• Remember, you are only provisionally booked until the paperwork is sent back to the office, and this is your responsibility.
• You will be asked to email a copy of your child’s birth cert along with the request form and once this is received and checked you will receive a confirmation email.
• First time parents must attend a meeting to prepare for the Baptism; this meeting takes place once per month in a church within your vicariate. This will be discussed with you when you ring to check for your chosen date.