The baptism of a child is a very important moment in the life of any family. Through Baptism, we are given everything we need to share God’s life with Him and to know that our lives are lived under the loving gaze of God.
Pope Francis reminds parents of their special duty to pass on the faith to their children:
Today, carry this thought home with you. We must be transmitters of the faith. Think of this, think always of how to hand on the faith to your children. These children are links in a chain. You have a baby son or daughter to be baptised, but in several years, it will be they that have a baby to baptise, or a grandchild and so, the chain of faith! Parents, above all, have the task of raising children in the faith in which they were baptised. The faith then becomes the greatest gift a child is given. It is the most beautiful inheritance that you can give them: the faith!
- Pope Francis, 2014
When do baptisms take place?
Baptisms are normally celebrated on a Sunday, immediately after 10:30am Mass. Families are always more than welcome to come along to Mass beforehand, and the baptism will begin around 11:20am.
Preparing for Baptisms
We encourage families who are returning to the Church, or those who have not had a child baptised before, to come along to our Baptism Preparation Sessions before having their child baptised. The sessions give you, as a family, the opportunity to reflect on the gift of Baptism, to learn more about the sacrament and to feel a part of our community.
There are 3 sessions in total, which run fortnightly, after 10:30am Sunday Mass. The sessions currently take place twice a year, once in January/February and again in September/October. The sessions are family-orientated, friendly and informal. We set up a little “play group” with toys, arts and crafts for children to enjoy whilst families discover what it means to get your child baptised and learn the ins-and-outs of the sacrament.
Families are encouraged to come to Mass beforehand and then join our parish family in the hall for a cuppa and cake before starting the session at 11:30am. Each session lasts no more than 40 minutes. Please see below for a brief outline of what to expect at each session:
Session 1: An Introduction to Baptism. During this session, we talk about the significance of getting your child baptised.
Session 2: Social Session. For this session we consider the hopes we have for our children, as beloved children of God. We invite families to bring something to eat and simply enjoy some time chatting and getting to know one another while our children play!
Session 3: What to Expect on the Day. During this session, we give a step-by-step guide to what happens on the day of your child’s baptism and conclude with a short liturgy, offering up our hopes for our children.
If you would like to discuss booking a baptism for your child, then please enquire with the ‘welcomer’ at the back of Church after Mass on either Saturday (6.30pm) or Sunday (10.30am).