Baptism

The parish congratulates you on the birth of your child and offers you a very warm welcome as you explore the possibility of having your child baptised. In doing so you are making it possible for your child to receive the gift of a relationship with Jesus Christ and full membership of his Church.

What being baptised is really all about?
Baptism is much more than just a ‘nice service’. When considering baptism for their children, parents are in effect saying that their own faith and practice is so important to them that they want the same thing for their child. During the Service of Baptism public promises are made about bringing up the child to know and love God. This means that the child should be brought up in an environment of the faith and in the context of the Church community. During the baptism service, parents are called upon to be the ‘first and best teachers of their child in the ways of faith.’ This involves regular family attendance at Sunday Mass, the provision of Catholic education, and above all the maintenance of a Christian ethos in the home. You can download the Rite of Baptism (Baptism Service): Click here.

Older Children & Adults
Children aged 5 – 15 years may be baptised with special care and sensitivity.

For children aged 7  – 11 years we will place them in the First Holy Communion class and baptise them prior to the First Holy Communion celebration each May. Children aged 14 – 15  years may be baptised within the context of Confirmation preparation. In all cases, including for children falling outside these age groups, the parish priest will discuss with the parents the best way forward.

Adults and children aged 14 years and above should speak personally to the parish priest about their wish to be baptised.

Adults and young people aged 16+ will be considered for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) course.

What do I do next?
Download and complete this Baptism Information Form; hand this to the Parish Priest after any Mass. The Parish Priest will then discuss the next steps.

Baptisms take place on Saturdays after 11.00am or Sundays after 12.00pm.

God bless as you prepare for the baptism of your child.