“We Journey Together” – Christian Initiation of Children of Catechetical Age

Thank you for taking the effort to find out about Baptism of your child(ren).

For various reasons, many children are not always baptised as babies. For parents who are serious about wanting their children baptised (and not merely for Catholic School entry), we, as a parish, can help your child prepare for the sacraments and begin their discipleship. As a community we wish to help in the important task of handing on the faith to your child(ren). It is not easy for any parent to teach children about Jesus and his Church on their own. To help you along the way we provide many useful resources.

For those aged 7-9, it is likely this will be the same material as those preparing for their First Holy Communion.

For children aged 10-13, this is likely to be a series of You Tube videos.

You, the parents, are asked to work through the material with your child, “not just leave them to get on with it”. We advise you to begin and end each session with a time of prayer.

Above all you should be attending Sunday Mass together each week.

Baptism is only the beginning

When your child is baptised, he or she is called to be a disciple of Jesus. The child is given the gift of the Holy Spirit and becomes a member of the Church. The gifts given in Baptism need nurturing by your prayers, your example of faith in your home and by participation in the parish community. The Parish community comes together each week to celebrate the Mass. In saying that you want your child to be baptised, you are saying that you want them to be a part of this faith community and to worship with us.
Following on from their Baptism is the preparation for First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation. These celebrations are meaningless unless you and your child are a part of the Parish, attending Mass each week.

Godparents:

These should be:

  • Baptised, Confirmed & Practicing Catholics
  • Sufficiently mature to understand their role
  • An example of committed Christian living
  • Someone who will retain contact with your child

One Godparent is sufficient, but you may choose more.

Members of the Parish:

Families asking for Baptism will normally live within the parish, or should be regular and established members of our worshipping community. If you live outside of the parish boundary, you may be directed to your proper parish to obtain permission.

At least one parent needs to be a practising Catholic for children of this age, as parental support is vital if the faith is to be nurtured and grow within the child (which we hope it will). As well as completing the application form, we invite you to make an appointment to speak with one of the priests.

Please contact the Parish Office for more information and an application form.