Booking a Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is normally celebrated in the parish on a Saturday afternoon at 4: 00 pm or Sunday at 12: 30 pm.

For more information or to make arrangements to have a baptism celebrated please contact the Parochial House, 074 91 35196.

Baptism – About the Sacrament

Of the seven sacraments Baptism is the most important. It is the first of the seven sacraments and the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is also the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation to becoming a full member of the Church, the other two being Confirmation and The Eucharist

Meaning

The sacrament of Baptism may be received only once. It is do so that:

The family can give thanks to God for their child and as a formal naming ceremony if the person being baptised is an new born child.
The family of faith can welcome a new member in to their Church community.

Symbols used in the Celebration of the Sacrament.

Oils

Two oils of the Church are used in the Christening Ceremony.

Oil of Catechumen: This oil symbolises God’s grace strengthening the person being baptised to face life’s challenges.

Oil of Chrism: This fragrant oil reminds all present of the beauty and dignity of each person as a child of God and anointed as a member of Gods family.

Water

Water is essential for life! We all depend on it to live healthy lives. In Baptism, water symbolises the new life we receive in the risen Christ. It is also a symbol of the purifying power of the God, through which the baptised rises to new life with Jesus.

Candle

Light is a very important symbol in Christian Church to remind us of Christ with us. Christ once describes himself as the ‘Light of the World.’

Light is a symbol of life, goodness and wisdom. The Baptismal Candle each newly baptised receives is lit for the first time during the christening ceremony from the Church’s Paschal Candle (Easter Candle). This emphasises further the link of the light, love and hope of the risen Jesus being passed onto them.

The lighted candle is a reminder to Christians that Jesus’ resurrection is their guarantee that death is not the end, but a gateway to eternal life with God.

Baptism Robe/ Shawl

The White Robe or shawl is a symbol of Christ. After they were baptised, the early Christians used to clothe themselves in white garments to show that they had “put on Christ” and had begun a new life in baptism. In the same way, the child, during the baptism ceremony, is clothed in the white shawl to show that they are “clothed in Christ” or “wrapped up” in the love of Christ!

The Ceremony:

The child is presented for baptism
Also present are specially chosen Godparents, who promise to help the parents bring the child up in the Christian faith.
They are welcomed to the Church by the sign of the cross
There is then a reading from the New testament, usually a gospel story of the baptism of Christ
The person being baptised is then anointed with the Oil of Catechumen.
The parents and godparents renew their own baptismal promises and make a commitment to make the Christian faith known to the child as he or she grows.
The water for the baptism is now blessed and poured over the head of the person being baptised formally becoming part of family of God at this stage.
Next the child is anointed with the Oil of Chrism.
A white shawl is wrapped around the person being baptised.
The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal (Easter) Candle in the Church sanctuary.
The Our Father is recited
The Ceremony ends with a blessing.

Registration of Baptism:

After the ceremony a record of the baptism will be made in the Parish Baptismal Register. This will include the full names of the child, parents and godparents, their address, the child’s date of birth, date of baptism and name of the officiating priest.

This enables a Certificate of Baptism to be issued when later required.

On a date after your child has been baptised you may request a Certificate of Baptism from the parish office.