Baptism is a Sacrament, the first sacrament of Christian Initiation, the
symbolic word and gesture through which we become children of God and are embraced into the family of the Church. In baptism, Christ
makes us a sharer in the very mystery by which he gave new life to the world, the mystery of his death and resurrection.
Christ manifests his presence in baptism, giving his love and his life to the child who is washed with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Catholic families are encouraged to baptise their children soon after birth, however sometimes people are baptised later, or even as adults.
It is the Christian Parents ...
who make a home in which Christ is present and in which their child will come to know and love Jesus as a brother. The parents and their child form the centre of the Christian community, which celebrates baptism. The congregation builds around them and widens out from them.
Parents are asked if they clearly understand that they are:
“accepting the responsibility of training your child in the practice of the faith
and of bringing up your child to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us,
by loving God and our neighbour?”
The Godparents ...
have a special function to perform in the liturgy of baptism because
they are closely connected with the child’s family, and because they
represent the Church, which loves, helps, and cares for the baptised
child as the child of God. The parents invite the Godparents to accept
the responsibility of their child’s faith development, especially if
something should happen to them or if they neglect their responsibility.
This is why the Church insists that the Godparent(s) be Catholic.
The Celebration of Baptism
Before the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, parents must attend the Baptism formation class. These classes are held once a month in the Sacred Heart Church (Presbytery).
The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated in both Parish Churches. The setting of baptism within the parish church, and the presence of members of the parish community, brings out an important feature of baptism. Each child is baptised in the faith of the Church and becomes a member of the priestly people of God.
Baptism's are scheduled with the parish office and are held in association with a Sunday mass.
Godparents are to be practising their faith so as to be a good support for parents and a good role model for the child and one Godparent must be a fully initiated practicing Catholic over the age of sixteen - other Godparents must be over the age of sixteen and practicing in their own Christian denomination.