Congratulations on the birth of your child! The Parish Community shares in your joy. Thank you for wanting to have your baby join the family of the Church through Baptism. By asking for your baby’s Baptism, you are publicly thanking God for His gift to you and making a commitment to bring up your child in the Christian faith. We will help you carry out your decision by giving you our wholehearted support.

Baptism is the first sacrament. It incorporates us into the Church and through it we are ‘reborn’ as sons and daughters of God.

Baptism is performed by pouring of water and the words ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’.

Parents who ask to have their children baptised accept the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith and bringing them up to keep God’s commandments.

Applying for Baptism

To request baptism for your child, please contact the Parish Administrator at the Parish Office, situated in the presbytery beside the Church. You will be given the Application Form (which you can also download here)

Presentation Mass

Before we celebrate your child’s Baptism you will be invited to come along to the 10.30 a.m. Sunday Mass when the first part of the Rite of Baptism will be celebrated with the parish community. You and your child will be presented to the parish who promise to support you with their prayers. The sign of the cross will be marked on your child’s forehead and you will be presented with a small gift of welcome on behalf of the parish community.

Godparents

Choose your child’s Godparents with care:

1. They must be practising Catholics and confirmed
2. They must be at least sixteen years of age

Godparents will be undertaking with you to share the responsibility of handing on the faith to their godchild, as he/she grows up.

The basic requirement for Baptism is one Godparent.  If there are two, they must be male and female.  A Christian of another denomination cannot be a Godparent or Sponsor.  However he/she can be a Christian Witness at a Catholic Baptism.  The child will still need a Catholic Godparent.

Registration of Baptism

The parish records the baptism of your child in the Baptismal Register of the parish.  This record includes the full names of the child, parents and godparents, the child’s date of birth, the date of the baptism and the name of the officiating priest or deacon.  A Certificate of Baptism can be issued by the Parish Office as and when required.