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The sacrament of Baptism is called the "first sacrament" and the "door of the Church", through which we become members of the Church. It is the entrance into a new life; we are reborn from the state of slaves of sin into the freedom of God's Children. For Catholics it is the event of great value.
Dear Parents! Your spiritual involvement is essential in preparing for the baptism of your child. Parents are the first and most important teachers of the faith. The faith of your child will grow as it witnesses your Catholic faith in action. So it is important that you attend the Sunday's Mass. Your presence is vital for the whole Parish community. From the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 849 Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church. Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptised licitly: 1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent; 2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason. §2. An infant of Catholic parents or even of non-Catholic parents is baptised licitly in danger of death even against the will of the parents. Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it. Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each. Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must: 1/ be designated by the one to be baptised, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function; 2/ have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause; 3/ be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on; 4/ not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared; 5/ not be the father or mother of the one to be baptised. §2. A baptised person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism. |
SPECIFIC PREPARATIONS
The Parents should contact one of the Priests to agree upon the details. Usually they are required to attend two baptismal preparation meetings. The Godparents, who are to be practising Catholics (at least one must be), should attend these meetings as well. For adults, the proper preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism is the RCIA course (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). It usually begins in September/October so please come and see one of the Priests in due course to find out more details. |
