Baptism is the first and most fundamental of the sacraments — the moment your child is welcomed into the family of God and the Catholic Church. It is a joyful celebration and a beautiful beginning.
Through Baptism, your child is freed from original sin, filled with God’s grace, and begins their lifelong journey of faith. As parents, you are your child’s first and most important teachers in that faith — and we are here to support you every step of the way.
How to arrange a Baptism
1. Get in touch Contact the parish office to register and pick up your paperwork. We will give you a document to read that explains what it means to have your child baptised into the Catholic Church.
2. Attend the Baptism Preparation Course All parents are asked to attend our Baptism Preparation Course, which runs over three Monday evening sessions at 7pm in the Parish Hall, Oldham Terrace. The course is a warm and welcoming introduction to what Baptism means and how to support your child’s faith journey. You are expected to attend all three sessions.
3. Meet with a priest Once the course is complete, we will arrange for you to meet with one of our priests to talk through the ceremony and book your date.
The naming ceremony
On the Sunday before the Baptism, your child will be named and anointed with the oil of catechumens at one of our Sunday Masses. This is the first part of the Rite of Baptism and a lovely moment in itself. Please arrange with the parish office which Mass you will attend. Godparents are very welcome to join you, though it is not compulsory.
Godparents
You need at least one Godparent who is a confirmed, practising Catholic who has received Holy Communion. A Christian from another denomination may also act as a witness to the Baptism, provided there is a Catholic Godparent too.
The role of a Godparent is a meaningful one — to support your child and your family in living out the Catholic faith, and to step in as a guide if ever needed.
On the day
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.
We provide a Baptism candle for your child, though you are very welcome to bring your own. The candle is lit from the Paschal candle — the Easter candle — as a symbol of the light of Christ shining in your child’s life.
Please bring a white garment — a shawl or white blanket is perfect. This is placed over your child during the ceremony to symbolise that they have been clothed in Christ and begun a new life in Him.
After the Baptism
At the Sunday Mass following the Baptism, your child will be presented with their Baptismal Certificate and welcomed as an official member of our Church and parish community. We hope to see you there.
A note on offerings
There is no charge to receive the sacrament of Baptism. It is customary, however, to make a voluntary offering to the Church, which helps us to continue our ministry to the parish.
“I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”