Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments and God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God. Parents are encouraged to take care that their children are baptised. For a child to be baptised the church expects that there is a well founded hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith.

1. Introduction

• One of the parents/guardian must be a baptised catholic.
• Your family must live within the parish boundary to have their child/children baptised at St Lawrence’s.
• If this is not the case you need to speak with your own parish priest to arrange the baptism at your parish church.     OR
• If there is a special reason that you want your child/children baptised at St Lawrence’s – i.e. you were baptised or married at St Lawrence, then you will need to obtain a letter of permission from your parish priest.

2. Forms to complete

• Please complete the forms which can be obtained from the Parish Priest
• A parent or guardian must produce their own Baptism Certificate and attach it to the child’s Baptism application form.

3. Godparents

• At least one of the Godparents of the child to be baptised must be a Baptised and Confirmed Catholic and over the age of 16.

4. Baptism Preparation Sessions

• Parents and guardians are required to attend two Baptism Preparation Sessions before the child’s baptism. The sessions last approximately one hour each.
• You are encouraged to leave the child to be baptised at home.
• The next dates for Preparation are announced via the Sunday Parish Newsletter.

5. The Welcoming

• The Sunday before the Baptism, you and your child will be formally welcomed by the community at one of the Masses on Sunday.
• At the welcoming Mass, please sit near the front in the main aisle, so you are near at hand when called forward.

6. The day of the Baptism

• Please bring a white garment for the child.
• St Lawrence will provide a baptismal candle.

7. What does the Church teach about the Sacrament of Baptism?

This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptise (Greek baptizein) means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolises the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”

This sacrament is also called “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.”

“This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . .” Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light,” indeed, he becomes “light” himself.