Baptisms | weblinks

Fr Paul Kelly.

Phone: 0417 786 456

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BAPTISM in the Catholic Church

Thanks for your inquiry about your child’s Baptism. I am enclosing a little sheet to help explain the ceremony and what happens in it. Don’t worry about remembering it too much. On the day of the Baptism we also have a handout to help you and I also walk everyone through each stage as we go, so this is just a copy to help people know what generally happens in the ceremony.

If the Godparents would like, I need one of them to do a short Bible reading, which is also attached, and also one to lead us in some “prayers of the faithful.” If they don’t feel able to do it, one or two other people (family or friends can do this instead).

It is absolutely vital that you ensure that your child is dressed in something white. This is a very important and ancient symbol of baptism – the white baptismal clothes. It can either be a Baptismal Gown or anything white, (a white dress or a white shirt etc.). (In addition, there is an optional Baptismal “stole” that is a simple piece of white cloth that is placed around the neck of the child like a bib or a scarf. (This is slipped over the newly Baptised child’s head after the pouring of water). The reason for this white garment is explained in the Bible where it says: “…..when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.”

A few practicalities. When you and your family and friends arrive, please come into the church before the start time and take your seats right at the front of the church. The time set down for your Baptismal ceremony is the time when the ceremony is scheduled to start. There may be other baptisms booked before your baptism and also perhaps afterwards but we do allow for reasonable space for the ceremony and for pictures so people do not feel rushed, but it is important that people aim to start on time. Please take with you this number in case you have any worries on the day: Fr Paul, Ph: 041 778 6456.

Extra Practicalities. We present you with a beautiful Baptismal Certificate at the end of the Baptism. This certificate is an important record of the Baptism. Please keep this certificate safe, preferably with other important records such as Birth Certificates and the like. The certificate will be needed at important moments in life, such as enrolment into Catholic Schools, participation in Sacramental Programmes (Reconciliation , Confirmation and First Holy Communion), and is also needed much later when preparing for Marriage. Although we do keep the Baptismal details in the Baptismal Register at the church it is always easier if you have kept the certificate for ease of information. Without it, people sometimes forget where and when the Baptism occurred, and that makes it difficult to find the right church in order to search for the necessary details.

It would be nice if one or two of the Godparents, (or alternatively) another family member or friend would be able to do a reading that we will provide. If you would like that, please let the priest know when you arrive and he will hand you a copy of a set reading or prayer for them to read and let you know when this occurs in the ceremony.

Thanks and see you soon,

Sincerely

Paul Kelly.

THE SYMBOLS USED IN THE CEREMONY

There are a few symbolic elements used in the Baptism ceremony. Here is a quick summary, to help explain the meaning of them.

OIL OF BAPTISM: Your child will be anointed on the chest (older children and adults we anoint on the forehead) with the oil of Baptism. This is ordinary olive oil that has been specially blessed by our Bishop in an annual ceremony just before Easter. This oil is a symbol of preparing the child for Christian living. Just as an athlete is rubbed with oil to prepare their muscles for the race, this oil is used to strengthen and prepare the child to live a good Christian life. The oil also symbolises protection. Just as it is hard to grab hold of someone who has oil rubbed on them, they slip away from one’s grip, so too we pray that this child will be protected from harm and temptation; nothing bad in life can grab hold of them, it will just slip away.
WATER: This is the main symbol of baptism. Water represents washing clean and re-birth and renewal. Water is a perfect symbol, it contains so many meanings: Health and life, danger and threat, power and gentleness, washing and renewing. It is a wonderful way of showing that by following Jesus we want to ‘immerse” or “plunge” ourselves into Jesus’ way of life. Baptism is a word that literally means “Plunge” and we believe that Baptism is not just a sign of following Jesus, Baptism connects us to Jesus and makes us one with his life and with the life of all other believers in Jesus.
OIL OF CHRISM: The name “Christian” comes from the name “Christ” who we follow. The word “Christ” literally means “Anointed One.” Jesus is the Anointed and Chosen one of God who was ‘anointed’ by God to be THE Priest, Prophet and King. Oil of Chrism is again ordinary olive oil that has been mixed with beautiful perfumes. This oil symbolises royalty and vocation. This oil is anointed onto the crown on the head of the newly baptised child. This is the same oil that is used to anoint the heads of Monarchs at their Coronation, to anoint Priest’s hands at their Ordination, and is the same oil that is used in Confirmation, which seals and confirms the baptism of the child later in life. This second anointing makes it clear that your child is a royal member of Jesus’ kingdom, as all Jesus’ followers are. The child will be connected and part of Jesus, and share with Jesus in his vocation to be “Priest, Prophet and King” in the world.
WHITE BAPTISMAL GARMENT: There is a Bible reading where Saint Paul subtly refers to the white Baptismal when he says: “when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.” The white Baptismal garment represents spiritual cleanliness and purity of life. As Baptised followers of Jesus we have been washed clean and purified by Christ and we are expected to keep our lives “clean” and “pure.” The white garment is a symbol reminding us of how we want to keep ourselves holy the way a person keeps a white garment nice and clean.
CANDLE: We believe that Jesus is the “light of the world.” Jesus is the light who shows us the way, and helps us in life, especially when we feel we are in darkness of difficulty or temptation or confusion. Every Easter a very large candle is blessed called the “Easter Candle” or “Paschal Candle” (a word meaning Passover: Jesus is the “Passover Lamb” who was sacrificed to save us from sin). This candle represents Jesus who is a light to all in darkness. When a child is baptised, they are said to be “enlightened by Christ” and they have become a “Child of the Light.” A Baptismal candle is lit from this Easter candle and is presented to the family as a sign that this newly baptised person has received Jesus’ light and now must be a ‘light of Christ’ to all they meet in how they live and behave. Just as the big light does not lose any of its brightness or power by having other candles lit from it, so we become a carrier of Christ’s light without taking anything from the greatness of the true light who enlightens and guides us all: Jesus Christ.
CEREMONY OF BAPTISM

RECEPTION OF THE FAMILY

You do not have to prepare a booklet for the ceremony.. Fr Paul will be happy to advise you on this if you send him a draft version to his email at paulwkelly68@gmail.com

If the family does wish to print up a booklet, you are welcome to have your booklet printed by yourselves and brought along to the ceremony.

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(If you do a ‘search and replace’ command with your word processor, using the key words, you should find that the relevant names should flow through this document creating a personalised version. Eg, put (givennamesofchild) into the search command and then place the names of your child in the replace section and it should flow through the document – in this version, also include the brackets in the search term to completely replace the generic words with the names you desire).

Baptism of

(FULL NAME of CHILD inserted here)

(insert photo here)

Date

Church of….

Fr Paul Kelly

RITE OF BAPTISM

Reception of the child

What name have you given your child?

Parents: (givennamesofchild)

What do you ask of God’s Church for (givennamesofchild)?

Parents: Baptism.

(parentsnames), You have asked to have your child (givennamesofchild) baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

Parents: We do.

Godparents, (godparentsnames) , are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?

Godparents: We are.

The celebrant continues:

(GIVENNAMESOFCHILD), with great joy, the Church of God welcomes you. In its name I claim you for Christ our Saviour by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.

(signing of the forehead [+])

CELEBRATION OF GOD'S WORD

SCRIPTURE READING (READ BY )

GOSPEL (READ BY FR PAUL)

HOMILY (BY FR PAUL)

Intercessions (Read by )

Inspire this child, (givennamesofchild), to hear and follow your gospel, and to give witness to you by living a life of love, hope and faith. Lord,Hear us:

(LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER)

Help (givennamesofchild) to love God and neighbour as you have taught us. Lord, Hear us:

(LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER)

May (givennamesofchild) grow in holiness and wisdom by learning from fellow Christians and by following their good example. Lord, Hear us:

(LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER)

We pray that God will always protect and guide (givennamesofchild). May all God’s followers live in peace, harmony and respect. Lord, Hear us:

(LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER)

Invocation of the Saints

Holy Mary, Mother of God ………pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist………….. pray for us.

Saint Joseph……………………. pray for us.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul ……….pray for us.

St Stephen………pray for us

St John the Evangelist……

All Holy Apostles…… pray for us…….

St Therese……….. pray for us…

The names of other saints may be added, especially the patrons of the child to be baptised or patron saints of the parents or godparents. The litany concludes:

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop pray for us

All holy men and women pray for us.

Prayer of Exorcism

Anointing before Baptism

Blessing and Invocation of God over Baptismal Water

Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith

Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?

Parents and godparents: I do.

Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?

Parents and godparents: I do.

Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?

Parents and godparents: I do.

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Parents and godparents: I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Parents and godparents: I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Parents and godparents: I do.

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

R. Amen.

Baptism

Is it your will that (GIVENNAMESOFCHILD) should be baptised in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you?

Parents and godparents: It is.

The Priest baptises the child, saying:

(GIVENNAMESOFCHILD), I baptise you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

EXPLANATORY RITES

ANOINTING AFTER BAPTISM

CLOTHING WITH THE WHITE GARMENT

LIGHTED CANDLE

PRAYER OVER EARS AND MOUTH (OPTIONAL)

CONCLUSION OF THE RITE

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation:

but deliver us from evil.

BLESSING

+++ ceremony ends +++

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(extra background information)

YOUR CHILD’S BAPTISM

In the Baptism ceremony the Priest will say to you: -

“You have asked to have your child Baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith.”

Elsewhere, at the Blessing, in the Rite of Baptism: -

“The parents will be the first teachers

of their child in the ways of faith. May they also be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Church teaches that an important part of being a Catholic is understanding that we belong to a community. We are not just individuals. Being Catholic means agreeing to be formed by the message of the Gospel, and regularly listening to how the community understands its meaning for here and now.

By Baptism a child has a right and a duty to be given the fullness of their Catholic Teaching. This includes contact with the Catholic faith community at Sunday Mass.

When a child is Baptised and then rarely is given an opportunity to go to Mass, the child is being denied the full practice of their faith.

FREQUENTLY ASKED PRACTICAL QUESTION

PARENT: I am going to let my child choose whether or not to go to church when they are old enough to decide for themselves. Is there anything wrong with that?

RESPONSE: There are problems with this way of thinking! Parents play an important role in imparting values and habits for their child’s life. Long before a child realises the value of going to school or brushing their teeth, the parents have insisted on these practices. Children depend on their parents’ wisdom to insist on what is good for them. Their religious knowledge and faith formation is no different.

By the time a child is old enough to “decide for themselves” they will not have experienced growing up as a regular member of a faith community. If church has not been part of their life up to this point and if the Catholic parents do not go to Mass, the child will probably get the message that this is not a life value for them.

We welcome you to take your rightful place as members of the worshipping community. God Bless you as you take this next important step in your own and your child’s faith journey. To contact Fr Paul for more information, please email Fr Paul on holyjoe@ozemail.com.au

Some extra details and practicalities:

One of the oldest and simplest prayers in the Christian church is the ancient “sign of the cross.” Many Catholics know it ‘off by heart.’ Some are a little rusty. That’s okay, but I would like to invite people, if they are not already familiar with this symbol to practise this sign and teach it to their children from any early age. It goes like this….

The Sign of the Cross:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

In the name of the Father..

..and of the Son…

…and of the Holy.

…Spirit. Amen

forehead

chest

left shoulder

Right shoulder

Also, whenever the priest in a church service says the words: “The Lord be with you” or “the Peace of the Lord, be with you always,” the people reply in a nice strong voice: “And with your Spirit”. [Please note this is a new response, according to the new translation of the mass (2011- )].

Please ensure that your child is dressed in something white. It can either be a Baptismal Gown or anything white, (a white dress or a white shirt etc.).

The reason for this white garment is similar to the meaning of the reading from the Bible where it says: “…..when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.”

CANDLE:

Another part of the ceremony is the presentation of a Baptismal candle.

You will need to provide your own baptismal candle like this…

Sometimes a family member or a friend or the parents themselves want to buy a special baptismal candle that is more commemorative. That is fine. Here is a sample of the other types that people buy (eg, from a Christian supplies store or online) or even make themselves…

If you are looking at buying a baptismal candle here are some suggestions:

(just remember a plain candle or a home –decorated one is fine, but if you want to make a lasting memento, then here are some suggestions: )

Baptismal Candles: See the following. We have seen these ones and they are very nice:

The candles shown above are from Nicole at “Ellaura Keepsake Candles,” located at Cannon Hill 4170.

Nicole’s phone number is 0422715155 and her email is nicoled_brown@hotmail.com . also on facebook at Ellaura Keepsake Candles.

Christian Supplies:

http://www.christiansupplies.com.au/Candles/Custom-Candles/8742/

or you could try the web:

eg…

(these are just examples, to help with ideas…… we do not guarantee or warrant the quality of external providers of products.. this is merely a suggestion)

http://www.maedesigns.com.au/christening-candles

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Personalised-Christening-Baptism-Naming-Day-Candle-blue-/131300322334?pt=AU_Baby_Gifts_Keepsakes&hash=item1e921bec1e

Or perhaps search on Ebay,…

When you are bringing your own baptismal candle, please remember to unwrap the cellophane around the candle and have it ready for use in the ceremony. Bought candles are wrapped up so tight it is a struggle to unwrap them if they aren’t prepared earlier. These candles work best if you ‘pilot-light’ them first, that is, light them for a few minutes in preparation prior to the Baptism day so that the wick is ready to light and burn properly. New candles sometimes have the wick coated in wax and are hard to light for the first time.

As I mentioned above, it would be nice if one or two of the Godparents, (or alternatively another family member or friend), would be able to do a reading that we will provide. If you would like that, please let the priest know when you arrive and he will hand you a copy of a set reading or prayer for them to read and let you know when this occurs in the ceremony. Thanks and see you soon, _______________________________

Gospel

(Read by the priest)

Priest: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your Spirit.

Priest: From the holy Gospel according to Luke

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

(as the people are saying “Glory to you, O Lord” above, they copy what the priest is doing, namely, they use their thumb to trace the sign of the cross on themselves like this…)

Forehead (+)

lips (+)

heart (+)

Silently praying….Lord be on my mind..

.. on my lips…

And in my heart…

So that I may hear your word and live it…

READINGS AND PRAYERS

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians*

[*Pronounced: “Gal- ayy- shuns”*]

All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other.

The word of the Lord.

(Thanks be to God)

BAPTISMAL LITURGY OF THE WORD

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS

(A) A reading from the Book of Exodus (17:3-7)

But in the desert the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

The word of the Lord.

(All) Thanks be to God.

(B) A reading from the prophet Ezekiel (36:24-28)

The Lord spoke to Moses: "I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be cleansed from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and allow you to follow my laws and be careful to observe my decrees. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

The word of the Lord.

(All) Thanks be to God.

Then the angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there the water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate to the edge of the water. Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankledeep. Again he measured another thousand, and then it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen sharply. He said to me, "Mortal, have you seen this?" Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; from where it enters the sea; - there the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes, every creature that warms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. On both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves

will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."

The word of the Lord.

(All) Thanks be to God.

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS

(A) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (6:3-5)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

The word of the Lord.

(All) Thanks be to God

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(B) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (8:28-32)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called

according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold

his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?