Baptism
Baptism is the first of four sacraments of initiation or "belonging".
It is an important decision, among many, that you will make on behalf of your child. Already you are making choices for your children...How they are to be cared for, the sort of food they eat, the clothes that they wear, the schools they will attend, the company they will keep. Importantly you are now considering how best to care for them spiritually by introducing them formally into the life of Christ and HIs Church. As a church community we share in the well-being of your children, especially in a spiritual sense.
For a child to be accepted as a candidate for baptism there needs to be a 'well-founded hope' that he or she will be brought up in the practice of the Catholic faith.
This includes, giving them a sense that they are loved deeply by God, introducing your child to personal prayer and, importantly, belonging to a 'community of faith' (Eastern Bays Pastoral Area) which meets on Sunday for Mass. This is part of what a 'well founded hope' means.
Please reflect on your reasons for having your child baptised. It is a significant step and we firmly hope that as your child grows, they will have a wonderful sense of God's presence and action in their life.
If Eastern Bays Catholic Pastoral Area is not your usual place of worship, or geographically you live in an another part of the city, we recommend you contact your local parish. Baptism is an important way of making connections with your local parish and priest, and the future support your local community offers. This is especially important if your children are approaching school age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramental Programme
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