BAPTISM

The Sacrament of Baptism is "the door or gateway of the Church" as it is the first of the seven sacraments we receive. The sacrament is normally administered to us when we are infants / babies and sometimes as adults. It admits us officially into the Family of Christ, His Church and initiates us into the Catholic faith. This sacrament is most important as one can receive not only the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation after Baptism but all the other sacraments too. Thus, every child born to Catholic parents must receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

Baptism is one of the three Sacraments of initiation, viz: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. These are the three primary sacraments, on which the rest of our life as a Christian depends. These sacraments are celebrated at different milestones in our spiritual lives.

Baptism is necessary to be incorporated as a member of Christ's Mystical Body, the Church. In doing this we are following Christ's orders when He commanded His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." For Catholics, this sacrament is not a mere formality, it is the very mark of a Christian, because it brings us into new life in Christ.

The sacrament of Baptism is communitarian, in that it takes place during the Mass. In the parish the Sacrament is administered on Sunday after 10.30 a.m. mass (around 11.15 a.m.).

Before the child's birth the parents and godparents prepare for the baptism. The priest makes them aware of their serious responsibility to educate the child in the love of God and bring them up in the practice of the Faith. Thus, in preparation for the child's baptism the parents must complete a pre-baptismal catechesis.

The godparents must be present for the service and bring a candle. The child is brought wrapped in a shawl. The white garment, a sign of purity, is put on the child during the service.

The sacrament is administered by blessing the child with holy oil and pouring water over the head of the child with the priest saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." By doing this the child becomes a member of the Church and receives the graces of supernatural life.

For adults today, as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), baptism is immediately followed by Confirmation and Communion. Only after completion of the Adult Catechumenate programme the adult baptism takes place. This is normally done during the Easter Vigil service.

A completed Pre-Baptismal Form with the correct spelling of the child's name should be submitted to the Parish Office.

No gifts are to be given. An envelope with the parents' contribution should be handed to the priest.

NOTE
Kindly note that once the entries are made in the Parish Register no changes are allowed.

Please make sure that all the names and details, especially the spellings, on the baptism / municipal, marriage both religious and civil and death certificates are the same throughout as legal problems and hassles are avoided. Do not enter any pet name on any of the certificates.

In case any changes are to be made in the Parish Register the legal procedure has to be followed and permission obtained from Archbishop's House