Where is baptism held

Jesus is present in the proclamation of the word, calling the gathered community to be disciples. We are reminded that the Christian story is a living story, carrying on throughout the generations and continues through each baptised person.

The Sign of the Cross is the mark of Christians leading us into the full story of the Paschal Mystery — life, suffering, death and Resurrection. Parents and godparents trace the cross as a sign that we are claimed by the One who has created us, and who came among us in Jesus, and who continues to journey with us in the Spirit, and who will welcome us home in the life to come. To follow up with these, or any other questions, contact your local parish.

For sensible pastoral reasons, a child needs at least one Catholic parent to be baptised in a Catholic Church. Any child with a parent who has been baptised Catholic is able to be baptised in the Catholic Church. Of course! The Church focusses on the child, as well as the responsibilities of those who have guardianship of the child. You can have your baby or child baptised at any age although the Sacrament Policy Archdiocese of Brisbane suggests that this occurs within the first 12 months.

Your local parish will be able to assist you with any questions you have. Your parish will be able to assist you with this process. Having your child baptised means that they are incorporated into the Body of Christ and have begun the process of initiation which will be completed through the sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion.

There is no difference between Baptism and Christening. A godparent is to be 16 years or older and fully initiated into the Catholic Church, i. One godparent needs to be Catholic although practising individuals of other Christian traditions are welcome to be witnesses. Non-Christians are unable to be witnesses.

There is no legal obligation as a godparent. It is a ministry of love and a privilege to be invited. Because water is essential to all life, the water of baptism symbolises the life-giving grace that sustains those who have become children of God. Oil is used twice in the ceremony. Afterwards the crown of the head is anointed with perfumed chrism as a symbol of joy and thanksgiving.

A baptismal candle is lit from the paschal candle beside the font and presented to the new member as a sign of the light of Christ. Baptism is about being made a part of the community of faith; it is not a private family occasion. Therefore baptisms are normally conducted during Sunday Mass or with several other families at another time on Sunday in the parish church. The details regarding a Catholic christening will rely heavily upon the church that is chosen by the parents.

The traditional Roman Catholic ceremony will involve a heavy amount of liturgy and Latin, whereas more liberal churches may conduct the process in English.

The Catholic church will also conduct emergency baptisms to accommodate their parishioners' needs, and some churches may alter the program to meet the desires of the infant's parents. So, it is difficult to brand all Catholic baptisms as involving the same processes. One of the key features of a Catholic baptism is the role of the godparents who are selected by the infant's parents.

Godparents play a pivotal role in caring for their godchild's spiritual and physical wellbeing. Both a woman and a man are chosen to fulfill this position in the infant's life, and so a portion of the baptism ceremony will focus on these two select people. In more conservative Catholic churches, godparents are always practicing Catholics who honor the sacraments and fulfill a list of qualifications. However, in more liberal environments, any person whom the child's parents choose may be granted this role.

Parents who are not active in the Catholic community may have to shop around for a priest who is willing to accommodate their infant's baptism within his church. Parents who are active church and mass attendees will almost always choose to have their infant baptized by a priest in their current church.

So, essentially, the simplest way to organize and lodge your child's Catholic baptism is to already be a practicing and active member of the Catholic Church. If you've been invited to attend a Catholic baptism or are planning one for your own child, understanding the ceremony and the meaning behind the baptism symbols can help make the entire ceremony more meaningful and enjoyable.

You'll be glad you learned a little more about this special day. Understanding the full details of the baptism ceremony can be helpful, but the following is a basic order of events to help you get a sense for what happens: Reception of the child - The priest greets the parents and child, hears the name of the child, and makes the sign of the cross on the child's head.

Celebration of God's word - The priest offers readings and prayers for the child and his or her parents and anoints the child with oil.

Celebration of the Sacrament - The priest blesses the water, asks the parents to renounce sin, and baptizes the child with water.