St. John the Baptist

Baptism 

The primary Sacrament of  the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. 
The outward sign is the washing with water in the name of the Most Blessed Trinity, three Person in One Godhead. The inward grace is New Life in Christ and the promise of union with God in the family life of the Trinity - for those who die with Christ in baptism shall rise with Him to a new and glorious life!

A Gift from God for our Salvation; Baptism is one of the "three" Sacraments of Christian Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. 

Baptism is never arranged over the telephone or via email. 

Baptism can not be arranged by Grandparents, aunts or uncles etc, but only by the parent(s). At least one parent must be a Roman Catholic.

The celebration of the Sacrament presumes that you (or the Catholic parent) are attending Mass. Baptism is not magic, it is an encounter with the Lord and His Holy People which brings us into Communion, a shared life, in the Body of the Christ, the Church. 

Parents make solemn promises, three times to before God and witnesses, to bring their child up in the practice of the faith. So parents should be celebrating Mass each week. If the parents are not willing to genuinely and honestly make the promises then Baptism is delayed.

Children to be baptised have two (AND ONLY TWO) God-parents.
One must be a Roman Catholic and the other may be a baptised Christian of any Church who hold the Creed. They will need to supply a certificate of their Baptism before taking on this important and beautiful role. As the name suggests, non-baptised persons may not be God-parents.

If you do not live in the Parish, permission is required from the Parish Priest of the parish in which you reside. 

To arrange Baptism please speak to the Parish Priest after either the Saturday evening Vigil Mass or the Sunday 10am Mass.

More on Baptism

"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213).

Baptism and Salvation

The Lord teaches us through Scripture that Baptism is necessary for our salvation. "Amen, Amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Jn. 3:5

St. Gregory Nazianzus

"Baptism is the means by which we become children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Baptism is God's most magnificent gift We call it gift, grace, anointing, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty, baptism because sin is buried in water, anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship."
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