Baptism:
Please read the general
information about Baptism and then click the link below for the online
application form.
ONLINE
APPLICATION FORM (PLEASE CLICK HERE)
General information for
you:
Saint Mary’s Catholic
Church Telephone: (07) 4121
3701 Facsimile: (07) 4121
2829
Greetings from St Mary’s.
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, I
will walk everyone through each stage, 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).
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.). (Alternatively, you could make or buy a
little Baptismal “Bib” that is a simple piece of white cloth with a hole for
the head.
This is slipped
over the newly Baptised child’s head after the pouring of water). 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.”
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. Don’t panic if when you arrive
the church is closed and everything is locked up. I do a weekly Church service
at Tiaro (Sundays) and should arrive back and open up the church at least about
five to ten minutes before the scheduled time, hopefully even earlier. Please take
with you this number in case you have any worries on the day: Fr Paul, Ph: 041 778 6456. Please note
that there is a small car-park attached to the church. The entrance driveway is
directly opposite the Post Office in Bazaar Street.
Extra Practicalities. The
Baptismal 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 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 which 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. Parish Priest,
Maryborough.
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.
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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 cleanliness and
purity. As Baptised followers of Jesus we have been washed clean and purified
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.
5.
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
To
the Parents
CELEBRANT : What name have
you given your child?
PARENTS : (name
their child)
CELEBRANT : What do you
ask of God's Church for ....
PARENTS : Baptism
CELEBRANT : You have asked
to have your child 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 commandment' as Christ has taught us by loving God and
our neighbour. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?
PARENTS : We do.
To
the Godparents
CELEBRANT: Are you ready to help the parents of
this child in their duty as Christian parents?
GODPARENTS : We
are.
CELEBRANT : ................................ the
Christian community welcomes you with 
great joy. 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. +
CELEBRATION
OF GOD'S WORD
SCRIPTURE
PRAYER
AND ANOINTING BEFORE BAPTISM.
BLESSING
AND INVOCATION OF GOD OVER BAPTISMAL WATER. (If the water has not already been
blessed)
RENUNCIATION
OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH.
The celebrant invites the
parents, Godparents and everyone present to renew their Baptismal promises on
behalf of the child. This is the faith into which this child is about to be
baptized. (Please answer “I Do” in a STRONG AUDIBLE VOICE when asked each
question).
CELEBRANT : Do you reject
Satan, And all his works'? and all his empty promises?
PARENTS AND GODPARENTS : I
do
CELEBRANT : Do you believe
in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth
PARENTS AND GODPARENTS : I
do
CELEBRANT : 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
CELEBRANT : Do you believe
in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the
Forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the Body, and life everlasting?
PARENTS AND GODPARENTS : I
do
CELEBRANT
: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess
it, in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
ALL : Amen.
·
BAPTISM
·
ANOINTING WITH
CHRISM
·
CLOTHING WITH
THE WHITE GARMENT
·
LIGHTING CANDLE
- PRESENTED TO PARENTS
·
LORDS PRAYER
·
BLESSING
(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
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
to start the process for this sacrament. email Fr Paul
on holyjoe@ozemail.com.au
ONLINE
APPLICATION FORM (PLEASE CLICK HERE)