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• Baptism

• The Role of the Parents

• The Role of Godparents or Sponsors

• The Role of the Parish Faith Community

• For Children Under the Age of 7 Years

• Baptism Resources

• For Adults and Children 7 Years of Age and Older (RCIA)

• "Becoming Catholic" Rites of Initiation for Baptised Christians

Baptism is initiation into the Body of Christ. In Baptism, we publicly profess our faith expressed in the creed. (In case of infants, this is professed on our behalf by our parents and godparents.) Water is poured on our heads to express our death to self and new birth in Christ. Our white garments also indicate that we are are We are cleansed of all that would keep us from Christ and presented with a candle lit from the Paschal Candle to remind us that we must always walk in his light.

As we welcome a person into our faith community, there are different roles we play in helping to nurture and support the faith life of that child.
 

• The Role of Parents: When parents choosing to have their child baptised, this is an indication that they intend to take on the responsibilities for the faith life of that child. As a parent, you initiate your child, first by example and then by teaching, into a life of following Jesus Christ. By your example of prayer, worship and the practice of Christian living, you share your faith with your children. Postponing baptism until you as a parent have established yourself as practising member of this faith community is a good decision.

• The Role of Godparents or Sponsors: When a person is baptised, they are given a godparent or sponsor. The primary purpose of these people is to support the new Christian’s growth in faith and to be role models of Christian life. Godparents or sponsors are also symbols of the fact that we grow and thrive not in isolation but in community. Only baptised and confirmed Catholics can be godparents. Sometimes people will also choose a second person, who is not a Catholic, to stand along side them in supporting the newly baptised person. This person is designated as a Christian Witness.

• The Role of the Parish Faith Community: Faith, for Catholics, is not simply a "Me & God" relationship, but one between "Us & God." People come to know God in and through the people of God - the church. The whole community bears responsibility for the new members of the church, initiated in Baptism. The parish community, therefore, has a very important role in a person's baptism and ongoing faith life. We do this by gathering together in worship, by attempting to model our Christian values and vision in our daily living and by supporting and encouraging one another as we attempt to hear, understand and live the Gospel.

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Baptisms are celebrated approximately
every second Sunday at 1:15 pm
in the church.

"I baptise you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen".

The choice to bring a child for baptism indicates a desire to raise and nurture that child in the life of faith. When a child is born there are many reasons which motivate parents to have that child baptised. Each reason plays a role but some reasons are by themselves inadequate. Some inadequate reasons for baptism are: to gain admission to a Catholic School, to please parents or other relatives, to have an excuse to gather family and friends in a celebration, or even the fear of what would happen to your child if he/she should die without baptism. (Remember God loves all little children)

The proper motivation for Baptism is the desire to share with your child a living faith in Jesus Christ. In order to celebrate baptism in a Catholic parish your participation in the parish community is expected.

Parents with a child under the age of seven who wish to have him or her baptised, first meet with one of the priests. He discusses the sacrament with the parents and arranges for the date of baptism. Parents (and any godparents who are able), attend one baptismal preparation meeting.

If the child to be baptised is between the ages of four and seven, the parish can provide some additional preparation for the child as well. If you would like to arrange for this, you may call the parish catechist.

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If you want to have your child baptised,
please call the office and
book an appointment with a priest.

Baptisms are celebrated approximately
every second Sunday
at 1:15 pm in the church.

For Adults and Children 7 years of Age and Older

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Adults and children over the age of seven, are initiated into the church through the Rites of Christian Initiation. This is a four-period process consisting of:

1. a period of inquiry (pre-catechumenate),
2. a period of teaching (catechumenate),
3. a period of purification and enlightenment or Interior Reflection (lent),
4. and a period of continued reflection (mystagogy).

St. John’s has an ongoing Inquiry process. Whenever there are people who are interested in learning more about the faith, we begin to meet on an informal monthly basis. The more formal programme begins in the fall. Adults meet on Thursday evenings throughout the year from September to June. Children and their families meet on dates convenient for them during the same time period.

The celebration of the sacraments of initiation for both adults and older children ordinarily take place at the Easter Vigil (Easter Saturday evening).

For further resources on the Sacraments of Initiation for Adults (including children over the age of seven) click here... coming soon - reroute to Christine’s Web Picks in Sacraments.

For a general schedule of meeting dates and rites (coming soon)
 

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If you want to become a Catholic,
please call the office and talk to
our catechist Christine Way Skinner.

Those adults and older children who are baptised in another Christian tradition and who wish to become Roman Catholic Christians, are dealt with on an individual basis. Often they will join with adults preparing for baptism in the process of Christian Initiation. Meetings are held on Thursday evenings in the parish centre.

The reception of baptised Christians into the Roman Catholic Church, followed by their confirmation and first reception of the Eucharist, ordinarily takes place at the Easter Vigil (Easter Saturday evening).

For articles on What it means to be Catholic, click here. coming soon. Reroute to Christine’s Web Picks

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