BAPTISMS

What is Baptism for children not old enough to understand?

Being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the beginning of Christian life and makes a person a member of the Church. When a child is baptized, godparents (including parents) make a public commitment to raise the child as a Christian within the family of the Church. This means they promise to teach the child the Christian faith and to impress upon him/her the importance of attending worship. Consequently, we expect all those enquiring about baptism for their child to have started attending Church services before the baptism takes place so that they come to know something of the family of faith the child is being made a member of. As Church attendance continues to decline nationally, people know less about the Christian faith and the significance of baptism. Baptism is not necessarily about giving the child a name - that is done when the child’s birth is registered with the civil authority. Baptism is about Christian faith and Church membership. Parents and godparents should think very carefully about their own faith and about the solemn promises they will make at the child’s baptism before they go forward with planning the actual baptism itself.

Baptisms usually take place on Sundays, either at a time arranged with you, or within the main Sunday service which begins at 10.30am and lasts about an hour.

To discuss further and arrange dates for your Baptism class and Baptism, please contact Mother Emily by visiting her during her Office Hour on a Saturday morning, 10am - 11am at St Mary's.

We welcome enquiries about Baptism from anyone in the parish of South Elmsall and North Elmsall.

Baptism preparation classes for those wanting to be baptized (or have their child baptized) are run by Mother Emily on the second Saturday of each month at St Mary's. These classes will help you to find out more about the service and the important step which Baptism represents.