Here are a few prerequisites to complete before the Baptism ceremony

• Call the Parish Office and arrange a date and time. Baptisms generally take place at 1:30 pm on Sundays. Other times are by arrangement. Call  (091) 523 413 to discuss.
• Complete the Baptism Card and return it to the Office a week in advance.
• Arrange to meet the priest for a few minutes to discuss the ceremony. People may have a priest friend/relative come and celebrate the ceremony.
• Finalize Godparents — their commitment is to help the child to live in a Christ-like way.
• Familiarize yourself with the actual wording of the ceremony.

Here are some guidelines on what to do on the day of the ceremony

• Please arrange for people to come on time as the priest regularly will have another engagement/ceremony following on.
• Bring a “Christening Candle” and a “White Shawl”.
• Generally, the child is dressed in a Christening Gown or White Garment.
• In Salthill parish, we have no “baptism fee” for active parishioners, whom it is presumed contribute to the upkeep of the church throughout the year.
• For people living outside the parish, a contribution towards church upkeep is appreciated.

Your child’s baptism is a time of celebration and joy

Naturally, you want the best for your child. We want to help you plan and prepare for the Baptism in the best possible way.

An Important Question…

Why have you requested baptism for your child in the Church? There may be many reasons. Seems to be the thing to do? Someone else in the family wants it? It’s on my “to do” list? I’m afraid something might happen to my child? It’s a significant step that starts the faith journey?

How the Church sees Baptism

The Church sees Baptism as the first important step on the Christian journey. On the day your child was born, he/she was welcomed into their family. On the day of baptism they are welcomed into the bigger family of the Lord, the Church. In baptism we enter into a unique and special relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and we try to live out that relationship in and through the people around us.

Or put another way … In Baptism we become.

• A son/daughter of God the Father
• A brother/sister of Jesus Christ
• A temple of the Holy Spirit
• A member of God’s family, the Church

Here is some information on the symbols used during the ceremony

The Sign of the Cross

A stamp or imprint on something is a sign of its origin or ownership. The sign of the cross which we make at the beginning of the ceremony on the child’s forehead, claims him/her for Christ.

Oils

In the Celebration of Baptism TWO different oils are used;

1. The Oil of catechumens – The child is anointed on the chest with this oil as a sign that the Lord is giving them strength for the Christian journey they are beginning.
2. The Oil of Chrism – A very sacred oil, which the child is anointed with on the top of the head. Oil is used to anoint kings and monarchs, it sets people aside for a mission. We are set aside for the Christian mission on the day we are baptized.

Profession of Faith

YOU have requested baptism for your child. In doing this YOU ARE MAKING A COMMITMENT to bringing up your child in the faith. – We promise to live by Christian values and pass on those values to our children. We promise to bring our child to Mass and the Sacraments, for this is what it means to belong to the Christian family. Therefore we profess the faith that we promise, before the community gathered, to pass onto our child. We pray for the grace to live as good Christian witnesses before our child.

Water

Water is essential for life! In Baptism, water symbolizes the new life we receive in Christ. Just as we nurture and care for a plant or shrub, in order for it to live a healthy life, we too must nurture and care for our faith in order for it to grow healthy and strong.

Baptism Robe/Shawl

The White Robe is a symbol of Christ. After they were baptized, the early Christians used to clothe themselves in white garments to show that they had “put on Christ”. In the same way, the child, during the baptism ceremony, is clothed in the white shawl to show that they are “clothed in Christ” or “wrapped up” in the love of Christ!

The Baptism Candle

The large Easter Candle (or Pascal Candle) is lit for the Baptism ceremony. This light symbolizes Christ, the Risen Lord, who overcame the cross and rose to new life. It is a symbol of hope! A smaller Baptism Candle is lit from the Easter Candle. This light, love, and hope of Jesus are being passed on to the new Christian through YOU the parents.

Proceedings after the ceremony

As your child grows it is important to pray with them, share some bible stories (maybe purchase a Children’s Bible), visit the Church to light a candle for someone who is sick, attend Mass, etc.

We pray God’s Blessing upon you in the challenge ahead of bringing up your child in the faith

How to register your baptism

The parish records the baptism of your child in the Baptismal Register of the parish. This record includes the full names of the child, parents, and godparents, the child’s date of birth, the date of the baptism, and the name of the officiating priest or deacon. A Certificate of Baptism can be issued by the Parish Office as and when required.