By creating a family home where there is love and respect for all members of the family and an openess to friends and others and especually to those in need, you will give give your child a wonderful Christian foundation. Your home must be a place where God is a faniliar friend to all and the values of the Gospel are known and lived. In a Catholic home there should be times for simple prayers with the children – in the morning, before bed, before meals, - and perhaps a bible on the bookshelf and a crucifix and statue of Our Lady spomewhere prominent in the house. All of these little things will begin to teach your child about God’s love for us and about some of our Catholic devotions and prayers. Your child will learn about our faith from you, the parents, in the first instance.
The work you have begun at home will be complemented and carried on by our Catholic schools. Here at St. Joseph’s we are blessed with a happy and successful parish school which, as well as teaching the three R’s, also helps our children deepen and further the Catholic faith which you as parents have already begun to teach them at home. In school our children are not forced-fed religion, but gradually and naturally absorb our faith which imbues the atmosphere, attitudes and practices of our schoool. They are taught to have respect, love and compassion for others and themselves. Parents, teachers and parishioners work in partnership to ensure that our school passes on to our children the values of the Gospel and the traditions and practices of our Catholic faith.
At Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church we are delighted that you have asked to have your child baptised as a Christian and a Roman Catholic. This is an important occasion for your child, your family, and for our Church.
This leaflet will, hopefully, help you to reflect on your child’s baptism and on the promises you will be taking on your child’s behalf at the baptism service. It will also give you some practical information.
When your child is baptised he/she will receive the gift of God’s life. We will plant a seed which needs to be cared for and nurtured throughout the coming years until such time as your child is able to take up the Christian and Catholic Faith for him/herself as a young adult.
As parents you take on the responsibility to nurture God’s life which is given to your child in baptism. You will, surely, do your best to carry out this responsibility. At the baptism service you will be asked by the priest if you accept the responsibility of bringing your child up in the practice of our faith. You will answer yes. In the years to come you will carry out that promise. There are three main areas in your child’s ans family’s life where you will fulfil this promise.
DRESS: It is traditional to dress your child for the baptism service in white, the traditional colour of purity and goodness in our culture.
Bring with you a white christening shawl if you have one – we will use it during the baptism service. The parish provides the baptism candle which is also used in the service, and gives it to you after the service as a memento of your child’s baptism.
CELEBRATION: This is an important day for your family so make a celebration of it if you can. Your child is the newest and most precious member of your clan and the baptism day gives you an opportunity to have a family celebration and to thank God as a family for this new life. If you would like to use the parish hall for a celebration party after the baptism, please talk with Fr. Mark.
OFFERING: There are no fees as such for the administration of the Sacraments. However, it is traditional to make an offering to the priest, called a “stole offering” (after the stole which the priest wears around his neck when administering the Sacraments), which helps to support the priest. Also, perhaps you could take this opportunity to reflect on how you support our church’s life and ministry and talk with Fr. Mark about a covenant. Our parish is self-supporting for all its needs and relies on the generosity of its parishioners.
In our Catholic school your child will also be prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. As a Catholic parent you are asked to give serious consideration to sending your child to a Catholic school where the seed of faith which your child has been given in baptism and which has been cared for at home can continue to be nurtured.
When your child is baptised he/she becomes a member of the worshipping Church and has a right to share in the praise of God, the Sacraments and the fellowship of the parish community. For many years to come your child will only be able to have access to these things through you. Do make sure to come to Mass on Sundays on a regular basis. Your child will grow up to understand the Mass and our liturgy, to appreciate the fellowship and community of our parish, and to participate in all that we do, only if you facilitate this and lead by example. There is no better example to your child than your own witness of prayer and worship. We do not worry about the noise of children here at St. Joseph’s. The sound of children is a sign of life and the future. Your child is welcome at Mass at whatever age. We have children’s liturgy of the word at both Sunday Masses. Even if your small child is having a bad day, and becomes disturbed or upset, you can always use the narthex (the porch) as a crèche until your child is settled. We all understand that small infants can be demanding at times and this saves any embarrassment.
Saint Joseph, pray for us