Your questions answered.... WHAT IS BAPTISM? Baptism is the way in which we become a member of the Church. It is through baptism that we are adopted by God as his children and become part of his family. Baptism is not just saying thank-you to God for your child’s birth - although this service is available - you should ask the priest about this. CAN I HAVE MY CHILD BAPTISED AT ST. JOHN'S? YES! if you live in the Parish or you already attend Saint John’s Church. NO! if you have no connection with the Church and don’t live in the Parish. You should have your child baptised at your local church or the church which you attend. AM I EXPECTED TO ATTEND CHURCH? YES! ~ because that’s what baptism is - joining the family of God. As well as coming to Church for the Sunday Service we also ask you to attend our preparation session and a rehearsal before the Baptism. CAN I CHOOSE THE DATE? MAYBE ~ The dates for baptisms are sometimes fixed as part of the Church’s calendar. Baptism services occur about once a month, usually on the last Sunday of the month. They normally take place during the 11 am Sunday Mass. WHO CAN BE A GODPARENT? Godparents must have been baptised themselves even if this happened when they were children. Godparents are chosen to help you bring up your child and, particularly, to help them learn about God and living the Christian life. You should bear these things in mind when selecting who you want to be a godparent. It is usual to have three godparents, two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex, but to have one godfather and one godmother is sufficient. Parents may be godparents to their own children, provided that the child has at least one other godparent. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Baptism is offered free of charge, provided you are prepared to make the commitment to attend Church and the preparation session beforehand. What should I do next? Find out when the next baptism date is and collect an application form from one of the priests. Once you have confirmed the date for the baptism you should complete the form and hand it to the priest at Church. Then, we ask you to do the following: Attend Church regularly on the Sundays leading up to the day. Be prepared to see the priest either in your home or after a Church service in order to go through the preparation for the serivce. You might like to encourage your godparents to join you for this. PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right to refuse baptism to families who don’t bother to attend Church beforehand or come to the preparation and rehearsal.

Your questions answered....

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Baptism is the way in which we become a member of the Church. It is through baptism that we are adopted by God as his children and become part of his family. Baptism is not just saying thank-you to God for your child’s birth - although this service is available - you should ask the priest about this.

CAN I HAVE MY CHILD BAPTISED AT ST. JOHN'S?

YES! if you live in the Parish or you already attend Saint John’s Church.

NO! if you have no connection with the Church and don’t live in the Parish.

You should have your child baptised at your local church or the church which you attend.

AM I EXPECTED TO ATTEND CHURCH?

YES! ~ because that’s what baptism is - joining the family of God. As well as coming to Church for the Sunday Service we also ask you to attend our preparation session and a rehearsal before the Baptism.

CAN I CHOOSE THE DATE?

MAYBE ~ The dates for baptisms are sometimes fixed as part of the Church’s calendar. Baptism services occur about once a month, usually on the last Sunday of the month. They normally take place during the 11 am Sunday Mass.

WHO CAN BE A GODPARENT?

Godparents must have been baptised themselves even if this happened when they were children.

Godparents are chosen to help you bring up your child and, particularly, to help them learn about God and living the Christian life. You should bear these things in mind when selecting who you want to be a godparent.

It is usual to have three godparents, two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex, but to have one godfather and one godmother is sufficient.

Parents may be godparents to their own children, provided that the child has at least one other godparent.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Baptism is offered free of charge, provided you are prepared to make the commitment to attend Church and the preparation session beforehand.

What should I do next?

1.Find out when the next baptism date is

and collect an application form from one of the priests.

2.Once you have confirmed the date for the baptism

you should complete the form and hand it to the priest at Church.

Then, we ask you to do the following:

Attend Church regularly on the Sundays leading up to the day.
Be prepared to see the priest either in your home or after a Church service in order to go through the preparation for the serivce. You might like to encourage your godparents to join you for this.

PLEASE NOTE:

We reserve the right to refuse baptism to families who don’t bother to attend Church beforehand or come to the preparation and rehearsal.

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