Baptism is the gateway to Christian life. It takes away original sin, all personal sins and all punishment due to sin. It makes the baptized person a participant in the divine life of the Trinity and incorporates them into Christ and into his Church. A baptized person belongs forever to Christ (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 263) See more
Baptism at Mary Immaculate – Practical Information
Baptism of infants
The Roman-Catholic Church allows baptism of infants and children as long as the parents are ‘ready to accept the responsibility of training their children in the practise of the faith.’ In order for a child’s baptism to take place, at least one parent must be a Catholic.
Booking
Please book the day of your child’s baptism well in advance as the number of baptisms per day is limited (no more than four children) and some Sundays may not be available due to parish functions.
The booking is not complete until the following documentation has been provided:
- the completed Baptismal Form (email eaglevale@dow.org.au for a copy)
- a copy of one of the Catholic parents’ baptismal certificate
- a suggested donation of $100 towards the Parish
Venue and time
Baptism is about being made a part of the community of faith; it is not a private family occasion. Therefore, baptisms are usually conducted with several other families in the parish church. At Mary Immaculate baptisms take place on 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 11.30am in the Church.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel or change the date of baptism, please notify the Parish Office as soon as possible.
Preparation course
You need to attend one preparation session prior to the baptism of your child. The course is held on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the meeting room of the church. It is essential that you BOOK IN for the session through the Parish Office. If you have previously had a child baptised there is no need to attend the preparation course.
Godparents
A godparent must be:
- not less than sixteen years of age,
- a Catholic who has been confirmed and lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken.
Parents cannot be a godparent to their child.
It is usual to have one or two godparents. A person who belongs to a non-Catholic church community may be a sponsor, but not a godparent.
Photography
It is allowed to take photos during the ceremony. We simply ask that it is done in an unobtrusive way. At the end of the Baptism there will be an opportunity for photos.