Dear Parents:

As you prepare for the baptism of your child, be assured that the Roman Catholic Parish of St Andrew the Apostle is looking forward to celebrating this event with you. It is our hope that we will be able to offer you all the assistance that you will need.

Over the years, we have found that people have differing expectations about why they want to have their child receive the great Sacrament of Baptism.Some few, have deep theological and spiritual reasons based on how they have come to practice their own faith. Others ask for the sacrament out of custom or for cultural identity. Some people are pressured by the expectations of family, grandparents, cousins and other relatives.Others simply want a naming ceremony for their baby and a localized record of their baby's birth. Still others might say something like: "I want my child baptized so that they can be admitted to a Catholic School which is near our house.

"The Church, that is, the Roman Catholic Christian Community of Faith has a much larger set of expectations. To us, the sacrament of Baptism is the beginning of everything for the Christian; it is new life in Christ; it is a covenant, a promise with a life-long commitment; it is so special that it can only be celebrated once in a person's life because baptism changes everything. Baptism gives your child a whole new identity in Christ.We want you to be fully informed about the step you are taking on behalf of your child. It is your choice, and it is a very important one indeed. Because of the importance of this decision, we invite you to consider well what you are asking for on behalf of your child. We invite you to take this step with prayerful deliberation and consider fully what you are asking God to do for your son or daughter.

This is why we have a program where you can meet with other parents and sponsors who are in the same situation that you find yourself. Like you, they may be nervous or unsure of what will be asked of them. Together we can explore hopes and dreams; we can learn together about the miracle of faith and how the Church opens its doors to those who want to walk with God all the days of their life.

Baptism is the event that marks the beginning of a process that initiates your child into the mystery of God's love for each of us. Baptism is not something that we do for your child. Baptism is something that God does for us and the process continues all the days of our life. We can appreciate the fact that you do not yet have all the answers; or that you may have been given only a small part of the information needed. We understand that some people are limited in their understanding of life as a Catholic and many have expressed a desire to learn more. This is our goal, to help you find a spiritual level of comfort that is suitable for you and then, together we can grow into being the people God calls us to be.
Let's start with some things everyone should know:

1. Adults make their own choice to be baptized. Babies cannot make this choice for themselves so one of their parents has to be a baptized member of the Roman Catholic faith. The reason for this is, that the seed of faith should be planted in fertile soil. Parents cannot give to their child that which they do not have. Faith is a garden that needs to be tended daily by words, deeds and witness. Children learn best by imitation. They want to be all that the parent is and then some.

2. Parents speak for their child on the day of Baptism. They speak the vows of Baptism for themselves and their child. These vows are solemn declarations to God and to the Church community that they will do all in their power to raise their children according to the teachings of Christ and his people. If we want God to be faithful to us, we also have to intend to be as faithful as possible in turn.

3. Although baptisms can be celebrated anywhere if a person is in danger of death, the normal place to celebrate baptism is in the parish church.The reason for this is that the church is the place where the whole community of faith gathers to worship God. We gather together with others who are like us and share with us the gift of faith. Baptism is a sacrament. Baptism takes place in the midst of an act of worship. We gather not for social reasons but for the work of worshiping God with prayer and song. Prayer is talking to God, either alone or in a group. You may want to invite relatives and friends to quietly chat with God about their needs and feelings rather than trying to get everyone's picture with a camera.We can take lots of pictures when the praying is done.

4. Some people call them 'sponsors'; others call them 'god-parents'. Either way, they are special people, chosen by the parents, to speak for the whole Church; the community of faith. A sponsor must be a practicing Roman Catholic who has received the three sacraments of initiation; Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Further, they should be living examples of what it means to be a good practicing Catholic; someone to share with the parents, their responsibility of teaching the faith to the one who is to be baptized. It is better to choose someone who is going to be an on-going presence in the child's life; someone who lives close enough for the child to know them as a spiritual guide and friend. Sponsors also represent the Church during the ceremony. It is they who will speak for the whole Church while making a promise to be an on-going support for the newly baptized child. Their words carry a lot of weight before God and for this reason they should also speak only what is true. (Parents themselves cannot be sponsors for their own children. They already have a spiritual relationship with their child which is far greater; and so is their responsibility.)

5. At least one sponsor must be a practicing Roman Catholic. Occasionally, people choose for a sponsor, someone who is baptized in a Christian Church other than the Roman Catholic Church. Although baptism makes us all part of the family of God and the mystical Body of Christ, we cannot speak on behalf of the Church if we are not a full member. For this reason, Sponsors who are not Roman Catholic are permitted to attend only as a witness to the baptism.

6. The parish in which your child is baptized is only the local expression of a much larger reality; the Roman Catholic Church. Some parents identify with the parish church in which they were raised, or married. Wanting to have their child baptized in the same church building has certain social niceties especially if there are still lots of family in that parish. But young couples are very mobile. Work and career opportunities compel families to move away from their nest parish into the "world of lost identities." It is easy to be happy in a parish where others know your family. It takes a lot of courage to break into a new community space and become friends with a lot of strangers. Joining a parish community is something that your child will need in the days to come. It is not possible to keep running back to the parish where you were baptized when other sacraments are needed. Growing up in a local parish and learning to identify with people our own age is so important. It creates a sense of belonging.

The parish of St Andrew the Apostle invites you to join us for worship on a regular basis. We have a special Children's Liturgy of the Word of God each Sunday at the 11am Mass. We welcome families. We welcome families with children. Come and share our gifts, and share with us the gifts that God has given you.