Baptism

Baptism is celebrated at St. Cecilia's Church within Sunday Mass at 9.30 a.m.  Another option is Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m., this is not during a mass.

Please phone the parish office and make an appointment to meet with fr. Wayne.  [This is just to say hello and confirm the date for baptism.    This meeting usually only takes approximately 15 minutes.] 

You are then required to attend a Baptsimal Instruction, led by parishioners, held at the Parish Centre on the last Wednesday of the month at 7.00 p.m.   Parents and Godparents [if they are available] should attend.    The Baptsimal Instruction usually takes one hour.

On the baptism day, if it is a Sunday, please come and say hello to Father to let him know you are there.  Please arrive at 9.15 a.m.

It is normal that an offering/donation be given to the priest after the ceremony.

Godparents

Godparents represent the wider spiritual family of the child.  As such, they are an ever present sign of the Church's care for your child and its deveopment in his or her spiritual and religious development.  The primary role of a godparent is to help the child develop a living faith and to perserve in living this faith  as he or she grows and develops.

Godparents should be constantly involved in the life of your child and in particular, when your child celebrates the other sacraments of Initiation, Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.

Godparents also help the parents so that your child will come to profess and live the Christian faith within the Catholic tradition.

In order to do this, at least one of the godparents must be a practising Catholic adult who has been confirmed and who witness to the Catholic faith in word and action in their daily lives.

Baptised Christians of other faith traditions can be Christian witnesses at the Batpism Ceremony.

The Symbols of Baptism

After baptism, the priest will use the symbols of Water, Oil, Clothing and Light to express your child's membership in the Body of Christ.

Water

Water is essential for life.  Without it things die.  It is necessary for growth and development.  The water of Baptism is a symbol of God's own life poured out for us in Christ so that we may remain alive in God.

Oil

We use the Oil called Chrism (from the Greek word for Christ) to annoint your child.  This oil is consecrated by the Archbishop each year and is sent out to the parish Churches to be used for Baptism.  Oil soothes and heals, nourishes and protects, penetrates and becomes part of us.  It is a wonderful symbol of Christ who will be a source of healing, nourishment and protection for your child.  Like the Oil, the spirit of Christ penetrates and becomes part of us.

Clothing

The white baptism clothing in which your child is clothed during the ceremony is a symbol that your child is now clothed in Christ. It is the face of Christ that he or she is now to present to the world - a face which speaks of love and compassion, peace and grace.

Light

Your child's candle is lit from the Paschal 9or easter) candle in the Church.  The flame is a symbol of the flame of faith which will burn throught your child's life.  The candle is entrusted to you and the Godparents.  Its flame (the faith of your child) is to be nourished  and kept burning until your child is old enough to keep the flame burning itself.

To view and/or download the brochure containing the above information, please click here.

To view and/or download the Application Form for your child to be baptised at St. Cecilia's, please click here.