saintspeterandpaulcatholicchurchmitcham.co.uk

The process of initiation into the Christian community begins with the celebration of Baptism, leads to Confirmation and is completed in the Eucharist.

“In Baptism we are drawn into a community of faith. We become part of the pilgrim people of God ... But Baptism of itself, is only a beginning, a point of departure, for it is wholly directed towards the fullness of Life in Christ”. (John Paul I, Westminster, 1982.)

The initiation of adults and of children ...

• is a community event.
• is initiation into a community of faith and into the faith of the community.
• involves preparation and catechesis.
• presumes faith and conversion on the part of the community and candidate or hislher
• parents.
• requires the ministries of friendship, welcome, hospitality, sponsorship, faith-sharing, teaching, prayer and liturgical worship.

“The celebration of Baptism should be properly prepared. Accordingly the parents of a child who is to be baptised and those who are to undertake the office of sponsors, are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it.” (Canon 851.)

“For an infant to be baptised lawfully, it is required that there be a well-founded hope that the child be brought up in the Catholic religion. If such a hope is truly lacking, the baptism is ... to be deferred and the parents advised of the reasons for this.” (Canon 868).

Please note:

In our parish, Parents and God Parents of the child are required to attend a short course (2 sessions) of instruction conducted by the Parish Priest. They need to register with the Parish priest at least three months before they plan for their child to be baptised.   The current programme baptism and preparation sessions is shown below.

August 2010

 September 2010

 October 2010

November 2010

 December 2010