THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
By appointment
Contact: Rev. Eustace Durugbo 0208 692 2011
Parish Infant Baptism Requirements
Infant Baptism takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 2.00pm
- Parents/guardians who are parishioners must be practising
- Parents/guardians from other parishes will be required to obtain a letter of recommendation from their parish priests.
- Godparents must be practising Catholics. Those godparents from other parishes should obtain a letter of recommendation from their parish priest.
- Parents should complete the baptismal form in Capital Letters.
- There are 3 pre-baptismal lessons for parents and godparents and all MUST attend.
- Please give three days notice if you require a baptismal certificate.
- There is a fee of £3.00 when a certificate is required.
What does the Church Teach?
1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."5
1214 This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptise (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolises the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."6
1215 This sacrament is also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."7
1216 "This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ."8 Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man," the person baptised has been "enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he becomes "light" himself:9
Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.10
