ST MACARTAN S CATHOLIC CHURCH MORNINGTON 4 Drake St PO Box 41 Mornington 3931 Mornington 3931 Ph (03) 5975 2200 Fax (03) 5977 2050 Email Address: mornington@cam.org.au Website: www.stmacartansparish.com.au Baptism Information Booklet Parish Priest: Parish Secretaries: Fr Joe Bui Duc Tien Francesca McLoughlin Marie Mills Catherine Larken
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME The parish of St. Macartan s takes this opportunity to congratulate you on the birth of your child and welcome your little one into our community!! We are delighted that you have chosen to have your child baptised and look forward to sharing your child s faith journey with you. Remember that Baptism is an Initiation into our community so really become part of it if you are not already. This means really trying to make an effort to come to Mass each week. This will give your children a real chance to grow up in the Catholic Faith. Don t stay away because your children are young and noisy. We have lots of those here already!! YOU ARE VERY WELCOME! We appreciate that, if your child has only just joined your family, this is an extremely busy time for you. When you have a moment, please take time to read this information booklet as we hope it will prove useful to you during the baptismal process. FIRST STEPS You may have already contacted the parish office or Fr Joe Tien asking for your child to be baptised. If not, we suggest you contact us as soon as possible on 5975 2200, and let us know you are interested. Baptisms are held at St Macartan's on the first and third Sunday of the month. Please contact the Parish Office to arrange a date for your child's Baptism. The Baptismal program in St. Macartan s Parish is a three step process: Firstly, all parents of children to be baptised are asked to attend a Baptismal meeting with our parish priest, Fr Joe Tien, and our Baptismal team. You are only required to attend a Baptismal meeting for your first child. Such meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of each month, at 8pm, in the parish Community Centre (the white building to the right of the church). At this meeting, you will be able to find out information on baptism the process and the reasons why we baptise our children. There will be an opportunity for you to discuss, personally with Fr Joe on that night, any issues you may have concerning the Baptism of your child. Godparents are also welcome to attend, but this is not compulsory.
GODPARENTS The role of godparent is so special and it is an enormous honour for the people that you ask. It is the role of the godparent to share the parenting of the baptised child in matters of faith and God. The godparents must be at least 16 years old and at least one godparent needs to be a member of the Catholic Church. Please see the end of this booklet for further information on Godparents. ON THE DAY Secondly, we look forward to you and all your family participating in your little one s baptism. As the idea of Baptism is that your child is becoming a member of the Saint Macartan s faith community and a son/daughter of God, it would be wonderful if you and all your family could join us for 11:00am Mass immediately preceding the Baptism. Other parishioners would love to meet you if you are not already a member of the parish. At the end of Mass, the Celebrant will process out of the church and usually converses with parishioners for a short period of time. Following this, he will be ready to commence the Baptism at approximately 12:00pm. Please ask your family and friends to be in the church and ready at this time. The Celebrant will lead you through the Baptism and will let you know when you are to respond and when the readings will take place. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION It is customary for an offering to be made to the priest by way of thanks on the day of the Baptism. An amount of between $50 - $100 is appropriate but whatever you feel able to give is fine! An amount of $25 is also payable to the parish to cover costs of baptismal preparation and certificates. These amounts are payable one week before the baptism. There is a tear off slip located at the end of this booklet for you to make your payment to the parish office.
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES Thirdly, the Certificate is presented to the parents (family) straight after the Baptism. Baptismal certificates are important when enrolling children in Catholic schools so please keep it in a safe place! St. Macartan s Piety Stall Baptismal Requirements & Gifts We ask you to prepare a white Baptism garment a tunic, sash or ribbon suitably decorated which is put on during the ceremony. The child may wear anything to the ceremony. You need a candle preferably a thick one and, if you can, decorate it with gold paint a cross, perhaps the date and child s name. (Sometimes Godparents like to help with the Garment and the Candle.) The Piety Stall at the church is open after every weekend mass and stocks a wide range of gifts, cards, crosses etc. It also stocks white garments (which can be embroidered with your child s name and date of baptism) and candles (which can have your child s name and date of baptism in gold lettering). If it is more convenient for you the Parish Office can assist you with orders or purchases between 9am 3pm Tuesday to Friday. For further information, please contact the Parish Office on 5975 2200 and your enquiry can be properly directed.
You have come into the world so tiny, Yet with such great promise for the future. Before you were even born, God planned wonderful things for you. As you are baptised, May you feel His love And the love of those around you, And may you always follow in His way.
Welcome, precious little child, So fresh from God above, Baptised today in Jesus name, Held in His arms of love. May angels guide your tiny feet And bring you smiles to wear, And may our Heavenly Father Always keep you in His care.
DONATIONS TO THE CELEBRANT AND THE CHURCH Please return to Parish Office with payment one week prior to Baptism. Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BAPTISM AT ST MACARTAN S PARISH NAME OF CHILD: NAME OF PARENTS: CONTACT PHONE NO: DATE OF BAPTISM: OFFICE USE ONLY DONATION FOR THE CELEBRANT- $... PAID YES / NO DONATION FOR THE CHURCH - $... PAID YES / NO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 2015