Baptisms
We get many enquiries regarding our Baptism program at St Anthony's. Below is an outline of our process for preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.
For Babies and Pre –School Children
A Baptism meeting is held once a month alternating between Resurrection Keysborough and St Anthony' s Noble Park Parishes, usually on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7pm. We advertise the date in advance in our newsletter. All parents wishing to organize a Baptism are required to attend. This is the only way you can set your date for your Baptism. We do not book Baptisms over the phone. So it is important to give yourself enough time prior to your desired date to attend our meeting. The meeting lasts for usually 1 hour. The week prior to your Baptism, you will be required to bring your baby/ young child to one of our Masses to receive our Baptism kit and a blessing.
Baptisms are celebrated on some weeks of the month at our Masses - 6pm Saturday & Sunday 9am & 11am. On other weekends Baptism will be celebrated outside Mass at 12.30pm. These dates are subject to the priest's availability. For those who live outside our Parish boundary, a letter of permission is required from the Parish Priest where the family reside.
For School Age Children
We conduct a program in the school holidays of terms 3 & 4 which involves attendance at classes over 2 days. Also children are required to attend Mass and children’s Liturgy.
Baptisms are celebrated during Mass. Please fill in a Sacramental enrolment form and contact Talia for further details.
For Adults (over 16)
We conduct our RCIA Program which involves attendance at Mass and instruction/discussion each fortnight following the Homily. Also, once a month, extended time for instruction is given on a Thursday evening for approximately 1 and 1/2 hours.
Baptism is celebrated on Easter Sunday.
Our program begins in July each year. We will advertise details of our information session for new candidates in the newsletter after Easter.
Guidelines
Baptism Preparation Meeting
Meetings will take place on the 4th Thursday of each month alternating between St Anthony’s and Resurrection as the venue for the meeting. Its important to come to the meeting with a few dates in mind, and we recommend checking with significant family and friends to see if they will also be available on that date before booking it. We only offer one Baptism per mass and a maximum of 4 at the 12.30 noon session.
Please note that enrolments for Baptisms are ONLY taken at these meetings. Enrolments at both parishes will be taken at either location of the Baptism preparation meeting
Presentation at the Baptism Preparation Meeting will take the following format:
Welcome and introduction of the team
Around the room parents introduce themselves (and child if present) and say what is the best this about their child
Summary - Child is a gift, old teaching re baptism, not current teaching - your child, child of God, sign of God’s love to the world
What Baptism means
Faith community
Acknowledging gift from God
Belonging to a faith community
PowerPoint Slide
What happens at Baptism
Water, candle, stole, words, prayers to be written
Godparents - requirements / selection
Questions