Baptism
BAPTISM
Baptism is our proof and our confirmation of our Creative God: a God who in His love and longing to be one with us, reaches out and invites us to join with Him in being creative. Physically, he enables us to procreate; to bear new life as a continual development and sign of human unity. Spiritually, too, he enables us to procreate, to bear new life in faith as a result of our unity in faith with him and with one another.
Baptism cleanses us from original sin with which we are all born and, in the baptism of adults, of every sin committed prior to baptism. Water is also a sign of new life. The newly-baptised is given the new life of the Holy Spirit which unites the person in the life of the Trinity. We call this new life “sanctifying grace”.
The Christian name given at the “Christening” is a symbol of the truth that the newly-baptised person belongs to Christ and is made like him.
THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS
A baby is brought to baptism in the Church by the faith of his or her parents. This is clearly not so for adults who, after hearing about Jesus Christ, are moved by the Holy Spirit within them consciously and freely to seek baptism.
The growth of the Church in the first centuries came very largely through the baptism of adults. In more recent years the Church has returned to many of the ceremonies of those first centuries for welcoming people who seek baptism into the Church. The whole period of deepening conversion and the ceremonies that accompany it have been brought together in what the Church calls The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA.
The RCIA is a reminder of a truth that has always been recognized by the Christian community: to be a Christian it isn’t enough to walk off the street and into a church and ask a priest for baptism. There is no such thing as an “overnight conversion.”.
Holy Cross Parish runs a Baptismal Programme for parents who are planning to have an infant or young child baptised. The programme consists of evening meetings facilitated by a couple from the Parish, at their residence. Couples are encouraged to attend the programme together, and to bring their child along, if necessary. There are a number of non-Catholics who attend.
The programme has three objectives. It is meant to help parents:
- Understand the significance and meaning of baptism in the Catholic Church
- Be familiar with the baptism rite and understand the significance of its different aspects
- Appreciate their commitment and responsibilities in bringing their children up in the faith
Material for the programme is based primarily on:
- Our Child’s Baptism – a programme for Parents and Godparents” a film by Veritas Video from Ireland
- Beloved Sons and Daughters – Preparation for Baptism”, a book by Judith Evans from the diocese of Hamilton
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The programme is conducted every month on one weeknight, usually a Friday in the Friary (14 Lavelle Road, Henderson). The facilitators have found this arrangement maintains the group size at four to five couples and gives the opportunity for more parishioners to attend the programme. The facilitators have ensured however that the programme material is not compromised or diluted in any way, since participants have found the programme informative and helpful in making their child’s baptism more meaningful.