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Jesus came up and spoke to his disciples. He said, “All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. ”Matthew 28: 18-20
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Requesting Baptism Certificates
Baptism is not simply a “naming ceremony” or even just a blessing for a new baby. It is the beginning of our lives as Christians. The Sacrament of Baptism is for those who want to follow Christ. It isn’t just for children, but for anyone who wants to be a disciple. Growing in your own faith: If you regularly come to Mass and practise your faith, a Baptism in the family is an occasion for a renewal and deepening of your own faith. If you have other children, it is a significant occasion for them and you can help them to understand that they too received this gift of grace and new life. If you have been away from the Church, you will find, like so many others, that the occasion of your child’s Baptism is an opportunity to return to the practice of the Catholic faith. If you have any questions about this, the priest will be pleased to help you. He can also introduce you to one of the people of the parish who will be willing to show you around and answer questions. The Baptism takes place during the 11.00 am Mass so that the whole parish community is able to take part in the welcoming of new parish members. This leaves you time to celebrate at home afterwards with your family. It also means that you do not have to worry about coming to the Church twice on a day that will be busy for you and your family. Everyone is welcome to the Mass and the Baptism, including non-Catholic friends and family. click here to download a Baptism application form in PDF format
When is Baptism celebrated? Normally during 11.00am Mass on the last Sunday of each month.
How do I arrange a Baptism? Please see Fr Tom after Mass so that we can book the preparations for the Baptism of your child or collect a form from the Parish Office. click here to download a Baptism application form in PDF format
What preparation does the parish provide? There is a preparation session for parents who ask for Baptism for their child, usually on the second Sunday of the month, following the 11.00 o’clock Mass
What will the preparation session involve? During the preparation you can ask any question you want and there will be a chance to go through the ceremony of Baptism. At the preparation session parents will also be expected to say why they want their child Baptised and to have considered what their practical responsibilities will be.
Who can be Godparents? Godparents should be practising Catholics over 16 years of age. Usually there will be two Godparents.
What about non-Catholics? In addition to the Catholic Godparent(s), a non-Catholic who is a baptised Christian may stand as a Christian witness, similar to a Godparent.
I am not married. Can my child be Baptised? Yes. A child may be baptised so long as there is a well-founded hope that they will be brought up in the practice of the Catholic faith.
I do not live in the parish. Can I have my child Baptised at The English Martyrs? Yes, if you regularly come to Mass here. If you are not coming to Mass, you need to decide which will be the Church you are going to start attending. It will usually be more appropriate (and more convenient) for you to start going to Mass at your local parish and to arrange the Baptism there. If you are resident in another parish you will need your parish priest’s permission to have the Baptism at the English Martyrs’.
We have not been attending Mass recently - what do we do? It’s never too late! The arrival of a child is in many ways an opportunity to start participating in the life of the Parish.
I want my child to go to the Catholic School - can they be Baptised? We don’t really think that Baptism should be administered just so that a child can go to a Catholic School. There has to be rather more of a commitment than that from the parents.
Neither I nor my spouse is a Catholic. Can our child(ren) be baptised Catholics? Only if one of the parents decides to become a Catholic themselves. Since the parent(s) are responsible for bringing their child up as a Catholic, it is important that they are practising the Faith themselves. If you want to become a Catholic, or find out what it involves, just ask.
Who will be Baptising my child? Normally this will be either the parish priest or the parish deacon.
Are there any Fees? In the Catholic Church there is no fee for the Baptism. If you can afford to do so, you can make an offering. You can give this in an envelope to the priest or deacon at the time of the Baptism. If you cannot afford anything, it does not matter and nobody will be offended.
Requesting a Baptismal Certificate
To request a copy of yours or your child's Baptism Certificate, simply contact the Parish Office. We will need to know the candidates full name and date of birth plus the date of Baptism if known. There is no fee for this certificate.
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Disclaimer: The content of this site is published in good faith and does not represent the views, opinions or beliefs of the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Lancaster or St Thomas of Canterbury & the English Martyrs' Church, Preston. If you feel that any information or images contained herein are offensive or incorrect, please contact the Parish Office and we will take the necessary action. |
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