ENTRANCE PROCESSION. The parents and child are invited to be part of the entrance procession. They will follow the Eucharistic Ministers in line. The godparents are asked to be seated in the reserved front pews.
AFTER THE HOMILY. The celebrant invites the parents and child to come forward and stand in the front facing him. The godparents stand behind them.
| · Celebrant: | (Parents’ names), what name willyour child be known to God and to us? |
| · Parents: | (Name of child) |
| · Celebrant: | What do you seek for your child? |
| · Parents: | Baptism |
| · Celebrant: | In asking for Baptism, it will be your responsibility to train (name of child) in the practice of our Faith, by keeping God’s commandments as Christ taught us. |
| Godparents, are you ready to help the parents in their duty as Christian parents? | |
| · Godparents: | We are. |
| · Celebrant: | (Name of child), the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In the name of all of us here present and all of God’s people, I claim you for Christ by the sign of the cross and invite your parents and godparents to do the same. |
PROFESSION OF FAITH. The Creed is replaced with the Baptismal Vows.
| · Celebrant: | With (Parents’ names), who are presenting their child to God today, let us proclaim our faith. Please stand. |
| Do you reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin? | |
| · Congregation: | We do. |
| · Celebrant: | Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? |
| · Congregation: | We do. |
| · Celebrant: | Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? |
| · Congregation: | We do. |
| · Celebrant: | Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? |
| · Congregation: | We do. |
| · Celebrant: | This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus, our Lord. |
| (Parents’ names), since you share our faith and desire to lead your children in the ways of faith, come to the water… |
THANKSGIVING FOR THE WATER.
The parents, the child and godparents gather near the baptismal font.
| Celebrant: | Praise to you Almighty God and Father, |
| For you have created water to cleanse and give life. | |
| Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Father’s only Son. | |
| You offered yourself on the cross. | |
| And in the blood and water which flowed from your side | |
| And through your death and resurrection, the Church was born. | |
| Praise to you, God the Holy Spirit. | |
| You anointed Christ at His Baptism at the Jordan | |
| So that we might all be baptized into You. |
You have called (name of child) to this cleansing water that he/she might share the Faith of Your Church and have eternal life. BY the mystery of this consecrated water, lead this child to a new life and spiritual birth.
BAPTISM. The priest pours water over the child’s head.
| Celebrant: | (Name of child), I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. |
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL.
OFFERTORY: The parents, child and godparents can bring up the gifts
OUR FATHER. The parents, child and godparents come forward for the Anointing with the Chrism. The godparents bring the baptismal candle at this time.
ANONTING WITH CHRISM.
| Celebrant: | God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the spirit and welcomed you into God’s Holy People. God now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so may you live always as a member of His Body, sharing everlasting life. |
LIGHTING OF THE BAPTISMAL CANDLE.
| Celebrant: | Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of your has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of light. May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in his/her heart. When the Lord comes, may she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
PRAYER FOR PEACE. After the exchange of peace, parents, child and godparents return to their seats.
BLESSING FOR PARENTS. After communion, the celebrant invites the family to come forward for a blessing.
| Celebrant: | God the Father, through His Son, the Virgin Mary’s child has brought joy to all Christian mothers as they see the flame of faith shine on their children. May God bless you, the mother of this child. You now thank God for the gift of your child. May you be one with him/her in thanking God forever in heaven. |
| God is the Giver of life, human and divine. May God bless you, the father of this child. Together with your wife, you will be the first teachers of your child in the ways of faith. May you be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what you say and do in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
FINAL BLESSING.
