This page is for parents with new babies, or young children for whom they seek Baptism. If you are a older – an adult of any age, seeking to join the church – then have a look at the page on becoming a Catholic.
CONGRATULATIONS! If you are reading this, it is likely you are about to have a baby, or have just brought a new child into the world. We are here to help you and your child to enjoy being part of a wonderful network of families, including many other new parents, especially through the Parent and Toddler group, and our wonderful primary school. We are here to support you and your child in any way that we can, all centred in the love of Jesus Christ.
Your child is welcome to be Baptised here if at least one parent (or adoptive parent) is a Catholic. You should also live in the parish, or have a link to our church (perhaps if you were brought up here). And that’s it. They are the only criteria. So if there is any circumstance that worries you, or where you think we might not baptise your child, please do not be anxious. Simply get in touch, have a chat with Fr Dominic, and we will be there for you.
At St Edward’s we help you prepare for Baptism by bringing you together with some other couples for an evening. The people who run the evening are parents themselves, and they will answer any questions you have. After the preparation evening we’ll fix a date with you, probably on a Saturday, for the Baptism ceremony. It will be a date that suits you, and your family.
You’ll make a promise at Baptism to bring your child up in the Catholic faith. That is a serious promise, and we will do all we can to provide every possible help for you to do that. At the Sunday 9.30am Mass there is a children’s liturgy, for those aged about 4-8. That leads into First Holy Communion. St Peter’s school will help your child grow in faith, as will you, especially by bringing them if you can bring them to Mass. We hope our church is a very welcoming place for children. As your child is perhaps yet to be born, or just a few days, weeks, or months old, it may be a bit early to start thinking about them becoming a teenager! But as you’ll see on the page with opportunities for children, teenagers and young adults we hope we can offer them all sorts of activities throughout their young lives, helping them in faith, service and friendship.
For the Baptism, you’ll also need Godparents – at least one, and they need to be a baptised, confirmed and practicing Catholic, over the age of 18. This will all be talked through at the preparation evening, where hopefully any questions that you have will be answered.
Once again, congratulations. Call or email the parish office, and we look forward to welcoming your child into the community, and with the wonderful grace of Baptism.