Kid's Baptism

Kids Baptism Page Header

At Our Lady of Dolours Chatswood Parish, we run a 'Kids' Baptism' preparation program for children from  6-12 years of age, twice each year. Please see below for the next program's dates. To be eligible to join the program at least one parent needs to be Catholic. If this is not the case, we still welcome your enquiry and are  happy to discuss this further with you. 

The Preparation Program

Is held over three to four weeks and includes;

  • Two child-parent small group preparation sessions
  • Presentation and anointing at a 9.00am Family Mass
  • A practice in the church before the Baptism Ceremony

The Baptism

Once the Kids' Baptism preparation program is completed children are eligible to be baptised. Baptisms for children in the Kid's Baptism program usually take place during our 9am Family Mass, however they can be arranged at another time.
The details of the dates and times of the next Kid's Baptism program are listed below and on the Enrolment Form.

Next Kids Baptism Dates

Date

 Preparation Step

What Happens 

Sunday 10 March 2024
10:00am

 Kids Baptism
 Session One
Introduction to Baptism. The children learn what it means to belong to the family of Catholics and how God calls each of us by name. We start at 10:00am straight after the 9:00am family Mass in our St. Peter meeting room.
 Sunday 17 March at 9:00am Mass  Presentation and Anointing The children who are preparing for baptism are presented to the parish community and are anointed with sacred oil. This is an important part of the preparation for Baptism.
 Sunday 17 March 2024 10:00am  Kids Baptism
 Session Two
After the presentation and anointing at 9am Mass, the children learn about the Symbols of Baptism and what will happen at the baptism ceremony. We start at 10:00am straight after the 9:00am family Mass in our St. Peter meeting room.
Saturday 23 March at 4:00pm Kids Baptism Session Three - Practise The children and their parents (godparents are also welcome), attend a special session in the church to go through what will happen in the baptism ceremony with a priest and reflect on what their baptism means for their lives with the program leader.

Sunday 7 April at 9:00am Mass

Baptisms

The children who have attended the preparation sessions are baptised at a 9:00am Family Mass.
Note: A limit of the number of children who can be baptised
in the same Mass. If there are several children,
the Baptisms will be spread over several weeks.

Enrolment

To enrol your child for Kids' Baptism, please complete the enrolment form below and return it to the parish office along with a copy of your child's birth certificate, by the due date noted on the form. Once it is received, someone from the parish office will contact you to confirm the program details.

Kids Baptism Enrolment Form

During and after the preparation program, families are encouraged to attend our 9:00am Family Mass so the children can take part in the activities for children at our child-friendly Mass. In this way, they continue to

  • learn about Jesus
  • grow in their faith
  • develop the habit of coming to church
  • mix and make friends with their Catholic peers

Baptism is the first step of initiation into the Catholic Church. After Baptism all children 8 years or older will be invited to join the 
Children's Sacramental Preparation Program for the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Further Information

For further information regarding Kids' Baptism, please download the Kids' Baptism Brochure.

  Kids Baptism Brochure

If you would like to discuss anything about Kid's Baptism, please contact:

Contact Phone Email
Angela Hague- Children's Ministry Co-Ordinator (02) 9410 9033 angela.hague@bbcatholic.org.au
Mona Saouma - Children's Ministry Assistant (02) 9410 9024  mona.saouma@bbcatholic.org.au