We welcome your enquiry and look forward to understanding more about you and your child and the
events which have led to this request to become a Catholic. 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 Catholic Church is a world-wide family of believers who follow the ways and teachings of Jesus
Christ. Catholics share a distinct way of life characterized by certain beliefs, values and patterns of
worship. The Catholic Church is not just a ‘what’ (a religion) but a ‘who’ (a people, a community).
Becoming a Catholic is a serious commitment and entails certain obligations. It is not simply a
‘membership badge’, but a commitment to a community and a way of living.
Step one:
Become acquainted with our parish community (if not already). One of the best ways to do
this is to start coming to the Sunday Mass with your child. At the Sunday morning ‘Family Mass’
(9:00am at St Cecilia’s and 9:30am at St Kieran’s) Children’s Liturgy is celebrated with some special
activities for the children to teach them about Jesus and to involve them in the parish community.
Encourage your child to join in with the other children as invited by the priest, you can also join them
at the Children’s Liturgy.
Step two:
If you have been coming to church for a while and your child is still keen to be baptised you
can contact the Family and Sacramental Coordinator and submit a ‘Baptism Enrolment’ form (available
from the parish office, Church foyer or parish website)
Step three:
After meeting with the priest or talking with the Sacramental Coordinator, if Baptism is
considered an appropriate step, we will invite you and your child to attend our Baptism preparation
sessions for young children who are preparing to be baptised.
Step four:
During the preparation sessions we encourage you to continue to bring your child to Mass
and to participate in Children’s Liturgy. In this way they continue to learn about Jesus and to develop
the habit of coming to Church and mixing with their Catholic peers.
Homework for the Parents
Before your child comes to the first Baptism session, we ask that you chat with them about their
name… how did you choose their name? Is there a story behind it? Are they named after someone?
Do you know what their name means?
Godparent/s
The child to be baptised must have at least one godparent who is a fully initiated, practising Catholic
over the age of 16. The godparent/s stand beside the parents during the ceremony. Their role is to
support the parents in raising their child in the Catholic faith. They are called to take a special interest
in their godchild’s personal and spiritual development.
What’s happened and what’s next
The children are Catholics now! Like the other Catholic children, they continue to learn about Jesus
and pray at Mass, go to Children’s Liturgy of the Word and join in Catholic Scripture classes if they
attend State Schools.
The children continue in the Children’s Sacramental Program and receive the Sacraments of
Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Communion. Further information & enrolment details are
available on the parish website and in the bulletin during the enrolment period.
Parents teach and model the Catholic faith
A child being baptised will need support to grow into this commitment and way of life. Usually this
support comes from a child’s Catholic parent/s who are raising their child to be Catholic.
The baptism ceremony is a special family time. It is also special for our parish community, because
baptism is the time when the Christian community welcomes a new member into its midst.
Please contact Janette Davidson at sacraments@northharbourcatholic.org,au or on 0408 866 521 if
you have any questions/need clarification.