Baptism
‘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 all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’-Matthew 28:19-20
Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation and gateway into the sacramental life of the Church. Through baptism we are washed in the waters of rebirth and incorporated into the community faith, being offered a foretaste of the promises of eternal life.
Infant Baptisms (those under 7 years of age) generally take place within Star of the Sea Parish over the weekend Masses or other times via appointment. For the baptism of children over 7 years of age please refer to the ‘Become a Catholic’ page.
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Baptism Preparation Class
At least one parent of the infant to be baptised is required to attend our baptism information evening which is held on the second Tuesday of each month from 7-8pm in the Gathering Space of St Joseph’s Church, (169 Kepler St, Warrnambool).
To register for the information evening please complete the enquiry form below or contact the parish office.
If you are unable to make the information evening for any reason, please contact the parish office.
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Permission for Baptism
If you live outside the parish boundaries of Star of the Sea Parish, written permission should be sought from your local Parish Priest before the baptism can take place.
Please contact the Parish Office if you have any difficulties in acquiring written permissions.
To book for the preparation class or to enquire about a baptism please fill out this online form or contact the Parish Office.
Candles and Stoles
A small, decorated candle and a baptismal stole are necessary items for the baptismal ceremony. These items will be provided by the Parish on the day. If you would like to bring you own candle, please let the Office know.
Handmade by Fiona is a boutique company operating out of Ballarat which produces custom-made candles for baptisms if parents wanted a candle for their infant.
Donation
Whilst there is no charge for the sacrament of Baptism, a suggested offering of $60 is requested to assist with parish costs associated with providing the sacrament. There is a further suggested donation of $10 if families would like to use a candle purchased from the parish.
Godparents
A Godparent is a ‘sponsor’, who is chosen to support your child in fulfilling the commitments made on their behalf at baptism and to help nurture and support their Catholic faith. Therefore it is advantageous for them to be part of the faith community that your child is joining, meaning that at least one Godparent is a fully initiated Catholic.
Godparents are to be over 16 years of age and any Godparent who is not of the Catholic faith should be baptised into a Christian denomination and is usually referred to as a witness. Baptised Infants require at least one Godparent, two is the usual and preferable number.
Your Important Example
‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ -Mt 19:14.
Parents and Godparents are essential persons in a child’s faith development. It is important for your child’s faith development that you too are fostering your own relationship with God through regular participation of the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist.
Your practical example is what will inspire confidence in your children that they can find support in God and the community of faith. If you are not connected with the faith community at Mass on a regular basis, a baptism might be a good opportunity to reflect your own relationship with God. Our Parish community welcomes you with open arms.
