“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38
We are delighted that you are considering having your child baptised. This is a sacred moment in your child’s life and marks the beginning of their friendship with Christ through the life of His Church. This is also an opportunity for you to thank God for the gift of your child and to renew your own commitment to the practice of your faith.
On the day of a child’s baptism, they are plunged into the death and resurrection of Christ. They are drenched in His divine life of love and mercy. From that moment onwards, the seed of this relationship with Christ is to be nurtured by their parents who are called to be “the first and best teachers of the faith by what they say and do.”
As parents, your child’s baptism is an opportunity for you to reflect on your own friendship with Christ and the ways in which it might grow stronger within the parish family.
Belonging to the parish family
All the members of our parish family are valued and known to us. At the same time, they all willingly contribute weekly to the family household, the parish. Therefore, we are asking you to:
Please register so that we know that you are a member of the parish family. Even if you have registered in the past, we ask you to do so again in order that we can ensure that our parish database is up to date.
Please Register your details on the Parish Database
If possible, please set up a standing in order to contribute to the running costs, work, and mission of the parish family. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for your support of our parish.
If you are a tax payer please use the Cathedral Gift Aid scheme to increase the value of your gift without any cost to you.
If you have any queries or need any help registering or setting up a standing order please contact the parish Gift Aid organiser, Bob Fox at wansteadfinancegiftaid@brcdt.org
Preparing for your child’s baptism
To help parents reflect on the meaning of baptism and the celebration of a baptism, we require parents to attend two sessions which will allow you to reflect on the meaning of baptism and provide a guide to the celebration of a baptism.
It is important that the parents of the child attend both sessions in order that they have a clear idea of the commitment that they will make on behalf of their child. If you are a single parent we invite you to attend.
If possible, it would be helpful if parents could arrange child care while they attend these sessions. This will give you and those attending a bit of time and space to reflect on the sessions.
Session 1 and Session 2 will take place in the Parish Centre.
The dates for forthcoming Baptism sessions are TBC.
Once you have completed Step 2 above, please book on to these sessions by contacting the parish office.
Only when parents have completed all three “steps” and have attended both sessions, can they contact the parish office to arrange a date for their child’s baptism.
Baptisms take place on a Saturday morning at 10.45 a.m. in the church.
Restrictions during the Covid pandemic showed that baptisms with small numbers of people proved to be intimate, prayerful and more respectful.
Parents who have enjoyed such baptisms comment on how this experience is spiritually more meaningful and less stressful in terms of organisation.
Many parents are now deciding to have godparents and immediate family at the Church for the baptism of their child, and then inviting other guests to join them for any celebration afterwards.
We encourage parents to think seriously about those they will invite to this sacred moment in their child’s life.
February 2024
| Session 1: What is Baptism? | Saturday 3rd February 9.30 -10.30 am |
| Session 2: What happens at a Baptism? | Saturday 10th February 9.30 -10.30 am |
March 2024
| Session 1: What is Baptism? | Saturday 2nd March 9.30 -10.30 am |
| Session 2: What happens at a Baptism? | Saturday 9th March 9.30 -10.30 am |
In December 1917, at the invitation of Fr O’Grady, the Sisters of Mercy, opened their convent in Cambridge Park, the stables being converted into a temporary Church.
Later, the foundation stone of Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead was blessed by Arthur Doubleday, the then Bishop of Brentwood, in July 1927.
The Church has been sustained by the people of God here in Wanstead for 100 years. Long may the faith continue to grow and thrive here.
Photos used are copyright and property of Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead and Greg Gumbrell
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