“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.
The practise of your Faith
At a baptism, the priest or deacon says these words to the parents:
PRIEST/DEACON: You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?
PARENTS: We do.
These words indicate that the parents have freely asked to have their child baptised and that they are accepting “the responsibility of training him or her in the practice of the faith.” Of course, parents can only train their child in the practice of the faith if they are meeting Christ weekly at Sunday Mass themselves. It is at Sunday Mass that Christ speaks to us as friends through his living word, the Sacred Scriptures, and feeds us with his own divine life in Holy Communion.
If you are practising your faith, then this is a grace-filled moment to deepen your friendship with Christ through his Church. The blessing of your child is also a moment of renewal for your own faith as you recognise the goodness of God and his plan for your family.
If you are not practising your faith, then Christ is inviting you to restore your relationship with him and re-establish the bonds of friendship with Him. The baptism of your child is also an opportunity for you to renew your own baptismal promises by joining the parish family at Sunday Mass. Find out more
However, if you have no desire or intention to practice your faith, then you must consider with what honesty and integrity you can answer “We do” on behalf of your child on the day of their baptism.
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
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
marks the beginning of a child’s ongoing relationship with Christ and His Church. Parents have a care for the physical and mental well-being of their children. In the same way, they are responsible for their child’s spiritual growth and religious development. As many parents attended antenatal appointments and classes before the physical birth of their child, so parents are required to attend the following formation before their child’s spiritual birth in baptism:
1st Formation Session: Saturday 9.00 – 10.00 a.m. Introduction led by Fr Martin
followed by Sunday 9.30 a.m. Mass: Blessing of parents seeking baptism for their children.
2nd Formation Session: Thursday 8.00 – 9.00 p.m. Who is Jesus? led by Baptism formation guides
Thursday 3rd Formation Session 8.00 – 9.00 p.m. The Holy Eucharist led by Baptism formation guides
Saturday 4th Formation Session 9.00- 10.00 a.m. A Guide to baptism which will take place in the Church led by Fr Martin
followed by Sunday 11.30 a.m. Mass: Blessing of parents who have decided to have their children baptized
This formation (four sessions and Masses of blessing) will run three times throughout the school year.
Parents must attend all formation sessions before arranging a date with the parish office for the celebration of their child’s baptism.
If any session(s) is missed, parents will have to attend that session(s) during a later formation.
If you wish to have your child baptised, please phone the parish office and register for the next formation sessions.
You will be asked to confirm that, at least, one parent is a baptised Catholic and to provide your address.
You will be provided with the dates for the formation sessions.
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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