Baptism is a sacrament that marks the initiation of a person into the Christian faith and the Catholic Church. It is typically performed by pouring water on the person’s head. This sacrament cleanses the individual from original sin, imparts divine grace and unites them with Christ and the Church community. It can be administered to people of all ages and is considered the first step in a lifelong journey of faith and spiritual growth.
Infants are baptised every Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm in Ashbourne Church. This happens with the exception of Holy Saturday and Easter Saturday when the parish celebration of baptism take place during the Easter Vigil, and the 11am and 12.30pm Sunday Masses of the Easter Octave.
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:26-27
Infant Baptism Preparation Guidelines
Parents should request the sacrament of baptism for their child after attending Sunday Mass with the faith community. After the Mass parents should present themselves and their child to one of the priests of the parish. On making the verbal request for the sacrament the priest from our parish will give you the Baptism Request Form. Once read, filled in and signed the Baptismal Request Form is returned to the Parish Office in Ashbourne Church grounds and the date for the Baptism is arranged.
A few days before the Baptism, staff in the Parish Office will ring the parents to check that all is in order for the following Saturday. An email is sent with ceremony details and practical tips for beginning the parental journey of passing on faith to the newly baptised child.
On the day of baptism ten minutes before the liturgy begins the parents are asked to be seated in the front pew with their child and any siblings. Immediately behind them in the second seat both godparents sit. The godparents should have the child’s white shawl and baptismal candle. All other guests sit in the pews behind the godparent’s conscious to sit in the top half of the church and to leave space at the other end of the pew for another baptism family. Up to four baptisms take place at each ceremony.
On the Saturday afternoon just before the ceremony begins the priest celebrating the sacrament will introduce himself to the families. Parents are asked to be as fully present as they can to the vows they are about to make and to join in the prayers offered.
During the rite of baptism, the parents and godparents will gather at the baptismal font. The parents are asked to jointly hold the child for the pouring of the Holy Water and calling down of the Blessed Trinity. After this the child is anointed with the oil of chrism, the shawl wrapped on the child and the baptismal candle lit.
After the final blessing of the ceremony there will be time for photographs with the priest. Parents will be given their child’s baptismal certificate before they leave the church and a prayer of blessing of the child is given as a gift to the family.
If any parents have any questions or queries about the celebration of Baptism the parish is glad to answer them. Please ring the Parish Office during working hours or talk to one of the priests after any Mass.
Annual Celebration of Baptism
Every January for the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord the parish pastoral assembly invites all those baptised during the previous year to come together for a celebration of this great sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith.
Highlighting Baptism at Easter
Easter has always been a celebration of the newness of life offered in Baptism. During the fifty days of the Easter season holy water is left in the baptismal font in Ashbourne Church. Both the new Paschal Candle and the baptismal font in Ashbourne Church are decorated. Signs are also placed beside the holy water fonts in the entrance to our churches to re-enforce awareness of baptism.
During the annual Easter Octave from Holy Saturday to the Second Sunday of Easter baptisms take place as part of our communal celebration of Mass of the Lord’s resurrection. Baptism is a celebration of new life in Christ and baptisms within the Eucharistic setting bring this message to the whole community in a powerful way.
