Baptism questions!

[ghaybyers1]

Hi All!
I’m not sure if the family forum is the correct place to ask this question, but I don’t have much time to figure out the appropriate way to deal with this so I won’t submit it to AAA.

My great-uncle (we’re not directly related, but that’s not really a pertinent part of the story to explain at this time!)is a Catholic Priest and wishes to officiate over the baptism of my adopted brothers’ babies’. (That’s right, 2 brothers, 2 babies, 4 days apart!)
Because he’s a missionary and we juuuust found out about his wish to officiate, the baptisms have been scheduled for… THIS Sunday! (He’s returning to the orphanage he cares for on Monday evening) I was going to submit a question to AAA but I have doubt that it would be answered in time!

So my questions are:

1. Is it appropriate to bring gifts to a baptism? If so, what kind?
2. Is there anything special that my secular family should do (or not do) while at the baptism? They are very excited and supportive of this event and don’t want to do anything that would put a kink in things.
3. Any other general hints/tips?

Thank you so much for any help you could provide! I’ve been praying so hard that one of these babies in particular will be baptized and am so overjoyed right now!

 

[Jennifer_J]

1. Gifts are nice to receive–cards with money, crucifixes (for the wall or the jewelery kind), Catholic bibles or books, a child friendly rosary, picture frame, etc…

catholicchild.com/products.asp?dept=65 has a baptism section for you to look at for ideas…

1. Are the baptisms during a Mass or after a Mass? If during the Mass, you’ll all need to attend the Mass to see the baptism If it’s afterwards, it’s still nice to attend the Mass beforehand. Other than that, the priest should give you any instructions during the ceremony, there’s nothing special you need to do, that I can think of—maybe offer to take pictures (discreetly, of course).

Hope that helps and God bless!

 

[ghaybyers1]

Thank you so much for your swift reply! I’ll be looking on that site shortly… just to confirm though, it’s alright for the gifts from my secular parents to be of a religious nature?

I’ll be giving the girls a Catholic bible each (with commentary)… but I wasn’t sure if something Catholic should be given by someone NOT Catholic?

 

[Gemmaologist]

I’ll be giving the girls a Catholic bible each (with commentary)… but I wasn’t sure if something Catholic should be given by someone NOT Catholic?

I don’t see any reeson why a non-Catholic shouldn’t give a Catholic gift at the baptism.

 

[Jennifer_J]

Sure it’s okay All of my family is not Catholic and they give religious gifts and part of dh’s family is not Catholic and do the same. If they feel weird about it, they could give a nice frame.

God bless,

 

[Feedmysheep]

just to confirm though, it’s alright for the gifts from my secular parents to be of a religious nature?

If your parents are comfortable giving the gift, then it’s fine. If your parents are uncomfortable giving a gift religious in nature, then steer them toward a picture frame, or an outfit.

I’ll be giving the girls a Catholic bible each (with commentary)… but I wasn’t sure if something Catholic should be given by someone NOT Catholic?

Personally, I would fall down in tears of joy if my non-Catholic mother presented one of my children with a Catholic gift.

 

[ghaybyers1]

Thank you so much, everyone!
I’m currently dropping hints and steering them in the direction of good, Catholic gifts…!
My mum actually thought that the “baby’s first rosary” was cute not what I expected to hear come out of her mouth, but hey! I’ll take it!

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

We’ve had 4 children baptized. We’ve received money, baby clothes, a high chair, various baby toys, religious books, rosaries, holy water fonts, etc. I appreciate them all. I certainly don’t feel like ALL the gifts need to be religious (and the more children I have, the fewer religious items we receive - I guess everyone knows we already have those things), but I always enjoy a religious gift. I personally like to give religious children’s books (baby friendly) at baptisms. Mostly because I’m pretty sure the gift won’t get replicated, and also because they can be used very early and help the parent talk about God to their child.