BAPTISM questions?

[Megan7]

I have a friend that asked the following, and I was not able
to answer She is Catholic, but has not been very active…
I am not sure of the following…
First, are Baptism records online, like if she got baptised in Oregon, and later she wanted to get confirmed in NYC,
Would the Priest in the NYC Parish be able to look for her
baptism records online? (if she lost her certificate)
Second, if she was baptized in a regular NO Mass but wanted
to get Baptized again in a Tridentine Mass, is that allowed
within the Church?

Thank you,
Peace!

 

[Trishie]

Hi, Megan,

She can contact the church where she was baptised for a copy of her baptism records.

Once baptised, she doesn’t need to be baptised again. She has been baptised as a child of God already.
She may not have been baptised at Mass in any case, but in a Baptism service, as most people have been.

God bless you and your friend.

 

[Megan7]

Hi Trishie,

Thank you for your prompt response
Since I have not been to a Baptism in a long time,
I did not think of that
I felt a bid odd as I blanked for an answer …
Are records online?

By the way, along the same lines, I have heard that
children that go to a Tridentine Latin traditional Mass, when
preparing for their 1st Holy Communion, go through
different classes than the children going to a NO Church & or Mass.
My question is, does this mean that they should learn Latin
to be able to have their 1st Holy Communion
in a EF traditional Latin Mass?
Also, what is the average age for your 1st Holy Communion?
And how many years of classes should they take prior
to their 1st Holy Communion?
Thank you for your help!
May God Bless you as well!
Peace!
Megan

Hi, Megan,

She can contact the church where she was baptised for a copy of her baptism records.

Once baptised, she doesn’t need to be baptised again. She has been baptised as a child of God already.
She may not have been baptised at Mass in any case, but in a Baptism service, as most people have been.

God bless you and your friend.

 

[LilyM]

Hi Trishie,

Thank you for your prompt response
Since I have not been to a Baptism in a long time,
I did not think of that
I felt a bid odd as I blanked for an answer …
Are records online?

By the way, along the same lines, I have heard that
children that go to a Tridentine Latin traditional Mass, when
preparing for their 1st Holy Communion, go through
different classes than the children going to a NO Church & or Mass.
My question is, does this mean that they should learn Latin
to be able to have their 1st Holy Communion
in a EF traditional Latin Mass?
Also, what is the average age for your 1st Holy Communion?
And how many years of classes should they take prior
to their 1st Holy Communion?
Thank you for your help!
May God Bless you as well!
Peace!
Megan

I don’t think most records are online.

Learning Latin is not, to my understanding, a *required *part of preparation for Holy Communion, not in the EF or OF.

Children need to be instructed about the nature of the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the liturgy and nature of the Mass. The EF Mass being somewhat different in form to the OF, this would mean the preparation may be different.

But in any case children need not learn the Latin as far as I am aware. In fact most receive children’s Missals that give an English translation of the EF so that they can understand without having to know the Latin.

I’d guess it varies from place to place how long a preparation time is required, but I don’t think it’s ever a matter of years, more likely months.

 

[Joannm]

I received my First Communion in 1961, before the reforms, and we did not learn any Latin. Since the requirements for receiving the Sacraments are set by the Bishop of the diocese and not by the parish, then no matter what form of Mass you attend it is important to follow the guidelines of the Bishop and what is outlined in the General Directory for Catechesis. The parishes do have some freedom as to what texts they use and whether the child has to go to CCD or can be homeschooled or taught in small groups with a particular bent toward the EF, but the length of preparation, for the most part, is set by the diocese. In general, I would think the preparation for First Communion in either form should be very similar given the age group and the guidelines. There is no difference in the understanding of the Eucharist only in the form of Mass they will be receiving at.

 

[SourGrape]

Having worked in the records center for one of the largest Catholic diocese in this country, I can tell you that their records were not online but in the process of being so. The Vice Chancellor there wants to go “paperless” within this decade or, at least, by the next one. It’s a lot of work!

 

[Joannm]

Having worked in the records center for one of the largest Catholic diocese in this country, I can tell you that their records were not online but in the process of being so. The Vice Chancellor there wants to go “paperless” within this decade or, at least, by the next one. It’s a lot of work!

I would say that even if they were to be entered electronically they should not be available to the public, that is to anyone who wants to look that information up. I know I would not want people looking up my sacramental information.

 

[Megan7]

I would say that even if they were to be entered electronically they should not be available to the public, that is to anyone who wants to look that information up. I know I would not want people looking up my sacramental information.

Thank you for your answers!

Hi Joannm,

I agree with you! I do not think it is safe to have that type of information online. I have been to too many Churches where
teenagers are working in the office, people come & go, and everything is left opened …So, its a question of privacy.
I think that if there is always a time requirement for the different Sacraments, there is plenty of time to obtain those records.
Now, I am sure if you happen to have been Baptized in France,
and then Confirmed in Oklahoma, and now you want to get married in Australia, it might slow things down a bit. However,
since you’re supposed to wait to get married 6 months or
whatever time frame the Parish requires, then the records can be obtained via Mail, I guess…
In any case I agree with you!

The thing about the 1st Holy Communions, is that I have noticed
when I have attended one, through the years that children seem younger & younger. And they all seem to be the same age, it
does not seem like you have a 7 year old, along with 9 & 10 year olds…(Which would indicate that parents have them participate when they are actually ready, instead when everyone else is doing it )
I was wondering if there was an actual age limit, because I feel that pretty soon I will see 5 year olds
Thank you!
Peace!

 

[Chatter163]

Thank you for your answers!

The thing about the 1st Holy Communions, is that I have noticed when I have attended one, through the years that children seem younger & younger.

Uh-oh, you know what that means?..

 

[Phemie]

I do not think it is safe to have that type of information online. I have been to too many Churches where
teenagers are working in the office, people come & go, and everything is left opened …So, its a question of privacy.

Not to mention that without the parish seal the document isn’t supposed to be considered valid. Anyone can design and print off a certificate with the information, it’s the seal that guarantees that it’s the genuine article.

I think that if there is always a time requirement for the different Sacraments, there is plenty of time to obtain those records.
Now, I am sure if you happen to have been Baptized in France,
and then Confirmed in Oklahoma, and now you want to get married in Australia, it might slow things down a bit.

It shouldn’t if the parish in Oklahoma did its job. It should have sent the confirmation notice to the parish in France so that it could be entered in the baptismal record. Then the certificate of baptism includes the confirmation info.

The thing about the 1st Holy Communions, is that I have noticed
when I have attended one, through the years that children seem younger & younger. And they all seem to be the same age, it
does not seem like you have a 7 year old, along with 9 & 10 year olds…(Which would indicate that parents have them participate when they are actually ready, instead when everyone else is doing it )
I was wondering if there was an actual age limit, because I feel that pretty soon I will see 5 year olds
Thank you!
Peace!
The requirement is that the child know what, or rather, whom he is receiving and be able to do so in a reverent manner. Some 5 year olds can do that, some adults can’t. Usually it’s around the age of 7, or grade 2. And yes, usually the kids make their first Communion with their classmates, particularly if they go to Catholic schools or attend the CCD program, so they are pretty much all the same age.

 

[Cluny]

Second, if she was baptized in a regular NO Mass but wanted
to get Baptized again in a Tridentine Mass, is that allowed
within the Church?

No.

And for that matter, neither the “Novus Ordo Church” or “Tridentine Mass Church” are separate sui juris churches, as the various Eastern Catholic Churches are.