Baptism

[Cagrl]

Hello,
My 8 month old’s baptism is in June. I have a 13 year old and It has been 13 years since I baptized her. So it’s been a while and I don’t remember what the etiquette, customs or traditions are. I am wondering what our role as parents is for the baptism and what the role of the godparents’ role is for the baptism.

For example, what items are needed for the baptism? Are we supposed to buy the godparents a thank you gift from us or our son? What items or articles (such as clothing, candles, crucifix, maybe baby shoes etc.) are the godparents/parents supposed to buy the baby for the day of the baptism? What items or articles do we need for the baptism or reception (we are having a very low-key reception at our home)? I mean, do the godparents have to buy certain things and we buy others? If so, what are those things?

I am really lost. I don’t remember anything about baptizing. Can you please let me know what all we need to buy or godparents are supposed to buy? Can someone please explain to me what the customs and traditions are for baptism on the part of the parents and godparents. I mean, I know that the godparent and parents have a very important role AFTER the baptism but what I don’t know is what is required of each party for the baptism.

Thanks in advance.
Blessings
Angelica

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello,
My 8 month old’s baptism is in June. I have a 13 year old and It has been 13 years since I baptized her. So it’s been a while and I don’t remember what the etiquette, customs or traditions are. I am wondering what our role as parents is for the baptism and what the role of the godparents’ role is for the baptism.

For example, what items are needed for the baptism? Are we supposed to buy the godparents a thank you gift from us or our son? What items or articles (such as clothing, candles, crucifix, maybe baby shoes etc.) are the godparents/parents supposed to buy the baby for the day of the baptism? What items or articles do we need for the baptism or reception (we are having a very low-key reception at our home)? I mean, do the godparents have to buy certain things and we buy others? If so, what are those things?

I am really lost. I don’t remember anything about baptizing. Can you please let me know what all we need to buy or godparents are supposed to buy? Can someone please explain to me what the customs and traditions are for baptism on the part of the parents and godparents. I mean, I know that the godparent and parents have a very important role AFTER the baptism but what I don’t know is what is required of each party for the baptism.

Thanks in advance.
Blessings
Angelica

The Baptism class at your parish will cover most of this for you. You can also call and ask you pastor the specific for your parish.

 

[Cagrl]

Oh, okay. Our class is this Friday. Thanks!

 

[Phemie]

Some of the things you mentioned might not be discussed in your preparation class since they involve cultural &/or family traditions rather than Church. Certainly, things like gifts to and from godparents are not part of the discussion in our preparation.

Things like the white garment seem to differ from parish to parish and from culture to culture. We expect the child to have a white garment available since they are brought to the Font in regular colored clothing and are dressed after. We don’t care who provides the garment as long as there is one – some families use gowns that have been handed down through the generations other buy/have made something new for each child.

Some parishes provide a special souvenir ‘bib’ that is used as the garment but the Canadian Rite specifically states that the family should provide the garment rather than the parish - that doesn’t mean the godparents can’t provide it if that’s the tradition in a specific family. The only time the parish provides is when an older child or adult is baptized and the white garment is an alb – they don’t get to keep it.