Baptismal clothing for RCIA catechumen on Easter vigil

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In parishes that have Baptismal Full Immersion pools is there an option by the one being actually baptized opting Infusion rather than Full Immersion? Or is it compulsory to go through Full Immersion? I think too where Infants are involved the parents themselves should have a say guarding health reasons for infants.

And this brings to mind how sanitary are these baptismal Church pools kept? Like any backyard pool there should be filters and chemical Ph level and chlorine additives.
The Church being a public place would have to follow the same directives as any public city pool. Most Baptismal Pools are heated also for comfort during Immersion. Add heat to make the water warm and the bacteria level also increases.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
We do the same. Also, baptize the women first which gives them a bit more time. The celebrant, who is in the pool to do the baptisms is last out. The deacon and the other priests do the sprinkling. It comes out about right.
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Just a note, the Catholic Church does not “sprinkle” - baptism is by immersion or by pouring.
 
The (permanent at least) baptismal pools are chlorinated. At least in my parish the water is usually only heated on weekends where baptisms are scheduled.

There is typically a fountain with a small basin that feeds into the main pool. The fountain acts to aerate the water and the basin is what is usually used for infant baptisms since it is about the size of a baby bathtub. For babies is is usual that the child is seated in the tub and water is scooped out of the basin and poured over the child’s head/forehead.

I do not know if parents are given the option for infusion. My guess is that it is not an option “offered”; if allowed the parents would probably have to know to ask.
 
Castello said:
Just a note, the Catholic Church does not “sprinkle” - baptism is by immersion or by pouring.
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Guess I wasn’t clear. I was referring to the renewal of the Baptismal promises by the congregation and the subsequent sprinkling of them.
 
My parish only immerses at Easter Vigil. They fill the pool with hot water in the morning and by evening it is just right. Sometimes it is kept up during the whole season and sometimes not. I have no doubt that anyone who did not want to be immersed would be permitted to be poured on.
 
SMHW said:
The (permanent at least) baptismal pools are chlorinated. At least in my parish the water is usually only heated on weekends where baptisms are scheduled.

There is typically a fountain with a small basin that feeds into the main pool. The fountain acts to aerate the water and the basin is what is usually used for infant baptisms since it is about the size of a baby bathtub. For babies is is usual that the child is seated in the tub and water is scooped out of the basin and poured over the child’s head/forehead.

I do not know if parents are given the option for infusion. My guess is that it is not an option “offered”; if allowed the parents would probably have to know to ask.
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Well in the case of infants unless a priest can come up with an awfully good reason why baptismal infusion is not offered as an option particularly if the mother has legitimate concerns or otherwise as to the safety of baby no matter how someone else deems in their mind as the mother’s concerns being irrelevant. IMHO I don’t see why there’s a problem. Both Infusion and Full Immersion are supposingly accepted valid norms, comparatively as to the option of the sacramental reception of Holy Communion under COTT or CITH.
 
At my aunt’s parish, one year they used an inflatable pool. Easter Sunday morning it sprang a leak and the front folded down, spilling a waterfall down the sanctuary steps! As the story goes, the local Baptists came in for a consultation and told them how it ought to be done next time 😉
 
SMHW said:
At my parish they wear a bathing suit and sandals. They are provided with a brown robe to wear over their suits. After they are baptized they change into their own light colored clothing and white albs.
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This reminds me of what my mom told my sister-in-law to try to convince her to get baptized and become Catholic.

“It’s not a big deal at all. You just get up there in a cute bikini and step into the pool and get dunked.”

Yes, that’s just what they need at Easter Vigil to wake the men up my. My young blond SIL with a perfect hourglass figure up there in a bikini. :rolleyes:
 
SMHW said:
At my parish we usually schedule the sprinkling rite for when the newly baptized are getting dressed. And the choir sings lots of “water” songs. 😃
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And no doubt at least one of them is “Rain Down” and none of them are “Asperges Me”.
 
Update:

I spoke to our pastor, and he said we do full immersion. We are to wear long light brown robes with whatever we want under it, so long as we are kept modest while wet. I will talk to my fellow catechumen and try to find someone to sew similar robes for everybody.
 
yellow8yellowM said:
Update:

I spoke to our pastor, and he said we do full immersion. We are to wear long light brown robes with whatever we want under it, so long as we are kept modest while wet. I will talk to my fellow catechumen and try to find someone to sew similar robes for everybody.
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We have a supply of both brown and white robes which we reuse each year. Check if your church does before you make robes. 😉
 
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