Baptisms and COVID

[stormer83]

Hi everyone,

What has been everyone’s experience when it comes to baptisms during the pandemic? We hoped to baptize our little one back in April, but baptisms were suspended then. So we were really happy to learn last month they would resume in our parish in July and got everything arranged for this Saturday.

However, we got a message today informing us that there would be five other families getting baptisms at the same time. Not only did we not know before this was going to be the case, this seems extremely irresponsible especially given the fact the pandemic is getting exponentially worse in our area.

Unfortunately we have decided to cancel. Has this happened to anyone else? Are there any other options we may not know about?

Thanks!

 

[1ke]

In can’t speak to baptism but tonight we are confirming 6.

We will have spacing between pews just like at Sunday mass. We will practice social distancing and use masks. Father will apply the chrism with a cotton swab.

So, i don’t think it’s a problem to have other families if they keep their distance and the babies are baptized one by one.

So I’d ask more questions before canceling.

 

[ZemD]

Can you ask for the baptism to be performed following a normal weekend mass?

My son was baptized the week before my state “locked down” and all public masses were cancelled. Our priest agreed to do the baptism following a Saturday mass so our families exposure to the public was limited.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

N.B. If an unbaptized person is in danger of death, anyone - man, woman or even child - can take natural water, and while pouring the water on the forehead say: “N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

"In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize58 , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.59

Source: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm

 

[1cthlctrth]

Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it. (source: Canon 867.1)

If the ordinary minister is absent or impeded, a catechist or some other person deputed to this office by the local Ordinary, may lawfully confer baptism; indeed, in a case of necessity, any person who has the requisite intention may do so. Pastors of souls, especially parish priests, are to be diligent in ensuring that Christ’s faithful are taught the correct way to baptize. (source: Canon 861.2)

Margaret Ann’s comment above is also useful.

 

[Usige]

While Margaret_Ann and 1cthlctrth state related teaching, there is nothing in the current situation that invokes the need for the alternate path. A member of the clergy is available (and apparently willing) to do the baptism so it is illicit for the parents to baptize the child.

 

[Phemie]

We had no requests for Baptism earlier in the pandemic but we’ve had 3 or 4 in the last 6 weeks or so. They have been celebrated within Mass on a weekday when we don’t usually have Mass, with a limited number of people present. Father wears a mask and face shield and wears gloves to do the anointing.

 

[puer.dei]

However, we got a message today informing us that there would be five other families getting baptisms at the same time. Not only did we not know before this was going to be the case, this seems extremely irresponsible especially given the fact the pandemic is getting exponentially worse in our area.

Unfortunately we have decided to cancel. Has this happened to anyone else? Are there any other options we may not know about?

What precautions are they taking to safely distance the families?

 

[tuffsmurf]

The baptisms should never have been cancelled. If need be, the baptism can take place with only the priest, parents and child present.

 

[pnewton]

I am afraid that many places have gone from lockdown to carelessness, which is why there is this extremely dangerous outbreak in COVID. Even stores have reduced hours, concentrating shoppers. Common sense should have prevailed in going from being closed to baptisms straight to multiple baptisms. Perhaps though the space is large enough to accommodate them safely? Even then, why in the heck couldn’t the times be staggered, like every 15 minutes, with everyone leaving right after, and no one coming in until the previous group is gone.