Baptizing children question

[melissab1]

Hi, I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday (protestant convert) and I have a question about bringing my children into the Church via baptism.

My husband goes to an Anglican church ( as did I until recently) but he is happy for the children to be baptised Catholic (they were all dedicated at birth but the evangelical church we belonged to at the time did not practice infant baptisim)

I imagine (although I don’t know) that my 2yr old and 5yr twins can just be baptised as normal, but is it the same for my 8 1/2 yr old? He has been raised Christian but will need instruction in the Catholic faith.

Also, I know no one in the Catholic Church (the lady being my sponsor on Saturday was appointed to me by the priest) so how would that work without knowing anyone to be Godparents?

I will obviously discuss this with my parish Priest, but I just wondered if I could get a heads up on what to expect

mel x

 

[G_S]

Welcome! May the Lord’s richest blessings be yours! Children who have reached the age of reason – usually considered to be seven years of age – or, as is also rendered, “children of a catechetical age” – are to go through the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) prior to baptism or full communion in the Catholic Church. This being said, I am sure the pastor of the parish where you are entering the Church can give a more definitive answer. Since a precise age is not stated, there could be some local policy or leeway in regard to age. It is also very likely that the bishop has a policy for the entire diocese that the pastors of parishes would follow. A wonderful young family! Your husband sounds like a wonderful man.

 

[1ke]

Hi, I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday (protestant convert) and I have a question about bringing my children into the Church via baptism.

My husband goes to an Anglican church ( as did I until recently) but he is happy for the children to be baptised Catholic (they were all dedicated at birth but the evangelical church we belonged to at the time did not practice infant baptisim)

I imagine (although I don’t know) that my 2yr old and 5yr twins can just be baptised as normal, but is it the same for my 8 1/2 yr old? He has been raised Christian but will need instruction in the Catholic faith.

Also, I know no one in the Catholic Church (the lady being my sponsor on Saturday was appointed to me by the priest) so how would that work without knowing anyone to be Godparents?

I will obviously discuss this with my parish Priest, but I just wondered if I could get a heads up on what to expect

mel x

Yes, your two younger children can be baptized following the normal infant baptism process at your parish.

Your 8.5 year old is no longer considered an infant. He/she would receive instruction and then should receive all three sacraments of initiation like other catechumens. How your parish handles that will depend on how they have their religious education classes organized, manpower, etc.

As to Godparents, your pastor can certainly help facilitate Godparents for your children. You only need one, actually.

 

[1ke]

are to go through the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children)

Just a nit-- there is no such thing as RCIC. The only Rite is RCIA.

**Catechesis **can and should be adapted for children.

The rites themselves are not adapted, they are the same for everyone.

 

[FrDavid96]

Hi, I’m being received into the Catholic Church on Saturday (protestant convert) and I have a question about bringing my children into the Church via baptism.

My husband goes to an Anglican church ( as did I until recently) but he is happy for the children to be baptised Catholic (they were all dedicated at birth but the evangelical church we belonged to at the time did not practice infant baptisim)

I imagine (although I don’t know) that my 2yr old and 5yr twins can just be baptised as normal, but is it the same for my 8 1/2 yr old? He has been raised Christian but will need instruction in the Catholic faith.

Also, I know no one in the Catholic Church (the lady being my sponsor on Saturday was appointed to me by the priest) so how would that work without knowing anyone to be Godparents?

I will obviously discuss this with my parish Priest, but I just wondered if I could get a heads up on what to expect

mel x

Yes, the 2 and 5 year old would be baptized as infants (same as if they were 2 months old).

The 8 year old is technically old enough that the normative way would be that he goes through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Of course, some adjustments need to be made in that he would not really be “comfortable” (indeed sometimes inappropriate) in a class with adults. He follows the same ritual, but not necessarily attending the same classes (naturally, he wouldn’t be there for discussions on natural family planning).
He is “close enough” that the pastor might just baptize him as an infant, but that’s just “might.”

At this point, because it’s too late for him to be in the RCIA class of 2015, he would wait until Easter 2016. That might be too long to wait, so the pastor does have some discretion. It’s not an absolute that all adults (and he’s classified as an adult for purposes of Initiation) may only be baptized at the Easter Vigil, to the exclusion of other days. Again, the pastor has some discretion.

 

[pianistclare]

True enough, there is no RCIC or OCIC, but parishes and priests around here still call the classes by that designation simply to distinguish in the parish the separate classes for young people as opposed to adults.
I’m sure your parish has something in place, regardless of how they refer to it. Some years we have no one, but other years there are many children who fall into this category, just as your 8 yr old does.
With more immigrants coming back to the church, we find that there are many people who have relocated so often, that the religious ed has fallen by the wayside, and when they become settled, they seek to get their sacramental lives in order.
Our priests insist that 8 yr olds go through separate instruction. In the next couple of weeks, go see the pastor and inquire.
Welcome home!

 

[melissab1]

Thank you everyone

mel x