Infant Baptism
The Roman Catholic Church considers infant baptism so important that parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks and, if the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptised without any delay.” The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is an explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole ‘households’ received baptism, infants may also have been baptised”. Infant baptism is seen as showing very clearly that salvation is an unmerited favour from God, not the fruit of human effort. Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called.
Important Roles
The Parents:
The parents ask for the baptism of the child. In doing so, parents who are themselves baptised acknowledge taking on the responsibilities of training the child in the practice of the faith and bringing up their child in the ways of Christ. This includes:
- telling the child about God who loves us and about Jesus our friend,
- teaching the child how to pray,
- instilling Christian values in the child,
- teaching the child how to be a good Christian, through example,
- bringing the child to Church to pray at Mass, especially on Sundays and days of obligation, and
- ensuring that the child receives a proper christian education.
Non-Catholic parents who give their consent for baptism do not need to do anything that is against their religious or personal beliefs. Nevertheless, they are invited:
- to be involved in the life of faith of their child,
- to be fully aware of the meaning and implication of baptism, and
- to be open to discuss with their spouse any reservations and/or differences they may have, and to speak with the Church’s minister if they wish.
** Please note that this applies to those who have Non-Catholic spouses. At least one parent still is required to be a baptised and practicing Catholic. The Baptism of Children is essentially an extension of the faith professed and practiced by their parent(s).
The Godparents:
The God Parents have two important functions:
- they represent the Church into which the child is being baptised, and
- they agree to assist and support the parents in the Catholic upbringing of the child, by word, action and good example.
Parents may choose up to two official God Parents.
- Both God Parents must be practicing members of the Catholic Church.
- They must be over the age of 16.
- God Parents should be chosen with care.
- They should be persons who will be a good example to your child of what it means to follow Jesus.
- God Parents should fully understand and accept the responsibility that they are undertaking.
Application for Baptism
If you wish to have your child baptised, please follow these steps for application:
- Please fill out an Application Form for Infant Baptism.
- Application can be obtained from our Parish Office.
- Submit the form to our Parish Office, together with the following:
- a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate,
- a copy of God Parents’ Baptism Certificates and Confirmation Certificates,
- a copy of Parents’ Marriage Certificate.
- Your application should reach our Parish Office at least two weeks before the date of Baptism.
For more information, application form and to reserve a date for the baptism please contact our Parish Office or email colol.pastoral@catholic.org.sg.
