Ideas for parishes to support parents
while preparing for, celebrating, and living
the Sacrament of Baptism with children:
Form a Baptism team to help with:
- planning and implementing the preparation sessions,
- the celebration of the sacrament itself, and
- maintaining supportive contact with the parent(s) of newly baptized children.
Gather parents (and if possible, godparents) for welcoming, meaningful, and supportive preparation session(s) that:
See helpful advice for baptism preparation sessions from parish ministers, see the next box: Ideas for approaches to the baptism preparation session(s):
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Ideas for the celebration of the sacrament itself:
Ideas for involving families of young children:
Helpful books for family life, recommended by parish ministers:
Our Catholic Family: Activities, Conversations, and Prayer for Sharing Faith at Home,
from Twenty-Third Publications CLICK HERE for order information, including bulk pricing My First Interactive Mass Book for Catholic Kids
by Jennifer Sharpe The Christian Mother Goose Book, by Marjorie Ainsborough Decker. |
Ideas for maintaining contact with parent(s) of newly baptized children:
CLICK HERE for "Beyond Baptism," a resource site for parish ministers. www.orderosv.com/product/parent-letters-revised-c-2010
Ideas for keeping children who are not baptized engaged with church:
Water Come Down!: The Day You Were Baptized. Wangerin, Walter Jr. Augsburg Fortress, 1999.
In this picture book for children age 3-6, sun, cloud, rain, wind, water, and the whole of creation join family and friends in celebrating the baptism of a child of God. |
CLICK HERE for helpful "Pray," "Learn," and "Act" baptism resources from
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. |
Make clear the role and responsibilities of Baptism godparents: A godparent:
The second one, if not Catholic, must:
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These Diocesan Library resources can help with sacramental preparation sessions:
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