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Saint
Dominic's Catholic Church, Torrance |
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Baptism
Baptisms take place, by arrangement, usually on a Sunday
Please speak to Fr. Murray
 Baptism
(or Christening) is the first of
The Seven Sacraments of the Church
and it is celebrated by the priest, through the invocation of
the Holy Trinity and the symbol of holy water. The fruit of Baptism
includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins and
becoming a member of the Church eventually leading to the reception
of other sacraments.
Baptisms are arranged after meeting with one of the priests of
the parish. Families who present a child for baptism should normally
be resident within the parish of St. Dominic's (if not then they
should seek the consent of the parish priest where they are resident
before a baptism can be arranged here). The Church requires at
least one sponsor (Godparent) who must be a practising Catholic.
There is usually another godparent, who, if not Catholic, must
at least be a baptised Christian and of a different sex to the
other godparent. |
For more information on
the Sacrament of Baptism click here
 A
Baptismal prayer
The greatest gift that God
could send
He sends with love to you:
A dear and helpless little child,
A responsibility, too.
Each child that God gives to us
Is only lent a while
To treasure, love, protect, and guard
From every snare and wile.
To form within its innocent heart
His image good and true.
God bless this tiny newborn baby
And may He bless you, too! |
John Baptising Jesus in the River Jordan
 What
John the Baptist was conferring on the banks of the Jordan was
a baptism of repentance for conversion and the forgiveness of
sins. But he announced: "After me comes one who is mightier
than I.... I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:7-8). He proclaimed this to a multitude
of penitents who flocked to him confessing their sins, repenting
and preparing to correct their lives.
The Baptism given by Jesus, which the Church, faithful to his
command does not cease to administer, is quite different. This
Baptism frees man from original sin and forgives his sins, saves
him from slavery to evil and is a sign of his rebirth in the Holy
Spirit; it imparts to him a new life, which is participation in
the life of God the Father,
Only-Begotten Son who became man, died and rose again.
As Jesus comes out of the water, the Holy Spirit descends upon
him like a dove, the heavens open and the Father's voice is heard
from on high: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well
pleased" (Mk 1:11). Thus the event of Christ's Baptism is
not only a revelation of his divine sonship, but at the same time
a revelation of the whole Blessed Trinity. The Father-the voice
from on high-reveals in Jesus the Only-Begotten Son consubstantial
with him and all this comes about by virtue of the Holy Spirit
who, in the form of a dove descends on Christ, the Lord's Anointed.
- Pope John Paul II , Jan 1997 |
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