Sacrament of Baptism

Start Planning the Baptism

Congratulations on the recent birth of your child.

Birth is the cause for celebration and a major event in your Family bringing new life to it.

As a Catholic in the ADF, you belong to the Catholic Military Diocese, a portion of the universal Catholic Church, established to provide faith support and pastoral care to Defence families. Therefore, we would like in some small way to celebrate this significant occasion with you. 

We would encourage you to think seriously about having your child baptised at some point with a sizeable number of your wider family present. We understand that physical separation from grandparents and other family members and friends whom you would wish to have at the baptism is a heartache for many, and this perhaps is the reason for delaying the event or not getting around to it. 

The Military Diocese can certainly assist you in organising either a Catholic Military Chaplain to perform the baptism or in facilitating with a parish in another diocese for the ceremony to be celebrated. 

Significance of Baptism

Baptism is the first sacrament. It incorporates us into the Church and, through it, we are reborn as a daughters and sons of God, and sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ. We enter the Christian community through baptism. To be baptised is to be immersed in water, itself a symbol of washing and being made anew. Those who are baptised are immersed into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the gift of baptism: new life in his death and resurrection. 

This lifegiving grace received in baptism sustains us in the journey of life as disciples of Jesus and members of the Church. Baptism is about being made a part of the Christian community; it is not primarily a private family occasion.
 

Baptismal Symbols

Water is the central symbol of baptism, because water is essential to all life. The water of baptism symbolises the life-giving grace that sustains us.

Oil is used twice in the ceremony. Before the baptism, your child’s breast is smeared with the oil of catechumens as a sign of healing and strengthening. Afterwards, the crown of your child’s head is anointed with perfumed Chrism as a symbol of consecration, joy, and thanksgiving. 

The white garment with which the newly baptised is then clothed symbolises new life in Christ Jesus and is the ‘outward sign of Christian dignity’. 

A baptismal candle is lit from the paschal candle beside the font and presented to your child as a sign of the light of Christ. You or the godparent take this candle and, as you do, promise to be the light of Christ to your child. 

Godparents

A godparent must be at least 16 years old, must have been confirmed and have received Holy Communion. A godparent must aspire to living the faith and giving witness to their godchild, both humanly and spiritually.