Why Baptisms
Baptism is the way out of the kingdom of death into life, the gateway to the Church and the beginning of a lasting communion with God’ Catechism of the Catholic Church – Reference [1213-1216] [1276-1278]
Baptism is the foundational Sacrament and the prerequisite for all other Sacraments. It unites us with Jesus Christ, incorporates us into His redemptive death on the cross, thereby freeing us from the power of Original Sin and all personal sins, and causes us to rise with Him to a life without end. (Catechism of the Catholic Church).
It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church.
Why Baptisms
To book a Baptism in the Parish, please contact the office at 2956414 at least a couple of MONTHS notice before your planned baptism date as the scheduled dates do fill up fast. Please NOTE that Parents are the only ones allowed to book a baptism as this will help reduce the potential for error in taking the details for our records.
Download a copy of
our Baptism Form
When do baptisms take place in the parish?
Baptisms take place in the Parish every weekend. The following are the times and the churches where they take place:
St.Mary’s Church, Sandyford Village: The 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at 4.30pm
Our Lady of the Wayside Church, Kilternan: 1st Sunday of each month at 12.45pm
St.Patrick’s Church, Glencullen: 3rd Sunday of each month at 10.45am
YOU MUST BOOK YOUR BAPTISM THROUGH THE OFFICE FIRST!
Is there a Baptismal Preparation meeting?
When you contact the parish office you will be advised to book a Baptismal preparation meeting as soon as possible. These take place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 7.30 p.m. in the St Mary’s Church in Sandyford Village.
Parents presenting their child for baptism in the parish MUST attend a preparatory meeting in order for their child to be baptised. You are required to bring a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate to the meeting.
What are the conditions for being a Godparent?
Only ONE Godparent is required for each child. However, a maximum of TWO Godparents are permitted per child.In the case of TWO Godparents, there must be One MALE and One FEMALE.
They must each have completed the Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist) and be at least 16 years old* [ *exception to be made only at the discretion of Archbishop’s House, the Godparent must be mature enough to understand the role of Godparent.]
In the case of the above exception where a Godparent is under 16 years of age, the parents must write to the Archbishop requesting permission for this Godparent.
Include in the letter — age of young person, date & place of his/her confirmation, reason for choice, relationship to child being baptised, date of baptism & telephone number of parents. Also include the name of Primary School and Secondary School attended.
If you cannot find TWO Godparents, a person can then be chosen as a Christian Witness and their name will be recorded in the Baptismal register and on the certificate as a Witness not a Godparent.
Other Information
The Baptism Register must have the same names as the Birth certificate of the child. So please use this information when booking the baptism through the office. You will then be asked to bring your child’s Birth Certificate with you when you attend the Baptismal Preparation meeting.
Not all Christian denominations can serve as a Christian Witness alongside a Catholic Godparent. Please contact the parish if you are unsure as to the religious eligibility of your desired sponsor.
We do not permit any private baptisms in the parish. The parish of Sandyford would like to welcome you and to share in the privilege of raising your child in the faith, therefore the parish is very much a part of this celebration.
Sandyford has one of the highest numbers of yearly baptisms of any parish in the country. We are heartened that so many parents wish their child to join the Catholic Faith Community here in Sandyford, – or in some cases, return to their parent’s first parish for the Sacrament of Baptism. Our parish team believes that inviting parents and their children to this special Family Mass is a way to re-express our welcome and help people get to know each other. As Catholic Christians, our participation at the Sunday Eucharist is one of the key ways we nourish our faith, strengthen our relationships and build the community of faith.
With every good wish and blessing, Yours Sincerely, Fr Andrew O Sullivan PP and the Parish and Baptism Ministry Teams