St Michael's Parish, bell Park. Incorporating the churches of Holy Family Bell Park, Ss Peter & Paul Geelong West and Holy Spirit Manifold Heights

Infant / Preschool Baptism

Dear Parent,

“Congratulations and welcome to the family of God - the Church.”
 
This sentiment is at the heart of the baptism of your child.  In the celebration of Baptism, we use different symbols, prayers and readings to emphasise that your child is being welcomed and initiated into the Christian life.  As one writer said, Baptism is like the entrance gate or foundation of the Christian life.

Life’s a journey, so too the Christian life.  Presenting your child for Baptism, you are saying that you want your child to be part of the Christian journey which is to have the opportunity to know and love Jesus Christ, to follow His teachings and be part of the Church.  Committing to the Christian life is, at times, not easy, but we have Jesus’ word that it is well worthwhile.

Primary School-Aged Children Baptism

We are delighted to be with parents in this stage of their child’s faith journey. To assist them, we have developed a program that will give insight into the challenge and privilege of being part of the worshipping church.

RCIA

"Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “Sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”…(Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 1285)