Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments – CCC 1213

Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism

For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation. Through Baptism we are freed from sin, we become adopted sons and daughters of God and are embraced into the family of the Church.
Baptism transforms us. It marks our soul for life and eternity. In baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ’s call to holiness. In baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.
Although we Catholics believe that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God, it is through baptism we become sons and daughters of God and are brought into that most mysterious communion with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
​​Baptism is a Sacrament of faith, and the Church asks for a serious and loving commitment by the parents and godparents of a child to live the life of the Sacraments. The baptism ceremony for adults and teens is similar to baptism of children except that you make the baptismal promises yourself. Instead of godparents, adults have sponsors whose role is to encourage you in the Catholic Faith.

The Rite of Baptism

Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.

The Rite of Baptism involves immersing the candidate in water or pouring it over his/her head, while invoking the Name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (CCC 1278).

If you are not Catholic but have received Baptism as described above, we consider your baptism valid. So, you will not be baptised again if you choose to join the Catholic Church. Rather, you will be initiated into full communion with us through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Parents, do you wish to have your child Baptised?

As you wish to have your child baptised, we would like you to have some basic information regarding this important first step on your child’s spiritual journey. It is our hope that you find this information helpful. To arrange the Baptism of your child, it is necessary to ensure that all the requirements are in place and the necessary documents are submitted to the parish office.

Requirements for Baptism.

For Parents:

1. At least one parent, or the person who lawfully holds their place, must be a baptised and practising Catholic. We now ask for a copy of a parent's baptism certificate.
2. The Catholic parent must be a registered member of the Catholic Parish of Guildford for at least three months and attend Mass regularly.
   1. If the parents are from another parish, they must provide a Letter of Permission from their parish priest.
3. Parent(s) to attend Baptism preparation sessions at the parish or provide a letter of attendance of Baptism preparation from another parish.
4. Provide evidence of their Baptism prior to joining the Baptism course.

For Godparents:
The role of the godparent is to help the baptised to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfil faithfully the obligations connected with it.

1. It is essential to have either one godparent, or two (one male and one female), who is a confirmed and baptised Catholic over the age of 16.
2. A non-Catholic may act as a Christian witness to the Baptism in company with a Catholic sponsor.
3. Must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptised.

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Baptism Preparation Programme.

The programme looks at the importance of Sacraments in the Church; their relationship to each other and the impact of Baptism on the lives of the child and parents.  Finally there is an overview of the ceremony. In Guildford the Baptism Preparation Course covers the churches of St. Joseph, St. Mary, St Edward and St. Pius X.

Where does the course take place?
St. Joseph’s Church hall, GU1 4AZ

When does it take place?
We start with an introduction Zoom meeting on Wednesday evening 8-9 pm. We invite any Godparents that have been chosen to join us for this online meeting. 
After the introductory session, we'll send access to a series of short videos online that need to be watched at home and a journal to filled in before our next session. 
We then meet in person on the next Wednesday evening in St Joseph's Catholic Church Hall (GU1 4AZ), 7.30-9 pm. At this session, we review what has been studied at home and go through the practicalities of the Baptism itself.

Further Information?
In the meantime, please register on the database following the instructions carefully below.

Choosing Godparents.

​To be admitted to undertake the office of godparent, a person must:

• Be over sixteen years of age, unless the parish priest considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made.
• Be a practising Catholic who has been Confirmed and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken. A non-Catholic may act as a Christian witness to the Baptism in company with a Catholic sponsor.
• Not be either the father or mother of the child to be Baptised.

To Apply for Baptism Preparation for your Child.

For those wishing Baptism you must register with our church database, click here to fill in your household's details​ (please add your details and your partner and children.

Under "Areas of Interest" please click "Child Baptism Preparation" 

Under "Communication" please click "Receive general emails" and "Receive phone calls" so that we can email and call you about the next steps.

Once you are registered on the database, a member of staff will contact you, initially by email. If you have any queries please email baptism@cpg.church or call 01483 562 704 (option 2).

Register ON the
​Parish database

What if my household is already registered on the database?
If you are already registered on the parish database then please email baptism@cpg.church and let us know which child you are seeking to baptise.

We'd love to see you at Mass

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If visiting our website is a first step back towards the Church we are very pleased to welcome you! Take as much time as you want to see what we are like. Masses are streamed daily through the website on our live stream page. Join us for Mass in-person and discover what it's like now and to see how our parish might serve your needs. Although the core of the Mass (the Eucharist) never changes and is at the heart of our faith, often the way we come to that sacred place is important.

Most masses use large projector screens that display much of the liturgy or responses during the mass, so you need not worry about knowing the words and these will help you if you are uncertain when it is appropriate to stand, kneel, sit, etc. 
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You might be surprised by just how familiar and comfortable it feels to be in church, but whether it feels good or not, taking the opportunity to chat with our clergy team may be just the thing you need to do. Their advice and help could be all you need to find a path through the tangles of past emotions and present needs to help you and your family find your place here in the Catholic Parish of Guildford.

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