PARISH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ST FRANCIS

BAPTISM

In the Catholic tradition, Baptism is a special ceremony, one of seven sacraments established by Christ. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it's considered the foundation of the Christian life, the entry point into life guided by the Holy Spirit, and the gateway to other sacraments (n. 1213).


Baptisms at the Parish of the Holy Spirit and St Francis take place on Sunday at 12 pm


At our parish, most infant baptisms happen separately from Mass on:


  • The 1st of the month at noon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sandringham
  • The 3rd Sunday of the month at noon at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hampton



Baptism Information Session


Parents and, if possible, godparents, are invited to our Preparation session on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm at Sacred Heart Church Sandringham.


Baptism of school-age children


Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC)


In the Catholic Church, children over the age of 7 who wish to be baptized are typically required to attend the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) program. This program is a preparation process for school-aged children to receive Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation.


Children participating in RCIC will attend three preparation sessions with Father Martin Tanti. While parents are not required to actively participate, they are asked to remain on the premises during the sessions.


For more information or to arrange sessions, please contact the parish office.


RCIC PROGRAM 2026


WHEN:


TERM 1 - Tuesdays - 17, 24 February & 31 March 2026

TERM 2 - Tuesdays - 21, 23 April, & 5 May 2026

TERM 3 - Tuesdays - 14, 21 & 28 July 2026

TERM 4 - Tuesdays - 6, 13, & 20 November 2026


TIME: 5:30 pm


WHERE: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sandringham



Godparents


Every baptized child needs at least one godparent. A godparent's job is to help the child learn about the Catholic faith and set a good example of living it. So, at least one godparent must be a Catholic who has been baptized and confirmed. Non-Catholic Christians who play a vital role in supporting the child's faith can be considered as Christian witnesses. If a godparent can't be there at the baptism for some reason, someone else can stand in as a proxy witness during the ceremony.


WHO CAN BE A GODPARENT?


A Godparent needs to meet the following criteria:

  1. Age Requirement: He/She must be over 16 years old.
  2. Catholic Baptism and Confirmation: He/She needs to be a baptized and confirmed Catholic.
  3. Not a Parent: He/She cannot be the parent of the child to be baptized.
  4. Mix of Genders: If there are two godparents, they must be of different genders – for example, a Catholic male and a Catholic female.
  5. Christian Witness: In addition to the Catholic godparent, a non-Catholic Christian can also be chosen as a Christian witness to support the child's faith life


Adults who wish to be baptised into the Catholic Church are welcome to join the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RICIA). Please contact the Parish Office at Sandringham@cam.org.au


While there is no mandatory fee for the sacrament, it is customary to make an offering on occasions such as baptisms to support the priest. The sacraments themselves are free, and the amount you choose to offer is entirely up to you. A suggested amount for this offering is typically around $100, but you have the flexibility to contribute what you are comfortable with.


Baptism bookings: contact the Parish office at Sandringham@cam.org.a