Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church. The image of being blessed with holy water is well-known to all Christians and a beautiful way to begin your life with Christ. We have three age-appropriate programmes to mark the start of your journey.
It is never too late to be baptised!
Important Note: At least one parent must already be Catholic in order to request the Sacraments for their child(ren).
Baptism for Infants - Newborn up to 7 years old
Parents are required do the preparation for the baptism of a child up to 7 years old. Preparation includes meeting with our Baptismal leaders. These meetings are usually held over 2 evenings at the beginning of the month. Ideally, both parents and godparents attend if possible. The office will also help to arrange for the symbolic momentos of the baptism, including a stole, candle, and certificate. Baptisms are generally held on the Last Sunday of the month, after the 10am Mass. Please contact us.
Baptism for Children - 8 - 18 years old
It is natural for parents to want to bring their children along on the same faith journey. The best place for this to begin is in the home, with Regular Prayer times, reading Bible Stories, reading about the Live’s of the Saints and regular Mass attendance. Under the age of 18 years, at least one of the parents needs to be Catholic in order to be able to request the Sacraments for their child(ren).
Contact us to find out more.
Baptism for Adults, including Confirmation and Eucharist
Following is a brief list of where to begin and what to consider:
1. A Journey of Faith: Discerning whether the Catholic Faith is the right fit for you and your family is not something that can happen overnight or by just sitting a course. This is a journey of discovery that takes time and requires a personal commitment to building a relationship with God within the framework of Catholic teaching.
2. Holy Mass: Regularly attending Sunday Mass is the most important first step. Even if you are still learning and don’t understand everything that is going on. The Holy Mass is the Source and Summit of our Faith and underpins all that we believe.
3. Catholic Connections: Begin to make connections within the Catholic Community. Whether you already know someone who is Catholic or meet someone new, it is important to have someone who can Accompany you on your journey of discovery. This should be someone who can answer your faith questions and attend courses or programmes with you.
4. Resources: You may wish to -
a. enquire at the Parish Office for ‘What Catholics Believe’ reading materials
b. join the next Alpha Programme - Alpha talks engage people from all walks of life and inspire conversation. They explore the big issues of life and faith, unpacking basic Christian beliefs: “Who is Jesus?” “Why and how do I pray?” “How does God guide us?”
c. connect to the Parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StPatsPukekohe/
d. check out the Parish Website: https://pukekohecatholic.org.nz/
e. check out other important sites such as –
i. Catholic Enquiry Centre - https://www.catholicdiscovery.nz/
ii. Auckland Catholic Diocese - https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/
iii. NZ Catholic Bishop’s Conference - https://www.catholic.org.nz/
5. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults): Attending an OCIA Course comes after you have been through the discernment process above. One of our Priests will make a time to talk to you to see where you are in your journey and whether it is appropriate for you to now embark on an OCIA course, culminating in Baptism and/or Confirmation.
Note that due to the volume of enquiries we receive, it is advisable to connect with the office in the first instance. Besides helping with reading materials, we may be able to suggest ways to make connections and participate more fully in Parish Life.
Contact us to begin your journey of faith.