A Baptism Preparation Program is required for all parents.

Five (5) times a year, St. Mark's Parish celebrates the Sacrament of Baptism for children in our community. But first, parents must complete the requisite preparatory sessions before their child can be baptized.

Baptism Preparation Sessions are intended to help parents:

reflect on their own faith and Christian commitment

become more confident in their ability to explain that faith to their children

receive the support of a group of parents in similar circumstances, and

deepen their understanding of the meaning of Baptism.

Baptism Preparation Sessions run for 3 weeks, with meetings on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. until about 9:00 p.m. These meetings include personal testimony of members of the Parish (who have come to faith in Christ in a variety of ways), followed by a period of discussion within the group.

The celebration of BAPTISM doesn't just happen!

There is a fair bit of preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism! Here follows a brief overview of the process:

• Parents contact us (St. Mark's Parish) with the request to have their child baptized;

• One or two members of the "Baptism Team" visit the parents at home, at which time the parents will be given some preparatory material to study and review; then

• Over three consecutive Wednesday evenings, all parents will meet at the church:

o    First evening: to reflect on the experience of pregnancy and birth, on being a child of God, being called by name by God;

o    Second evening: to reflect with focus on Jesus Christ who, as a New Moses, leads us through his death and resurrection to life in fullness with God;

o    Third evening, to reflect with focus on being filled with God’s Spirit of Holiness and on becoming members of the Church. Where possible, Godparents are present for this evening.

On the Sunday, between the second and third Wednesday, the parents come to one of the Sunday Eucharists to have their children introduced to the community: the children are called by name, and they are marked with the sign of the Cross (the first part of the baptism ceremony).

Because the Sacrament of Baptism involves so many different steps, it stands to reason that we cannot simply baptize any odd Sunday. So, normally, we celebrate "Baptisms" five (5) times a year. It is a schedule we try to adhere to:

• The Sunday following the celebration of Easter

• The third or fourth Sunday of June

• The last Sunday in September

• The Sunday of Christ the King, the last Sunday before Advent

• The last Sunday before Lent begins

This procedure is very different from the time when parents could simply phone the rectory and arrange for a time. Times have changed. Much care needs to be given to the request to have one’s child baptized, but also much care needs to be given to the Sacrament of Baptism.

To register your child in our next Baptism Preparation Program, please contact our Baptism Coordinator or the Parish Office.

Please note that - from time to time - depending on demand, we also run short courses for children aged 7 - 16 who have not yet been baptized. For those aged 16+, the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is more appropriate.