Through the sacrament of baptism, we are joined to Christ’s Body the Church, and filled with his life. A baptism is a wonderful event not just for those being baptised and their family, but also a moment of joy for the whole Church.

Adult baptisms

Whether you have been attending a church for years or have just discovered the faith and want to become a Catholic, it is never too late to be baptised. We are always very happy to meet you.

We prepare all adults for baptism in our church through regular one to one meetings. This is so that we can make sure that you get the most out of these sessions, at a pace that best suits you.

Read more here: Interested in becoming a Catholic?

Infant baptisms

Our faith is the greatest gift we can share with our children. To arrange the baptism of your child, speak to one of the Fathers after Mass. He will arrange a time with you for a meeting to run through the baptismal ceremony itself and answer any questions you may have. You will then be able to organise a suitable time for the baptism. Baptisms should normally be arranged as soon as possible after birth.

The Father will explain any practical arrangements that need to be made before the baptism, but you might like to think about godparents in advance. Each child should have one or two godparents (one male and one female if two). Godparents assist you in raising your child in the faith. They must be practising Catholics over the age of 16 who have received the sacrament of confirmation.

There is no fee to be paid for a baptism, although it is customary to make a donation to the priest who baptises the child.

Normally baptisms take place in the parish where a family is resident. If you do not live in the Oratory parish but have a good reason for wanting to have your child baptised here then please explain that to the priest when you speak to him. In such cases your own parish priest will need to give permission for the baptism to take place at the Oratory.

Sometimes babies are baptised right away in hospital when there is a concern about their health. If you can’t get a priest, then anyone can do this in an emergency, simply by pouring water on the head three times and saying, “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When the baby is well enough, it is possible for a priest to “Supply the Ceremonies” in church, where the extra prayers and blessings that have been missed out are filled in without repeating the sacrament itself.