Our Parish Priest, Fr Charles Balnaves, together with the whole parish community, welcomes you and your child into our family. Baptism is an important first step in your child's faith journey. We will pray for you and your child commending you all to the care of our loving God.
Both parents should be committed to bringing the child up in the Catholic Faith. At least one parent should be Catholic and at least one Godparent must be a practicing Catholic.
Baptisms at this parish are celebrated every fortnight during weekend Masses ie Saturday evening at 6.00pm, Sunday morning at 9.00am and 10.30am and Sunday evening at 5.00pm. We request that you arrive about 15 minutes prior so that your seats can be allocated to you. There is a Welcome to the Family at the start of Mass, then the Baptism takes place in the middle of Mass. Mass should only go for about 1 hour.
You are invited to attend a "Baptism Preparation Session" before the Baptism ceremony. These sessions are held on the first Monday of every month at 6.00pm here at St Gregory the Great Parish Room. At this session, you will be provided with a baptismal candle which the Godfather will light during the ceremony. You will also be provided with a white stole to be placed on the child by the Godmother during the ceremony. Godparents are also encouraged to attend.
Please see below our link to the Baptism Registration Form. This form must be completed and returned to the Parish Office to register your request, and before you attend the Preparation Session. When completing the Baptism Registration Form, please indicate your preferred date for the Preparation Session as well as your preferred date/time for the Baptism to take place.
It is customary to make a donation to the Church at the time of Baptism. A suggested amount would be $100.00. This money is used to support our Archbishop, his auxiliary bishops, the sick and retired priests and priests in poorer parishes of the Archdiocese; the remainder goes towards the running of the presbytery here in Doncaster and the support of our parish priest.
Please place your donation in the envelope provided with your family name on it and hand it to Fr Charles at the time of the Baptism.
If you would like Fr Charles to meet with you before the Baptism, giving you the opportunity to ask any further questions - please telephone him on 9412 8425 to arrange a mutually convenient time.
Congratulations and welcome!