The Preparations

Apart from any preparation you are asked to do by the priest there will be your own preparations for the service.

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Invitations

Its really up to you who to invite. Obviously Grandparents will expect an invitation.

Its nice to bring any brothers and sisters along and most people want to have a good number of family and friends.

Baptism is a formal 'thank you' to God for the gift of your child.

It is a great opportunity for family and friends to get together and rejoice and give thanks with you.

Godparents

It is good if the godparents can be adult Catholics who will take an interest in your baby as he or she grows up. In the early Church the godparents were sponsors who taught the new Christian, usually an adult, about the faith.

Later on when infant baptism became usual, the godparents often took the role of guardians of the child if anything happened to the parents. Something of these two roles remain today.

Choose godparents who are likely to be around and have an interest in your child over the years.

Reception

Its nice if all the guests at the baptism can be invited to a reception afterwards.

Usually baptism receptions are informal affairs at a family house.

 

Don't feel shy about giving grandparents, family or friends the chance to help with the catering - they will often be more than delighted to help out. Giving people the opportunity to meet, talk, catch up with distant relatives and make new friends is important.