Holy Baptism is the gateway to the Christian life and the first of the Sacraments of Initiation. Through water and the invocation of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are cleansed from original sin, born again in Christ and made members of his Body, the Church. Baptism is not merely a sign of belonging: through it God truly gives the grace which the Sacrament signifies.
In the Ordinariate, Baptism is celebrated within the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church while drawing, where appropriate, upon the rich language and ceremonial of the Anglican patrimony. The signing with the Cross, the profession of faith, the blessing of water, anointing and the giving of the baptismal candle all remind us that the newly baptised now belongs to Christ.
We joyfully welcome enquiries about Baptism, whether for a child or an adult. Parents seeking Baptism for their children undertake to bring them up in the Catholic faith. Adults normally prepare for Baptism through a period of instruction and formation, leading also towards Confirmation and their first reception of the Holy Eucharist.
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