Category: Baptism

ARRANGING A BAPTISM OF YOUR CHILD AT ST COLUMBA CHURCH, BRIDGE OF DON OR OUR LADY AND ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, ELLON?

Baptism can only be ministered on Saturdays or any other day of the Week, and NOT on a Sunday or during a Sunday Mass.

Please do not proceed to arrange a Baptism or any other Sacrament with any member of the clergy to be ministered at St Columba Roman Catholic Church Bridge of Don or Our Lady and St John the Baptist, Ellon, Aberdeen without previously informing and receiving an expressed permission to do so from the Parish Priest of St Columba and Our Lady and St John the Baptist Ellon. Canonically no member of the clergy can validly administer a sacrament in parish church without the permission of the parish priest.

If you live outside the boundaries of St Columba Roman Catholic Church, Bridge of Don, and Our Lady and St John the Baptist, Ellon, and you want the baptism of your child to take place at any of the two churches you MUST obtain a written permission from the parish priest of your parish of residence and show it to the parish priest of St Columba Bridge of Don and Our Lady and St John the Baptist, Ellon before the baptism of your child can be ministered by any member of the clergy at St Columba Bridge of Don and Our Lady and St John the Baptist Ellon.

Please give at least One Month’s Notice before the date of Baptism to the Parish Priest of St Columba’s/ Our Lady and St John the Baptist church.

Attend Sunday Mass with the child to be baptised for at least four Sundays preceding the date of the baptism and introduce yourself to the parish priest.

Complete a Baptism Application form at the bottom of this page and summit it and the parish priest of St Columba Church, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen will contact you as soon as possible.

Attend a Baptism preparation course to be arranged before the date of the child’s baptism.

Please kindly note that you are expected to make a minimum donation of £50 (fifty pounds) for the baptism. Kindly note that it is not a payment but donation and that we will not be able to proceed if you are not prepared to make the donation. Kindly please note that the Church is not funded by the government, and that the only sources of funding are from the parishioners who attend Mass every Sunday.

Please endeavour to read the short passage on the significance of the Sacrament of Baptism on this page. 

OBTAINING A COPY OF BAPTISM CERTIFICATE?

Please supply us with the full name (including the surname as it was on the date of baptism) of the baptised, and the date of baptism.

Supply us with the full names of parents and Godparents of the baptised. This information will enable us to supply you with the correct record of your baptism from the baptism register.

Please kindly note that you are expected to make a minimum donation of £20 (twenty pounds) to the parish to cover the cost of acquiring the document for you. Please note that it will be difficult to process the copy of the baptism certificate for you if you are not prepared to make the donation. Kindly please note that the Church is not funded by the government, and that the only sources of funding are from the parishioners who attend Mass every Sunday.

SEEKING PERMISSION TO BAPTISE YOUR CHILD IN ANOTHER PARISH?

Please contact the parish priest of St Columba, Bridge of Don and Our Lady and St John the Baptist Parishes in person for a written permission to have your child baptised in a another parish. Supply the parish priest with your full details and those of the child to be baptised in another parish. Please kindly note that you are expected to make a minimum donation of £20 (twenty pounds) to the parish for the service. Kindly please note that it will be difficult to give you the written permission if you are not prepared to make the donation. Kindly please note that the Church is not funded by the government, and that the only sources of funding are from the parishioners who attend Mass every Sunday.

To make the donation please click on the “giving” menu on this website and you will find the account number, then make the donation and send an email with your name, the purpose for the donation, and the bank reference for the donation to stcolumbasrcaberdeen@gmail.com and we will get back to you with your request. Thank you.

Congratulations on the birth of your child and thank you for bringing him/ her to be baptised.

The Sacrament of Baptism: Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments, which Christ instituted. Through this sacrament we are born to a new life; we come to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity, and so become children of God in Christ Jesus, heirs of heaven, and members of the Church. In this sacrament, we are cleansed of original sin and all personal sins, endowed with faith, hope and love, and sealed as members of Christ’s kingdom. A person is only fully initiated into the Catholic Church when he or she has received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist.
The celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism is a family occasion, a time for rejoicing and thanking the Almighty God for the gift of a new life. Please try to keep things simple so that the real spiritual meaning and significance of the Sacrament is not overshadowed or lost sight of. A candle is required during the Rite of Baptism. The Church may provide this special candle if requested and you will be allowed to take it with you after the Baptism as a reminder of this important occasion. There is no charge for the Sacrament of Baptism. The grace of God and the Sacrament cannot be bought for any amount of money. However, it is customary to leave a minimum offering of £50 (fifty pounds) for the church.

Christian Name: Try to give some thoughts to the Saint’s name(s) that you give to your child. It is important to choose a Saint who is an example of a virtue or quality that you would like to be kept at the forefront your child’s mind later in life.

Godparents: Godparents are called to be examples of the Catholic Faith and to support parents in the spiritual upbringing of their child. It is therefore important that godparents are reliable and trustworthy; and at least one of them should be a practising Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday. The other godparents must be a Christian.

Catholic Education: Baptism marks the beginning of the ongoing process of spiritual development and education of Catholic children. Parents therefore have the obligation to bring their children to Mass regularly. They are also encouraged to send their children to Catholic schools where such an education is guaranteed. The head teacher of any of the Catholics Schools in the city of Aberdeen will be happy to talk to parents about their child’s future education. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the schools, however young your child may be. The parish of St of St Columba Bridge of Don warmly welcomes you. Thank you and God bless.