As you are seeking the baptism of your child in the Roman Catholic Church, the following guidelines are presented to help you embark upon this journey of faith with Christ and his Church.

A. The Sanctifying Role of the Church
(Code of Canon Law, c. 842, 849; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213, 1263, 1265, 1267-1270)

Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Baptism becomes our commitment to grow in this new life and to strive to acquire spiritual maturity. By baptism, God purifies us from sin.

Baptism is the sacrament of faith which has the Risen Christ as its source, and it is the offer of salvation for all people. Intimately linked to Confirmation and to Eucharist, Baptism is, with these two sacraments, Christian Initiation. The child is baptised in the faith of his/her parents, of his/her godparents and of the Church.

B. Basic Guidelines and Information for Infant (to include young children) Baptism
(Code of Canon Law, cc. 857, 867-868, 872-874; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1251-1255)

Before an infant is baptised, the parents and godparents are questioned about their faith:
• Do you reject all that is evil?
• Do you believe in God, the Father? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
• Do you believe in the holy, Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

C. Baptismal Preparation in our Parish
(Code of Canon Law, c. 851; Catechism of the Catholic Church 843)

Open yourself to the invitation to actively join the faith community of our parish. If you are not registered parishioners, please consider becoming involved in the prayer and celebration of the Sunday Eucharistic community.

You will be invited to participate in a baptismal preparation session for parents.

It is extremely important to take your faith-life seriously because, before God, you have taken on an awesome responsibility for the salvation of another—your own child! Your commitment and openness to baptismal preparation will help develop the faith-life of your child as he/she matures.

It is appropriate that an offering be made prior to the occasion of Baptism. You may EFT donation to Acct. Name: South Tamworth Oblatio  BSB 082 105 Acct. No. 001063135. REF: Bap + First & Last Name        
$75 suggested offering.

You will need to supply a (white) baptismal candle at the ceremony.  

After completing this form, you will be required to email scanned copy of the following documents to southtamworthparish@armidale.catholic.org.au 

1. child's birth certificate
2. copy of the Catholic parent's baptismal certificate
3. father’s ID   (e.g. driver’s licence, passport, or government issued photo card)
4. mother's ID (e.g. driver’s licence, passport, or government issued photo card)

Additional document(s) [see section 5 of this form]
5. Family Court Order or
6. signed Statutory Declaration