Baptism
Infant Baptism – for babies and children up to the age of 7
Baptism is the beginning of your child’s journey in the Christian faith, and it’s a truly special moment for your family.
It’s the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation—followed by Confirmation then Eucharist—and it marks the start of a life connected to God and the Church. By choosing baptism, you’re giving your child the gift of belonging to a faith community, where they’ll be surrounded by love, guidance, and support.
This journey doesn’t happen alone. It’s shaped by you as parents, and also by grandparents, godparents, friends, and the parish community. That’s why baptisms usually take place in your local parish—because that’s where your child will grow, make connections, and feel at home in their faith.
As a community, we walk alongside you, helping to nurture your child’s faith through everyday moments, so that living with faith becomes a natural part of their life.
- Baptisms are celebrated at St Mary Mackillop Church 10am every Saturday during the year.
- Parents are required to attend a Parents Preparation Session prior to the Baptism. Preparation Sessions are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00pm in our Church (pre booking with the Parish Office is required)
If your child is 8 years or older and hasn't yet been baptised, we offer a special, age-appropriate process to help them prepare for this important step in their faith journey.
At this age, children are invited to take part in a modified version of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), designed just for them. This process helps them come to know Jesus, understand the basics of the Catholic faith, and become part of the Church community in a way that makes sense for their age and stage of life.
If your child is asking questions about God or faith—or if you’re feeling a nudge that now is the right time—we’d love to talk with you. Please reach out to the Parish Office to learn more about how to get started.
Baptism for Adults
If you're an adult or teenager who has never been baptised, or if you were baptised in another Christian denomination, you may wish to become part of the Catholic Church.
The preparation process for this step varies from person to person, depending on your background and how involved you’ve been in other faith traditions.
If you’ve already been baptised in another Christian church, you would usually prepare to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist.
For those who have not yet been baptised, full initiation into the Catholic Church typically takes place during the Easter Vigil. This is done through a journey of faith called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) .
For further information please feel free to contact the Parish office here