Parents wishing to have their children baptised will have the opportunity to learn more about the Catholic faith thanks to an innovative new resource developed by the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
‘Preparing for Baptism’ is a video resource specifically designed to help parishes guide families – parents and their children – through a thorough preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism.
The resource was launched on March 27 in Brisbane and is being offered to parishes and communities in the Archdiocese.
Chantale Wilson from Archdiocesan Ministries said the new resource seeks to reach parents seeking baptism for their children who have not yet reached school-age.
“The initial idea for this project came from our Executive Director, Deacon Peter Pellicaan, whose experience presiding over many baptisms in his parish revealed the need for deeper parent formation in baptism but presented in a way that was both engaging and accessible to this generation of parents,” she said.
“Our team’s experience across parishes and communities echoed this experience. Time and again, we heard similar stories – parents, often less connected to the Church, still seeking baptism for their children.
“We felt called to respond with a resource that would help baptismal teams not only guide parents through the Sacrament itself, but also proclaim the Gospel, foster moments of encounter with God, and create community connections.”
‘Preparing for Baptism’ features interviews with parents, a walk-through the rite of Baptism, reflective questions, discussions, music, and moments of prayer.
Ms Wilson said the team was inspired by Pope Francis’ words in Evangelii Gaudium, stressing the fundamental role the kerygma – the proclamation of the Gospel – plays in catechesis.
“We wanted to create a resource that acknowledged the reality that parents come from many different places in terms of faith and ensure that the kerygma was the central message,” she explained.
“We also wanted to create a resource that utilises contemporary media to scaffold a wholistic experience of baptismal preparation. Not just to deliver content but to support parishes to create opportunities for welcome, inclusion and encounter.”
Accompanying the video is a facilitator’s guide for parish and community teams, which outlines ways to “create a culture of encounter and help families integrate the Sacraments into their daily lives”.
“A good preparation session requires more than just hitting ‘play’ on the video,” Ms Wilson said.
“The facilitator’s guide gives suggestions such as how to create a welcoming space, how to generate conversation among participants, and how to follow-up in order to create ongoing connections with families after the celebration of baptism.”
The new resource demonstrates a growing awareness within the Church of the importance of formation for parents whose children are being baptised; something highlighted in Wollongong priest Fr Gerard Stoyles’ PhD research, which featured in our newsletter in 2024. In his research conclusions, Fr Stoyles said formation and education were key components to a more lasting experience of initiation into the Church.
Other Australian dioceses have also sought to strengthen Sacramental preparation in recent years. In Melbourne, the ‘Journeying Together’ series of resources for the Sacraments of Initiation was launched in July 2022; while in Sydney, a formative booklet unpacking the Sacrament of Baptism was published in May 2023.
For more information about ‘Preparing for Baptism’, visit https://archdiocesanministries.org.au/preparing-for-baptism/
Images: Archdiocese of Brisbane
Words: Matthew Biddle