There are many ways to welcome someone into your life, but none quite as special as a child made of miracles. What a glorious gift it is to hear its first breath and watch as movement begins in little fingers and toes. The waiting is over, your family is now larger by one… or two… or…..
A world of possibilities has just been born in a squirming little bundle of cuteness. A new journey… a story yet to be written has just begun.
A child’s journey through most of history has begun by introducing it to the people who will be most significant in its life. The people who most likely will shape their future. An announcement of birth and a choice of what they will be known as throughout their days. A very important moment, and a very joyous one.
Baptism ~ Christening ~ Baby Naming
Joyous Journey can help you celebrate the arrival of your precious gift in three ways. Baptism, Christening or Baby Naming. Although these are similar, they have different meanings based on your beliefs. We can help you to decide and also customize a ceremony specifically for you and your child and family. Contact us for more information and any questions you may have.
Christening refers to the naming ceremony (to “christen” means to “give a name to”) whereas Baptism is one of seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. In the sacrament of Baptism the baby’s name is used and mentioned, however, it is the rite of claiming the child for Christ and his Church that is celebrated. Baby Naming ceremonies are the non-religious equivalent of a Christening.
Baptism
Baptism is the first of seven sacraments and the way in which a person becomes a member of the Catholic Church and represents the cleansing of original sin from the baby.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized,” (paragraph 1246).
Anyone can perform a baptism, however, this is typically done only in extreme cases in which someone’s life is in danger.
In the Catholic Church today, people are usually baptized as infants by a priest or deacon. There are extreme cases, however, when even an unbaptized person can baptize someone. All that is required is the will to do what the Church does when she baptizes, and to apply the Trinitarian Baptismal formula.
The Trinitarian formula is:
“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Most ceremonies include:
Greeting
Invocation/prayer
Charge to the parents
Parental promise
Charge to Godparents
Declaration of baby’s name and its significance
Responsibility of the Godparents
Trinitarian Baptismal formula with water
Candle lighting or other element such as poem etc..
Closing prayer or blessing
Joyous Journey’s minister will be honored to perform your child’s Baptism, however, we do not guarantee it will be recognized by the Catholic Church.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
Christening
Traditionally, parents held a christening for their new baby to mark the beginning of their upbringing in the Christian faith.
Most ceremonies include:
Greeting
Invocation/prayer, or if non-religious an opening poem
Charge to the parents
Parental promise
Charge to Godparents
Declaration of baby’s name and its significance
Responsibility of the Godparents
Water, Oil, or Rose ceremony
Candle lighting or other element such as poem etc..
Closing prayer or blessing
You can add or subtract any element that you want. There are no rules. The ceremony should reflect your wishes and I am happy to help create it with you.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
Most ceremonies include:
Greeting
Opening poem
Charge to the parents
Parental promise
Charge to Godparents
Responsibility of the Godparents
Declaration of baby’s name and its significance
Water, Oil, or Rose ceremony
Candle lighting or other element such as poem etc..
Closing
You can add or subtract any element that you want. There are no rules. The ceremony should reflect your wishes and I am happy to help create it with you.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
