The Sacrament of Baptism
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Rosscarbery Parish Community shares in your joy and welcomes your baby into the Christian faith through the Sacrament of Baptism
In the Sacraments we meet Jesus. Sacraments use familiar, everyday things, (like water, oil, bread, movement) to make real for us the presence of Jesus. Each day we use words and signs to communicate with one another. God also communicates with us in the sacraments through words and signs. The signs used in Baptism are water, oil, white garment and light. When someone is baptised, that person is joyfully made a child of God the Father, a brother or sister of Christ, and a member of our faith community.
The Celebration of Baptism
The Baptism ceremony normally involves movement from one place in the church to another place. We move from the welcome at the door, to the top of the church, to the Baptismal Font, to the Altar, and then home. This is a journey, reminding us that the Christian life is a journey with and to the Risen Jesus.
Baptism Ceremony
Baptism times are by arrangement with Fr McCarthy. See Contacts.
A Request for Baptism form must be completed in advance and on the day of the ceremony remember to bring;
- A Baptismal candle.
(It will be needed again at the child’s First Communion) - A white garment (shawl/robe) which will be put on during the ceremony. This is not worn by the child on arrival at the church.
It is customary to give an offering to the priest. Local tradition suggests that this is done by the godparents; however, it is the parents who ask for Baptism for their child.
The Sacrament of Marriage
Weddings in any of our three churches may be booked by contacting the parish priest. See Contacts.
Prior to the wedding there are both civil and church requirements to be completed without which the wedding cannot take place.
Civil Requirements
You must make an appointment with any Civil Registrar to give Notification of Intention to Marry. This meeting must take place at least three months before the date of your wedding in order to comply with the civil requirement. The Registrar’s Office will let you know what you need to bring with you.
When all the civil requirements have been completed satisfactorily, you will receive a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) from the Registrar. Without this form you cannot get married.
Contact details:
Civil Registration Office, Adelaide Street, Cork. Tel: 021- 4275126
Civil Registration Office, Coolnagurrane, Skibbereen. Tel: 028 40570
If you are currently living abroad, this link will advise you about giving Notification of Intention to Marry from your current location
http://www.hse.ie/go/marriage/
Church Documentation
The documentation required by the Church can only be done within six months of the date of the wedding. This is usually completed by a priest in the parish of your normal residence. For this you will each require a Baptismal Certificate, a Confirmation Certificate, a certificate of completion of a Pre-Marriage Course and a Letter of Freedom where necessary. The priest will then complete a Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form in respect of each party and then forward them on to the parish where the marriage is to take place if different from the parish of residence. If necessary, the priest will arrange for any dispensations that may be required.
If you are living abroad, the priest who completes the forms will send them on to the local Archdiocese or Diocese who will them send them to the Diocese of Cork and Ross for verification before forwarding them to the parish where the wedding is to take place.
Pre-marriage courses are offered at the following venues:
Clonakilty Pre-Marriage Group, Tel. 023 8834441
Cork Marriage Counselling Centre, 34 Paul Street, Cork. Tel. 021 4272277
N.A.O.M.I. 119, Patrick Street, Cork. Tel: 021 4272213
ACCORD Centre, Bantry. Tel: 027 50272