On the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, 1 January 2025, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) welcomed 14 children from 12 families into the Catholic faith during an infant baptism ceremony, marking a joyous and spiritually significant start to the new year.
Three days before the event, parents and godparents engaged in an in-depth faith formation session. This preparation enabled them to grasp the significance of infant baptism, highlighting their crucial roles in fostering their children’s faith journey. Participants examined the value of Sunday school attendance, joining children at Mass, sharing prayers, and learning about the saints whose names were selected as Catholic names for the children.
On the day of the baptism, the church brimmed with an unmistakable joy and excitement. Twelve families, along with their fourteen delightful children, arrived early to commemorate this important moment in their children’s spiritual journeys.
During the ceremony, each family announced their child’s Catholic name, sharing the stories of the saints they admired and their aspirations for their children to emulate those virtues as they grow. The parents and godparents made a public commitment to raise the children in the faith and instruct them in following God’s commandments.
The baptismal rite proceeded with profound reverence. After being baptised, each child was anointed with sacred chrism, clothed in white garments symbolising purity, and presented with lighted candles as a reminder to keep the light of Christ burning brightly in their lives. The ceremony concluded with blessings for the mothers, fathers, and the entire congregation, imparting a sense of divine grace upon all present.
As the families left the church, the joy on their faces reflected their hope and dedication to guiding their children in faith. Parents, cradling their newly baptised children, were joined by godparents in envisioning the bright futures awaiting the little ones.
A powerful message from the day struck a chord with everyone present: “One more Christian in society means one less villain.” This thought highlights the transformative influence of faith and the potential within each individual to make a difference in the Church and the world through God’s guidance.
The OLMC community rejoiced in welcoming these 14 children into God’s family, marking the start of their spiritual journey. This event not only celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism but also reinforced the shared responsibility of parents, godparents, and the Church to nurture the next generation in faith and love.
As the new year unfolds, the baptismal ceremony powerfully reminds us of the hope and renewal that faith brings to families and the broader Catholic community.
By Deacon Patrick Leung
