Preparing for Baptism and First Holy Communion
In our parish communities — St Mary’s, St John Bosco and St Edward’s — children aged seven and over who have not been baptised are warmly welcomed to begin a journey towards Christian initiation.
Once a child has reached an age at which they can begin to understand and respond personally to the Catholic faith, preparation for Baptism is different from that provided for a baby or younger child.
The child is not simply given a few lessons before a ceremony.
They are gradually helped to hear the Gospel, know and love Jesus Christ, learn the Catholic faith, pray, take part in Sunday worship and begin living as a member of the Church.
Preparation is personal, family-supported and based upon understanding, desire and readiness rather than simply age, school year or completion of a fixed programme.
The ordinary starting point is Sunday Mass and a conversation with the parish.
Who is this pathway for?
This pathway is principally for a child who:
- is aged seven or over;
- has reached the use of reason;
- has never been baptised;
- wishes to become a Catholic;
- and is able, with suitable support, to begin responding personally to the faith.
It is sometimes called RCIC: Christian initiation adapted for children of catechetical age.
The Church recognises that children come with different levels of understanding, family support, experience of prayer and familiarity with Mass.
For that reason, preparation is adapted to the individual child.
There is no need for a child to know everything before beginning.
The first step is simply a conversation.
Has your child already been baptised?
A valid Christian Baptism is never repeated.
If your child was baptised Catholic but has not made First Confession or First Holy Communion, please see:
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION
If your child was baptised in another Christian Church or community and you would like them to become Catholic, please contact the parish priest. We will help establish whether the Baptism was valid and arrange the correct pathway.
Coming into the Catholic Church — Baptised Children
If you are not sure whether your child has been baptised, please mention this when you contact the parish.
What are you asking for?
When parents ask for the Baptism of a child aged seven or over, they are asking for much more than a family ceremony, a place in a Catholic school or preparation for First Holy Communion.
They are asking that their child receive new life in Jesus Christ.
In Baptism, God truly acts.
The child is:
- freed from original sin and every personal sin committed before Baptism;
- reborn by water and the Holy Spirit;
- united with Jesus Christ;
- made an adopted child of God;
- incorporated into Christ’s Church;
- given sanctifying grace;
- and marked permanently as belonging to Christ.
Baptism is the gateway to the Christian life.
It is therefore not simply preparation for one special day. It is the beginning of a lifelong life of faith, worship, conversion and discipleship.
In asking for Baptism, you are asking that your child be born again in Christ and begin living as a member of his Church.
A journey, not simply a course
Preparation includes Catholic teaching, but it is more than a set of lessons.
The child’s journey normally includes:
- hearing and responding to the Gospel;
- learning about Jesus Christ and his saving work;
- coming to Sunday Mass;
- learning to pray;
- growing in trust, repentance and Christian virtue;
- becoming familiar with the parish;
- receiving the support of parents, a catechist and a godparent or sponsor;
- taking part in the Church’s rites for catechumens;
- preparing for Baptism and First Holy Communion;
- and continuing to grow in faith after receiving the Sacraments.
There is no automatic sacramental date simply because the catechism has been completed.
The goal is not merely to finish a book.
The goal is for the child to begin knowing, loving and following Jesus Christ within his Church.
Understanding and readiness matter more than speed.
The child’s journey
1. Enquiry and welcome
The journey begins with a conversation between the family and the parish priest.
We will talk about the child, their previous experience, whether they have ever been baptised and what the family is asking of the Church.
The child begins coming to Sunday Mass and is welcomed into the life of the parish.
There is no need to have everything sorted out before making contact.
2. Learning about Jesus and the Catholic faith
The child begins working through My Christian Initiation Catechism with a parent, catechist or suitable parish mentor.
They learn the central truths of the Catholic faith and begin developing habits of prayer, worship, repentance and Christian living.
3. The catechumenate
When a child has begun to believe in Jesus Christ and sincerely wishes to continue towards Baptism, the Church may celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens.
The child then becomes a catechumen.
The catechumenate is a real period of formation in faith and Christian life. It lasts for as long as genuine growth requires.
The catechism provides the teaching, but preparation also includes Sunday worship, prayer, family support, parish belonging and conversion of life.
4. Final preparation
When the child is ready, there is a period of more immediate preparation for the Sacraments.
The child reviews the meaning of Baptism, learns what will happen during the celebration and prepares to receive Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
The parish priest makes the final pastoral judgement about readiness.
5. Baptism and First Holy Communion
When the child is suitably prepared, the parish priest arranges the celebration of Baptism and First Holy Communion.
Baptism may be followed by First Holy Communion within the same celebration or according to the arrangements made for the individual child.
The heart of the celebration is not clothes, photographs, presents or the family gathering afterwards.
The heart of the celebration is what Christ gives:
new life in Baptism and himself in the Holy Eucharist.
6. Continuing as a new Catholic
Christian initiation is a beginning, not a graduation.
After Baptism, the child is called a neophyte — a newly baptised Christian.
The family and parish continue helping the child to grow through Sunday Mass, Holy Communion, Confession, daily prayer, Catholic teaching, charity and parish life.
My Christian Initiation Catechism
Preparing for Baptism and First Holy Communion
Our parish uses My Christian Initiation Catechism as the ordinary preparation resource for unbaptised children who have reached the age of reason.
It contains sixteen short Catholic conversations:
- God Calls Me
- The One God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Creation, Sin and the Promise of Salvation
- Jesus Christ Our Saviour
- The Paschal Mystery
- The Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church
- Faith, the Creed and Sacred Tradition
- Prayer and the Christian Life
- The Commandments, Sin and Conversion
- The Journey of a Catechumen
- Holy Baptism
- The Signs and Celebration of Baptism
- The Holy Eucharist and the Real Presence
- The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
- Receiving First Holy Communion
- Living as a New Catholic
The book also contains:
- the journey of initiation step by step;
- a guide to the Rite of Baptism;
- a child’s guide to Mass and Holy Communion;
- the prayers the child needs to learn;
- a summary catechism;
- a readiness guide;
- and guidance for parents, catechists and priests.
DOWNLOAD MY CHRISTIAN INITIATION CATECHISM
How preparation works
The catechism contains the ordinary teaching needed for each conversation.
The catechism is the lesson.
There is no need for parents or catechists to invent additional worksheets, projects or complicated lessons.
The child works through the sixteen conversations with a parent, parish catechist or suitable mentor, according to the arrangements made with the parish.
Each conversation follows a simple pattern:
REMEMBER → SHORT TEACHING → TALK ABOUT IT → LEARN THESE ANSWERS → PRAYER → THIS WEEK
The child should first be encouraged to answer questions in their own words.
The short catechism answers then help to make the essential Catholic teaching clear and memorable.
One conversation at a time is enough.
A conversation may be repeated, divided or adapted when necessary.
If something needs more explanation, stay with it.
There is no prize for finishing quickly.
The book supplies the lesson; the family and parish supply the journey.
The catechism does not replace Sunday Mass, prayer, Christian example, personal accompaniment, the Church’s liturgical rites or pastoral discernment.
Sunday Mass comes first
Christian initiation belongs within the worshipping life of the Church.
Coming to Sunday Mass is therefore an essential part of the child’s journey.
Before Baptism, the child cannot yet receive Holy Communion. They are nevertheless warmly invited to worship with us, listen to Sacred Scripture, join the prayers and gradually become familiar with the Mass and parish community.
Children learn the Catholic faith not only from a book, but by seeing it lived.
They learn by:
- coming to Mass with their family;
- hearing the Word of God;
- making the Sign of the Cross;
- praying with the Church;
- observing the sacred actions of the Mass;
- seeing Catholics receive Holy Communion reverently;
- practising forgiveness and charity;
- and gradually becoming at home within the parish.
If your family has not been attending Mass regularly, do not wait until everything feels perfect.
Simply begin.
Parents and family life
Parents remain the first educators of their children in the faith.
You do not need to be a trained catechist or know the answer to every question.
The most important things are simple:
Come to Sunday Mass together.
Work through the catechism conversations.
Pray with your child.
Read the Gospels together.
Speak naturally about Jesus and the Catholic faith.
Practise forgiveness and charity at home.
Help your child learn the basic Catholic prayers.
Encourage questions.
Show by your own life that Baptism and Holy Communion matter.
If it has been some time since you came to Mass or received the Sacraments yourself, your child’s preparation can also become a gentle opportunity for the whole family to begin again.
Parents are not expected to pretend that everything is perfect.
Honesty and a willingness to take the next step matter much more.
Godparents and sponsors
A godparent is not simply an honorary role or someone chosen because they are close to the family.
A godparent helps the newly baptised child to live faithfully according to the grace and responsibilities of Baptism.
A Catholic godparent should ordinarily:
- be chosen because they genuinely intend to fulfil the role;
- be a Catholic who has been Confirmed and has received the Holy Eucharist;
- live a life of faith consistent with the responsibility;
- be at least sixteen years old, unless a lawful exception applies;
- not be bound by a canonical penalty;
- and not be the father or mother of the child.
One Catholic godparent is sufficient.
If two godparents are chosen, one is male and one female.
A baptised non-Catholic Christian may take part as a Christian witness alongside a Catholic godparent.
During the catechumenate, the child may also be accompanied by a sponsor who supports them in prayer, faith and parish life. The sponsor may later serve as the child’s godparent if they meet the Church’s requirements.
If you are unsure whom to choose, please ask before making firm arrangements.
Baptism, Confession and Holy Communion
Holy Baptism
Baptism is not merely a public sign of a decision already made.
It is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in which God gives new birth by water and the Holy Spirit.
At the heart of the celebration, the child is baptised with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Through this Sacrament, the child receives sanctifying grace and is incorporated into Christ and his Church.
Because Baptism leaves a permanent spiritual character, it can never be repeated.
Does the child make First Confession before Baptism?
No.
An unbaptised child cannot receive sacramental Confession because Confession is a Sacrament for those who are already baptised.
Baptism itself forgives:
- original sin;
- every personal sin committed before Baptism;
- and all punishment due to those sins.
The child is nevertheless taught about right and wrong, sin, repentance, examination of conscience and God’s mercy.
They learn to turn away from sin and towards Jesus Christ.
If First Holy Communion follows Baptism as part of the initiation celebration, First Confession does not come before it because the newly baptised child comes from Baptism free from every sin.
After Baptism, Confession becomes part of the child’s ordinary Catholic life. If Holy Communion takes place at a later celebration, the parish priest will determine whether Confession is appropriate beforehand.
First Holy Communion
In Holy Communion, the child receives Jesus Christ himself.
After the consecration, Jesus is truly, really and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
The Holy Eucharist is not ordinary bread, merely a symbol or a reward for completing preparation.
It is the Body and Blood of Christ.
The child is therefore taught:
- who Jesus Christ is;
- what happens at the consecration;
- the meaning of the Real Presence;
- that the Mass makes present Christ’s one Sacrifice of Calvary;
- how to approach Holy Communion reverently;
- how to answer “Amen” as a profession of faith;
- and how to pray in thanksgiving after receiving Our Lord.
Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist belong together as the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
Because a child who has reached the use of reason follows the Church’s discipline for adult initiation, a suitably prepared child will ordinarily receive:
Baptism → Confirmation → First Holy Communion
These sacraments are normally celebrated together and in their proper order. The child does not make sacramental Confession before Baptism because Baptism itself forgives original sin and every personal sin committed beforehand.
If a grave reason requires a different arrangement, the parish priest will explain this and ensure that the Church’s liturgical and diocesan requirements are followed.
When is a child ready?
Readiness does not mean perfect memory, advanced theological language or the ability to pass a public examination.
According to their age and capacity, the child should gradually be able to:
- express a personal desire for Baptism;
- know that there is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
- know who Jesus Christ is;
- understand simply that Jesus died and rose again to save us from sin;
- recognise the Catholic Church as the family into which they are being received;
- understand that Baptism gives new life in Christ and forgives sin;
- begin praying personally and with the Church;
- distinguish simply between temptation, mistakes and deliberately chosen sin;
- participate regularly in Sunday Mass;
- believe that the consecrated Eucharist is truly Jesus Christ and not ordinary bread or merely a symbol;
- understand how to receive Holy Communion reverently;
- and show a willingness to continue living as a Catholic afterwards.
The catechist and the parish priest accompany this discernment together.
Preparation is not a public examination.
A child should never be shamed, frightened or pressured to receive a Sacrament.
The parish priest makes the final pastoral judgement about readiness.
Medical, disability or additional needs
A disability, learning difference, medical condition or communication need does not by itself prevent a child from receiving Baptism or Holy Communion.
Please speak with the parish early if your child has:
- a disability or learning difference;
- sensory or communication needs;
- difficulty reading or remembering;
- coeliac disease;
- difficulty swallowing;
- anxiety about unfamiliar places or ceremonies;
- or another medical or practical need.
Preparation can be adapted to the child’s capacity while preserving the integrity and reverence of the Sacraments.
Appropriate arrangements should always be made with the family and parish priest rather than improvised privately.
PARISH SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION
What if our circumstances are complicated?
Please speak with the parish priest early if:
- you are unsure whether your child has ever been baptised;
- your child was baptised in another Christian community;
- your child was baptised or chrismated in an Eastern Christian Church;
- one parent does not consent to Baptism;
- your family has been away from Sunday Mass;
- you are unsure about choosing a godparent;
- your child has additional needs;
- or there is another sacramental, family or pastoral situation causing concern.
Please do not stay away because you think your circumstances will make you unwelcome.
The purpose of an early conversation is to understand the child’s situation properly and find the correct pathway.
It is much easier to address questions honestly at the beginning than to discover them shortly before the Sacraments.
After Baptism and First Holy Communion
Baptism and First Holy Communion are beginnings, not finish lines.
The grace of the Sacraments is intended to shape the whole of the child’s life.
Afterwards, children should be helped to continue:
Sunday Mass · Holy Communion · regular Confession · daily prayer · Sacred Scripture · Catholic teaching · charity · forgiveness · parish life
The newly baptised child will also continue through a period of Mystagogy.
Mystagogy means being led more deeply into the mystery of the Sacraments already received.
The child now learns what it means to live from the grace of Baptism, receive Jesus faithfully in Holy Communion, turn to Christ in Confession and belong actively to the Catholic Church.
The parish and family continue to accompany the child towards later preparation for Confirmation and a mature Catholic life.
There is no graduation from being a Catholic.
The Lord who calls a child into his Church also calls that child to holiness, perseverance and mission.
Ready to begin?
If your child is aged seven or over, has not been baptised and would like to begin preparing for Baptism and First Holy Communion, please contact the parish.
The first step is not simply filling in a form or downloading a book.
It is a conversation about your child, your family and how we can accompany you towards the Sacraments.
We will help establish the correct sacramental pathway, provide My Christian Initiation Catechism and explain how the preparation will work.
You do not need to have everything sorted out before getting in touch.
Simply begin.
Where: St Mary’s, St John Bosco or St Edward’s
Contact: Fr John Owens
Email: john.owens@dioceseofnottingham.uk
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5
Baptism gives new life in Christ.
The Holy Eucharist nourishes that life.
The Church accompanies the child as that life grows.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 