Baptisms take place in The Church of the Defence Forces, Arbour Hill on the third Saturday of the month at 12 noon, following a request to the office of the Head Chaplain.

Why do we Christians baptize? After his Resurrection and before he ascended to the Father, the Lord gathered his disciples one last time and said to them: “”All authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Mt 28: 18 – 20).” The Church baptizes because the Lord has commanded us to do so.

Anyone who has faith and desires it. For adults seeking baptism, it involves a one year period of preparation and the reception of the Sacrament with the parish community at the vigil Mass of Easter on Holy Saturday night.
Parents who wish to have their children baptized. The baptism of babies depends, not on the faith of the baby, but rather on the faith of the parents. It is presumed therefore that the parents (or at least one of them) are practicing members of the Catholic community and that the child will be brought up in the practice of the faith. In fact, the parents solemnly promise to do this during the baptismal ceremony.

A copy of your child’’s birth certificate is required in order to accurately register the baptism. The Church of the Defence Forces, Arbour Hill is not a parish church, so baptisms are registered in The Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street. (Parish Office, Tel: 8386 232)

They have a two-fold responsibility:
• To assist the parents in discharging their duties as Christian parents
• To be a model of Christian living to the child in question

Hence some people may not be suitable as godparents.

A sponsor must be:
• Not less than 16 years of age
• Be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith

A baptised person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted but only in company with a catholic sponsor and simply as a witness to the baptism.