Christening

Dad11

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me what the cost of getting a baby baptised.is. How much.do we pay the church ?

Thks

Jason

Onesimus

There is no cost. Sacraments are always free. There is either a suggested donation or you can donate if you want out of your own free will .

martinedwards

the question that arises in my mind is why are you asking us and not the church where you'll be getting the child baptised?

don't you know the folks there well enough to ask?

if you aren't a believer and attender then why on earth would you want to go through a ceremony that means nothing to you?

the parents make vows before God to bring up the child as a Christian, in the body of the church.

if you aren't a member of the church then it's pretty unlikely that you will keep those vows.

an un baptised child isn't going to wither and die, (ask any of those branches of the church that practice adult or believers baptism!) and if the young 'un decides to follow a faith in later life that can be baptised then.

Run_to_da_hills

The cost of getting a baby baptized for a lot of people would be how much would be needed for the pub on the day.

Cato Maior

Onesimus wrote: »

There is no cost. Sacraments are always free. There is either a suggested donation or you can donate if you want out of your own free will .

The local RC church has a price list up for sacraments etc.

The last PP (who seems to have been a virtuous man) refused to take any money for baptism on a point of principle but the new man is a little more financially minded.

Cato Maior

martinedwards wrote: »

the question that arises in my mind is why are you asking us and not the church where you'll be getting the child baptised?

don't you know the folks there well enough to ask?

if you aren't a believer and attender then why on earth would you want to go through a ceremony that means nothing to you?

the parents make vows before God to bring up the child as a Christian, in the body of the church.

if you aren't a member of the church then it's pretty unlikely that you will keep those vows.

an un baptised child isn't going to wither and die, (ask any of those branches of the church that practice adult or believers baptism!) and if the young 'un decides to follow a faith in later life that can be baptised then.

You are underestimating the grief and hassle some would suffer from parents and relatives if they did not get their child baptised. I've been at a baptism where one of the parents and the godfather were atheists. No one seemed to care (the priest was aware that the godfather was an atheist).

Manach

Given that in the norm, this boards is a community (at times fractious) believers, then asking here is of equal locus standi than asking offline.

Based on relative's experience, the Priests are mostly unconcerned with the pricing of the ceremony, pay what you can afford, but it is customary to invite them to drinks/dinner afterwards.

Onesimus

Cato Maior wrote: »

The local RC church has a price list up for sacraments etc.

The last PP (who seems to have been a virtuous man) refused to take any money for baptism on a point of principle but the new man is a little more financially minded.

What parish would that be if you don't mind me asking? And in what form of words is all these prices listed? Are you sure this list does not state it is a suggestion of donations?

If not then a letter of complaint to the local bishop should be made asap.

Cato Maior

Onesimus wrote: »

What parish would that be if you don't mind me asking? And in what form of words is all these prices listed? Are you sure this list does not state it is a suggestion of donations?

If not then a letter of complaint to the local bishop should be made asap.

It is titled 'Charges'. As far as I'm aware complaints about this and several other matters have already been made to the Archbishop.

neemish

Cato Maior wrote: »

It is titled 'Charges'. As far as I'm aware complaints about this and several other matters have already been made to the Archbishop.

This is completely disgraceful! the Church cannot and does not charge for Sacraments - there can be a suggested donation, but only if it can be afforded. Or a Parish can charge for use of the Church, but not for any Ceremony that takes place.

lmaopml

Dad11 wrote: »

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me what the cost of getting a baby baptised.is. How much.do we pay the church ?

Thks

Jason

Hi Dad11,

I am a Mum of two little ones and I have never paid for them being 'Christened' - it's an exciting day for you and your family to have your little one baptised- take it in the right spirit and please don't mind this forum, ask your local parish - there is no 'charge' for baptising your child, usually there are a number of baptisms on any given day.

Best of luck.

bonniebede

Dad11 wrote: »

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me what the cost of getting a baby baptised.is. How much.do we pay the church ?

Thks

Jason

Lets see. When you baptise the baby you promise to bring the child up in the faith.
This means that you will be attending the Mass every sunday with the Child; every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation (six days) for the next eighteen years (subtracting the age of the baby at baptism).

During that time the law of the Church which says that you are obliged to support your pastor (the priest) applies.

Presuming that the baby is 2 months old when baptised, that means you will be going to Mass 1036 times over the next years.

If you make a E1 donation at each mass, you will obviously be paying Euro1036 over that time frame.

However, although current church law does not stipulate an amount which the donation should be, the tradition, based on scripture and previous church legislation would suggest that your donation should be 10% of your income, which is a tithe.

This means that over the eighteen years you would be contributing, roughly, if one takes the CSo's average earnings rate of 700euros per week, that you will contribute 70 euros per week to your church, for a total donation over the time your are raising your child of E72,520.

Of course, you may feel your local priest does not need all this, and divide this amount among other places which contribute such as the local catholic school where your child recieves an education, or to lay persons involved in running your church or supporting your childs faith in some way.

Apart from the monetary aspect it will also cost you:

Time invested in learning the faith, and handing it on to your child. To do this adequately will take many hours.

It will involve ensuring that your relationship with the childs mother stays healthy, so as to maximise the possibility of remaining in contact with your child and having an influence on them.

you will want to choose a catholic education for your child, whether at home or in a school which caters for this, alternatively you will be supplementing there school education in a non catholic environment with lessons at home.

As you are the main example in your childs live, it will cost a lot of personal effort to be the sort of father that your child admires, looks up to and learns from. This will include the cost of curbing bad habits, progressing in virtue and so on.

It is imposssible to do the job you are publically declaring you will do at your childs baptism without paryer and fasting. How much you do is up to you, one practic some friends of mine have is to give up something you like, like jam or chocolate, for each child you have as a perpetual fast for them. In terms of prayer you could start with offering one 'Our father' every day for the child.

Its an amazing thing to be committed to your own faith that you are willing to stand up in public and declare that this is the way you will be raising your child, so I am sure many of us here will be wishing you well and praying for you.

Pwpane

There may be no charge by the celebrant (though a donation is usually expected) but incredible as it may seem, there could be a charge for the use of the church. Perhaps it disturbs the proper running of the church if a sacrament is performed there. You could ask about both costs at the church office.

Doc Farrell

About 50 quid but if money's tight just talk to the man and if he's not a nutter it'll cost nothing. If he is a bit crazy send an email to the bishops office and he'll more than likely refund you.

You don't have to give up jam or start tithing. Unless you want to....

Cato Maior

Doc Farrell wrote: »

About 50 quid but if money's tight just talk to the man and if he's not a nutter it'll cost nothing. If he is a bit crazy send an email to the bishops office and he'll more than likely refund you.

You don't have to give up jam or start tithing. Unless you want to....

Yes, that a jam-less life was the cost of Christianity is a new one on me.

Dad11

****.me.i.only.wanted to.know.if.there.was.a.cost. Thats all! Nutters!

Onesimus

Dad11 wrote: »

****.me.i.only.wanted to.know.if.there.was.a.cost. Thats all! Nutters!

I was thinking the same thing

unklerosco

martinedwards wrote: »

if you aren't a believer and attender then why on earth would you want to go through a ceremony that means nothing to you?

Depending on the area it helps to get them into school... I know many parents that have done this....

bonniebede

Dad11 wrote: »

****.me.i.only.wanted to.know.if.there.was.a.cost. Thats all! Nutters!

oops.:o:D