Hiya,
Is anyone planning on getting their little one christened? Im not a church goer so i dont know much about it but i want to get Seren christened as a catholic. does anyone know if you have to pay the church or if me and my fiance will have to go for lessons?
Thanx
Nicola and Seren Emilee (5 weeks)
xxx

Hi Nicola,

I only just read your post today, and thought I would add my tuppence worth.

I am a practising Catholic, so I can say for sure you wont be asked to pay anything. That is definately not what it is all about. It is not like you are renting a public building and hiring the priest - all that is there for you and everybody else who needs it, anytime.

As for lessons, yes some parishes do this, some do not, it really depends on where you live, which parish you live in.

If you are not practising, I would be very interested to know why you chose Catholic? (good choice) Sometimes when we have kids it makes us stop and think a little about our own lives and what are the best things we can do to help our children.

Baptising your precious one is really a step in the right direction, you wont find any other Church which supports the family unit more than the Catholic Church, and what Seren Emilee needs more than anything else is her own father and mother to stay together and bring her up.

You say your childs dad is your fiance - you might even consider getting married in the same Church. Their marriage prep programs really make you think, and you wont have to pay for the church for your wedding either (what I wrote above still applies...).

God Bless

Siobhan

From my own experience with the Catholic church and wanting to christen our children we were asked if we were practising catholics, i.e if we went to mass every week and if we were baptised ourselves in the catholic church. I know it differs from one church to the next, but I'm pretty certain the priest in a catholic church will ask you to go to church and to raise your child going to church. In most cases for a christening or a wedding you would be asked these questions. Also, it has been our experience to be expected to attend mass each week for several months before been given a date for the christening and to remain going to church afterwards. In our church we were never asked for a fee only a donation. I know with my sister she has been asked for £600 for church fees for her wedding next year, for the flowers and such things, but she's getting married in a Church Of England so it differs again. Hope some of this helps.

gnh08

Usually if you are member of the church there is no fee. It is just a gift to God. It is showing that you commit to raising your baby in the way he would have you to. I do not know about catholic because I am a Baptist. Just ask your pastor. I would like for you to view my site at www.babylookatmenow.com to view my christening gowns. I am working on one right now that is too precious. I hope this helped.

Im having my son christened in a few weeks, he will be 8 months. Im not 100% sure but i think its free, well i know ours will be so i guess its the same for every church. Im not a church goer either and dont think it really matters, whats important is that you want to get your little one christened and give them the best start in life. I was christened as a baby and so were most of my family, i also got married in a church but thats as far as my church going goes! You wont be asked to attent lessons but our church asks for mums and dads to attend one evening (start of the month that your having the christening)just to chat and introduce yourself to the vicar. This may vary from place to place but im sure its all very similar. I would say, if you have not already that is to give them a call, book it and just take it from there.

Good luck and all the best

Marie & Joshua