Background Notes for Parents and Carers

About the Theme – The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament. A sacrament is something that uses signs – usually a combination of words and actions. The signs are not just words and actions that have a message for those who are celebrating it; they give those who receive them a gift. This gift (which Catholics call ‘grace’), is given by Jesus whom they meet in the Sacrament, to deepen and develop their relationship with him. Through the sacraments God helps Catholics grow in friendship with him. The Catholic Church has declared that there are 7 sacraments which celebrate special events in the lives of Catholics: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy orders.

Baptism is an invitation to join the Church family. When a baby or younger child is baptised, the parents accept the invitation on behalf of their child. Older children and adults accept the invitation themselves. Often adults are baptised at Easter. Baptism is a special time for the person who is to be baptised, for their family and friends and the parish community.

Sometimes the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated when the parish family is gathered together for Mass. At other times family and friends come together in church at another time.

YEAR 1 Throughout the topic there are opportunities for you to help your child make the sign of the cross, to pray and to listen to how much God loves them. Your child will be able to learn about Baptism and to know some of the signs and symbols including some of the words that are used in the sacrament. They will learn about the role of parents and godparents and how when the invitation to belong to God’s family is accepted, a Christian is called to live in the light and love of Christ

This is a simplified outline of the rite of Baptism:

The welcome and signing with the sign of the cross.

Listening to Gods Word

Anointing with the oil of catechumens

Blessing of or thanksgiving over the baptismal water

Baptismal Promises

Baptism

Anointing with chrism

Presentation of the white garment

Presentation of the lighted candle

OverviewKey Vocabulary YEAR 1

Baptism is an invitation to belong to God’s familyBAPTISM/CONFIRMATION – BELONGING

sign of the crossbelongfriendsinvitationreply accept welcome Baptism godparents signsacramentoil water white garment candle

Baptism enables people to belong to God’s family in a special way. Christians believe that everyone is invited to share in the life and work of God through Baptism.

Children will know and understand:

• About belonging to different groups

• That Baptism is an invitation to belong to God’s family

See Background Notes for Parents and Carers

Week 1: Talk to your child about the different groups that he/she belongs to, for example swimming, Rainbows, Beavers, dancing, football, choir etc. Talk to them about how they feel about belonging to that group. What helps to make people feel they belong? Do they have a special badge?

Look at the picture (see below). Talk about the different ways of belonging shown in the picture, for example a team playing together, a pair playing hopscotch together, the teacher signing, two children with their arms around each other, the artwork of handprints on the window. Make a badge to show what groups they belong to or their family or school badge.

Week 2: Using the picture (see below) retell the story of Jesus with your child. Explain how Jesus loves everyone and how we all belong to Jesus’ family. Ask children to add themselves to the picture and add some speech bubbles showing what people are saying and what Jesus is saying.

Week 3: Using the pictures from resources talk about a new baby coming home and how it is made welcome in the family where it belongs. The Church family also gathers to welcome the new baby, who through Baptism belongs to the Church family. Baptism is the first Sacrament. Explain that a sacrament is the celebration of God’s presence at special moments in our lives. God says to us; ‘I am with you and I love you.’ Godparents have a special job to help the child follow Jesus. The child receives a candle to remind them to follow God’s light Discuss the questions beside the pictures Make a little storyboard of the picture

Week 4: Look at the key vocabulary for this topic and use it to remember all we have learnt about Baptism. Celebrate with a simple Act of Worship (see below).

Year 1

For children in Year 1, the focus is very much on how we belong – to our family and other groups e.g. school, community groups, parish. Your child will have the opportunity to learn about how Baptism is an invitation to belong to God’s family.

Week 1: Talk to your child about the different groups that he/she belongs to, for example swimming, Rainbows, Beavers, dancing, football, choir etc. Talk to them about how they feel about belonging to that group. What helps to make people feel they belong? Do they have a special badge?

What groups or clubs do you belong to? What do you do in the group? How does it feel to belong to the group? What helps people to feel that they belong? How would someone know that you belong to the group? (e.g. by badges,

uniform, special skills) How can we help a new child in our class to feel that they belong?

Look at the picture (see below). Talk about the different ways of belonging shown in the picture e.g. a team playing together, a pair playing hopscotch together, the teacher signing, two children with their arms around each other, the artwork of handprints on the window.

Make a badge to show what groups they belong to or their family or school badge.

Week 2: Using the picture (see below) retell the story of Jesus with your child. Explain how Jesus loves everyone and how we all belong to Jesus’ family.

Ask children to add themselves to the picture and add some speech bubbles showing what people are saying and what Jesus is saying.

Week 3: Using the pictures (see below) talk about a new baby coming home and how it is made welcome in the family where it belongs. The Church family also gathers to welcome the new baby, who through Baptism belongs to the Church family. Baptism is the first Sacrament. Explain that a sacrament is the celebration of God’s presence at special moments in our lives. God says to us; ‘I am with you and I love you.’ Godparents have a special job to help the child follow Jesus. The child receives a candle to remind them to follow God’s light Discuss the questions beside the pictures.

Make a little storyboard of the picture

Week 4: Look at the key vocabulary for this topic and use it to remember all we have learnt about Baptism. Celebrate with a simple Act of Worship (see below).

Year 1

Week 1:

Week 1

Week 2:

Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not stop them... He took the children into his arms and placed his hands on each of them and blessed them.

(Mark 10: 13-16 Good News Bible)

Week 3:

Who can you see in the three pictures?

What are each of the people in the picture doing?

This is the first sacrament. What is it called?

Why do you think parents choose to have their child baptised?

How do godparents help the child?

Week 4: Act of Worship “BELONGING”

You may like to set up a little prayer space any of the following: Bible, White cloth to cover the tableBowl (and jug) of water, white candle or their baptismal candle if you have one, white shawl (or cloth)Container of oil and a baby doll

Say as you light the candle

The sign of the cross is a sign of belonging to the Christian family. It is also a sign that we belong to a family of people all over the world who believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit. So let’s begin our prayer with this special sign and prayer….In the name of the Father….

We have been learning all about Baptism in our topic called ‘Belonging’. We have talked about all the different groups that we belong to in school, at church and in the neighbourhood.

We all belong to God’s family. In our topic we have also learned about the different things that happen during a baptism which are signs to show that the person who is baptised belongs to the Church’s family.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Mark

Glory to You, O Lord.

People brought their little children to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to put his hand on the children and bless them. Jesus’ friends told the people off for annoying him, but when

Jesus heard his friends, he was cross. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them. Little people like these need God’s blessing.” Then Jesus put his arms round the little children, put his hand on their heads, and blessed them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ

We know that we all belong to God’s family and that Jesus welcomed and loved children. Think back to the story you have just heard about Jesus and the children and imagine what it must have felt like to be one of the children who were there with him at that time. Let us speak quietly to Jesus in our hearts and ask him to help us to remember that we belong to him and are part of his family….

For belonging to a family - Thank you God our FatherFor belonging to my class - Thank you God our FatherFor belonging to my school - Thank you God our FatherFor belonging to God’s family - Thank you God our Father

Say together:

I belong to your family Jesus, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Gathering together

We listen to God’s Word

We respond

We go out