Baptisms are going to be done a bit differently for the near future while we try to protect everyone involved. We are setting up a separate space in our parish halls to do this where no one has been present anytime before your arrival. Please note Baptisms are only on Sunday. And only one family and their guests will be celebrating the Sacrament. Please remember to practice social distancing, wear masks, sanitize your hands upon entry, and respect each other's social bubbles. 

If your Baptism is at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, you will wait until you see everyone has left the mass (so 12:00 p.m.). You will enter the church from the carport entrance over on the office side of the church.You must sanitize your hands. You will take either the elevator or the stairs and go downstairs to the Sunday School Room. If you decided to go to mass before the Baptism you will be asked to stay in your seat until the church is empty and then someone will direct you out to the elevators/stairs to go downstairs, so you may go to mass the same day as the Baptism if you wish. 

If your Baptism is at St Bernard's you will wait until 10:00 am till everyone has left. You will be entering the church from the side entrance only.You must sanitize your hands. Please go downstairs to the Parish hall and do not enter the church. If you decide to go to mass before the Baptism, please remain seated until the church is empty and someone will escort you to where you need to go.

If your Baptism is at St Cecilia's you will wait until 10:00 until everyone has left. You will enter the church from the new handicap entrance, sanitize your hands and use the stairs or the elevator to go downstairs. Please do not enter the church.  If you have decided to go to mass before the Baptism then you must wait in your seat until the church is empty and someone will escort you to where you need to go.

If your Baptism is at St Mary's, you will wait until mass is finished and then proceed to the the parish hall entrance behind the office at 12:00 p.m. When you enter the hall you will sanitize your hands and proceed up the stairs to the right and into the upper hall. Do not enter the church. IF you attended mass before the Baptism then remain seated until all have left the mass, then someone will escort you to join the others for Baptism. 

We are very happy to celebrate Baptism with you. We are taking all the best measures to protect you. Please you too take the measures you need to take. Take your temperature before coming. Do not be with anyone who has covid symptoms or has traveled in the last 14 days. Please wear a mask and sanitize your hands. Please remember to keep 6 feet apart and respect one another's  social groupings. Please remember the day is the first day of the rest of your child's journey with their faith family, the Catholic Church. We welcome you. We praise God for you. We hope you come back again. 

For now we know some families are not coming to mass for safety reasons. That is understandable. We hope you will check out our live streaming mass on our Catholic Family of Parishes website and  our Face book page. 
Until then, take care, stay safe and God bless you, from all of us here at the Catholic Family of Parishes in Norfolk.

Kathryn Heemskerk

Baptism