Care for parents before and after baptism.
Baptism Journey
About this journey
The goal of this journey is to offer spiritual support to the baptism process you already have in your parish. The hope is to offer practical resources and care to those with a new child, build deeper connection between them and the parish community, and point them towards God’s guidance and care for them.
These emails can be added to your baptism process or edited to include the steps outlined in your parish. These emails do not include specific steps to signing up for baptism.
Customize for your parish
Everything in this package is ready-made for you to use as is or edit to make it more your own. We've created fully customizable templates in the free-to-use online design tool, Canva. Use all the assets together or pick and choose what makes sense for your community.
Parishioner emails
In the first few months of a growing family, offer pastoral moments to celebrate a new child and clarify steps towards baptism.
In the first few months of a growing family, offer pastoral moments to celebrate a new child and clarify steps towards baptism.
Celebrate a growing family.
Congratulations on the arrival of your little one.
Dear [NAMES OF PARENTS]
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby [boy/girl] [, NAME of BABY if known]. Having a newborn child in your arms is one of God's greatest blessings. We look forward to meeting your precious little one when you feel rested and ready to take that step.
Until then, we are praying for you and your family - especially that you can get good sleep between all the feedings and that God can richly bless your transition to having this precious addition to your family.
I can think of three things that may interest you:
- If you are still recovering and cannot attend Church on Sundays, we would love to bring you Holy Communion. We have a fantastic team of Eucharistic Ministers who would love to bring Jesus to you.
- If at any time you are homebound and need to go to confession, please feel free to reach out, and I will find an appropriate time to visit.
- Here at [NAME OF PARISH], we have a meal-train ministry for families with newborns. If you could use some ready-made delicious home-cooked meals so you can have a break from cooking, you can contact our Meal Reain Coordinator, [NAME], at [email] or [phone]
Lastly, as you start organizing the practical details of having a new person in this world (such as Birth Certificate, Government ID, Social Insurance Number, CERB payments, etc.), now is the time to start planning for your little one's/[NAME of BABY if known] baptism.
The Catholic Church believes that when your little one/[NAME of BABY if known] is baptized, [he/she] receives a special grace over [his/her] life, receives the Holy Spirit, and is welcomed into our community of faith. It's a very exciting and vital step in the life of every Catholic.
Although not necessary and not always possible, parents like to line up their child's baptism day with a significant feast day in the church calendar or a beloved saint to the family. You can search online for "Catholic Saint of the day [and the day you are thinking of]." We recommend having your child's/[NAME of Child if known] baptism within the first 2-4 months after birth.
When choosing godparents for your child, we invite you to pray for the Holy Spirit's direction. You want mentors for your child who will support you in God's vision to enrich your child's faith life. You are also looking for people who can be a "faith safety net" for your child/[NAME of Child if known] so they will have two other faith-filled people to lean into when times get tough. (Something to note: at least one of your godparents needs to be baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith.)
When the time is right, call our Parish Receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #] to schedule a date and book your child's baptism.
God bless, and once again, congratulations on the arrival of your newborn,
(Name of Pastor)
P.S. Our offer about communion, confession, and the meal train stands. Please let us know if there is any other way we can help.
P.p.s. There's no pressure to rush your child to get baptized if you're unready. We recommend the baptism happens within the first 2-4 months after birth. If we don't hear from you within the next month or two, our Parish Receptionist or I can check in with you about organizing your baptism.
Dear [NAMES OF PARENTS]
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby [boy/girl] [, NAME of BABY if known]. Having a newborn child in your arms is one of God's greatest blessings. We look forward to meeting your precious little one when you feel rested and ready to take that step.
Until then, we are praying for you and your family - especially that you can get good sleep between all the feedings and that God can richly bless your transition to having this precious addition to your family.
I can think of three things that may interest you:
- If you are still recovering and cannot attend Church on Sundays, we would love to bring you Holy Communion. We have a fantastic team of Eucharistic Ministers who would love to bring Jesus to you.
- If at any time you are homebound and need to go to confession, please feel free to reach out, and I will find an appropriate time to visit.
- Here at [NAME OF PARISH], we have a meal-train ministry for families with newborns. If you could use some ready-made delicious home-cooked meals so you can have a break from cooking, you can contact our Meal Reain Coordinator, [NAME], at [email] or [phone]
Lastly, as you start organizing the practical details of having a new person in this world (such as Birth Certificate, Government ID, Social Insurance Number, CERB payments, etc.), now is the time to start planning for your little one's/[NAME of BABY if known] baptism.
The Catholic Church believes that when your little one/[NAME of BABY if known] is baptized, [he/she] receives a special grace over [his/her] life, receives the Holy Spirit, and is welcomed into our community of faith. It's a very exciting and vital step in the life of every Catholic.
Although not necessary and not always possible, parents like to line up their child's baptism day with a significant feast day in the church calendar or a beloved saint to the family. You can search online for "Catholic Saint of the day [and the day you are thinking of]." We recommend having your child's/[NAME of Child if known] baptism within the first 2-4 months after birth.
When choosing godparents for your child, we invite you to pray for the Holy Spirit's direction. You want mentors for your child who will support you in God's vision to enrich your child's faith life. You are also looking for people who can be a "faith safety net" for your child/[NAME of Child if known] so they will have two other faith-filled people to lean into when times get tough. (Something to note: at least one of your godparents needs to be baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith.)
When the time is right, call our Parish Receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #] to schedule a date and book your child's baptism.
God bless, and once again, congratulations on the arrival of your newborn,
(Name of Pastor)
P.S. Our offer about communion, confession, and the meal train stands. Please let us know if there is any other way we can help.
P.p.s. There's no pressure to rush your child to get baptized if you're unready. We recommend the baptism happens within the first 2-4 months after birth. If we don't hear from you within the next month or two, our Parish Receptionist or I can check in with you about organizing your baptism.
Confirmation sign-up & next steps for first time parents.
Your child is signed up for baptism confirmation!
Hi (*NAME*),
Congratulations [again (if the "newborn email" was sent)] on bringing a new soul into this world. God chose you for this little soul, to raise them and show them how deeply He loves them.
I hope these first days or months have been a beautiful time, in all the highs and lows of transitioning into this new season of life.
First, I'm reaching out to see how you are doing. I am praying for you, your family and your new little one. What a gift to be united in prayer as we spiritually prepare for one of your child's most significant milestones in life - baptism.
Second, I'm checking in to connect with you about the details regarding the baptism, as there are some things we need to start planning for.
- Have you booked the baptism date? If not, call our receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #], who will help you solidify a date.
- Have you decided on godparents yet? Finding the right ones can make a massive difference when you need to lean on someone to help you and your child navigate a life of faith amid life's challenges.
- If you have questions about baptism, sacraments, Church, or life, I would love to help you navigate them. I have added some food for thought on baptism and godparents below.
Some things to think about before baptism
What is the point of baptism?
The Catholic Church believes that when your child is baptized, they receive a special grace over their life, the Holy Spirit, and are welcomed into our faith community.
On a higher level, the Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, making us sons and daughters of God and members of the Body of Christ and freeing us from sin. We are welcomed into the Catholic Church and the faith community through baptism. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Baptism enables us to receive the other sacraments and to grow in the life of the Risen Christ.
Start thinking about godparents.
The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
In Christ,
(Pastor's Name)
Hi (*NAME*),
Congratulations [again (if the "newborn email" was sent)] on bringing a new soul into this world. God chose you for this little soul, to raise them and show them how deeply He loves them.
I hope these first days or months have been a beautiful time, in all the highs and lows of transitioning into this new season of life.
First, I'm reaching out to see how you are doing. I am praying for you, your family and your new little one. What a gift to be united in prayer as we spiritually prepare for one of your child's most significant milestones in life - baptism.
Second, I'm checking in to connect with you about the details regarding the baptism, as there are some things we need to start planning for.
- Have you booked the baptism date? If not, call our receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #], who will help you solidify a date.
- Have you decided on godparents yet? Finding the right ones can make a massive difference when you need to lean on someone to help you and your child navigate a life of faith amid life's challenges.
- If you have questions about baptism, sacraments, Church, or life, I would love to help you navigate them. I have added some food for thought on baptism and godparents below.
Some things to think about before baptism
What is the point of baptism?
The Catholic Church believes that when your child is baptized, they receive a special grace over their life, the Holy Spirit, and are welcomed into our faith community.
On a higher level, the Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, making us sons and daughters of God and members of the Body of Christ and freeing us from sin. We are welcomed into the Catholic Church and the faith community through baptism. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Baptism enables us to receive the other sacraments and to grow in the life of the Risen Christ.
Start thinking about godparents.
The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
In Christ,
(Pastor's Name)
Confirmation sign-up & details for second-time parents.
Your child is signed up for baptism confirmation!
Hi (Name),
Congratulations on bringing a new soul into this world. God chose you for this little soul, to raise them and show them how deeply He loves them.
I hope these first days or months have been a beautiful time, in all the highs and lows of transitioning into this new season of life.
First, I'm reaching out to see how you are doing. I am praying for you, your family and your new little one. What a gift to be united in prayer as we spiritually prepare for one of your child's most significant milestones in life - baptism.
Second, I'm checking in to connect with you about the details regarding the baptism.
- Have you booked the baptism date? If not, call our receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #], who will help you solidify a date.
- Have you decided on godparents yet? Let me know if I can help in anyway.
- If you have questions about baptism, sacraments, Church, or life, I would love to help you navigate them. I have added some food for thought on baptism and godparents below.
Some things to think about before baptism
What is the point of baptism?
The Catholic Church believes that when your child is baptized, they receive a special grace over their life, the Holy Spirit, and are welcomed into our faith community.
On a higher level, the Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, making us sons and daughters of God and members of the Body of Christ and freeing us from sin. We are welcomed into the Catholic Church and the faith community through baptism. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Baptism enables us to receive the other sacraments and to grow in the life of the Risen Christ.
Start thinking about godparents.
The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
In Christ,
(Pastor's Name)
Hi (Name),
Congratulations on bringing a new soul into this world. God chose you for this little soul, to raise them and show them how deeply He loves them.
I hope these first days or months have been a beautiful time, in all the highs and lows of transitioning into this new season of life.
First, I'm reaching out to see how you are doing. I am praying for you, your family and your new little one. What a gift to be united in prayer as we spiritually prepare for one of your child's most significant milestones in life - baptism.
Second, I'm checking in to connect with you about the details regarding the baptism.
- Have you booked the baptism date? If not, call our receptionist, [NAME], at [PARISH PHONE #], who will help you solidify a date.
- Have you decided on godparents yet? Let me know if I can help in anyway.
- If you have questions about baptism, sacraments, Church, or life, I would love to help you navigate them. I have added some food for thought on baptism and godparents below.
Some things to think about before baptism
What is the point of baptism?
The Catholic Church believes that when your child is baptized, they receive a special grace over their life, the Holy Spirit, and are welcomed into our faith community.
On a higher level, the Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, making us sons and daughters of God and members of the Body of Christ and freeing us from sin. We are welcomed into the Catholic Church and the faith community through baptism. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Baptism enables us to receive the other sacraments and to grow in the life of the Risen Christ.
Start thinking about godparents.
The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
In Christ,
(Pastor's Name)
Check location, time, date, and more.
Details regarding your child's upcoming baptism
Dear (*NAME*),
This is just an email confirming your baptism has been scheduled. Hooray! This is such a beautiful milestone in your child's life, and we eagerly look forward to facilitating this beautiful Sacrament for your precious little one. The details of [NAME OF CHILD’s] baptism are below:
Date: [DATE]
Time: [TIME]
Location: [LOCATION]
Hall Booked: Yes/No
Kitchen Booked: Yes/No
Extra Details: [EXTRA DETAILS - eg: arrival time for family and guests, use of kitchen, hall, clean-up, preparations, etc]
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at [email] or [PHONE #]
God bless,
(Name of Receptionist, Ministry Leader or Pastor)
P.S. Just a friendly reminder about your choice of godparents: The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
Dear (*NAME*),
This is just an email confirming your baptism has been scheduled. Hooray! This is such a beautiful milestone in your child's life, and we eagerly look forward to facilitating this beautiful Sacrament for your precious little one. The details of [NAME OF CHILD’s] baptism are below:
Date: [DATE]
Time: [TIME]
Location: [LOCATION]
Hall Booked: Yes/No
Kitchen Booked: Yes/No
Extra Details: [EXTRA DETAILS - eg: arrival time for family and guests, use of kitchen, hall, clean-up, preparations, etc]
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at [email] or [PHONE #]
God bless,
(Name of Receptionist, Ministry Leader or Pastor)
P.S. Just a friendly reminder about your choice of godparents: The Church asks that a child have at least one Catholic godparent who is baptized, confirmed, and living his/her Catholic faith. The other godparent, formally known as a sponsor, can be a "Christian witness" who need not be Catholic. Someone may "stand in" (act as a proxy) for a godparent who cannot be present at the baptism.
Send a kind encouragement and prayer to parents after baptism.
Baptism follow-up
Hi (*NAME*),
It was an honor to play a part in (kids_name)’s baptism and welcome (him/her) into the Catholic Church. I am praying that joy and peace continue to cover you and your family.
There is a long and beautiful road ahead for you and your child. It will have challenges and joys, and I know Christ will be close to you wherever that road may lead. His love for you and your family is immense, and by extension, our parish holds the same heart.
While the grace of God is with you in this endeavor, I know that some practical tools can always help too. I hope these are a beneficial resource.
In Christ,
(Pastor’s Name / Parish Name)
Hi (*NAME*),
It was an honor to play a part in (kids_name)’s baptism and welcome (him/her) into the Catholic Church. I am praying that joy and peace continue to cover you and your family.
There is a long and beautiful road ahead for you and your child. It will have challenges and joys, and I know Christ will be close to you wherever that road may lead. His love for you and your family is immense, and by extension, our parish holds the same heart.
While the grace of God is with you in this endeavor, I know that some practical tools can always help too. I hope these are a beneficial resource.
In Christ,
(Pastor’s Name / Parish Name)
Welcome to the Post-Baptism Journey.
The goal of this journey is to help care for parents in this time when they have high touch points with the parish. We want them to know and experience that the parish is supporting them in this journey, especially with the journey of parenting ahead of them.
Below is the recommended rollout plan and a list of all the deliverables available to you. Use all the assets together or pick and choose what you want to use. You can edit templates or use them as they are.
We hope this journey brings an opportunity to care for parishioners in this stage of life and remind them that the parish is there for them in this season. We hope that this either provides a foundation for you or inspiration to the accompaniment journey you already have in your parish.
Some things we recommend:
- Schedule emails as soon as someone signs up for Baptism so you don’t have to keep track of the right dates manually
- Use what you want within this journey but edit to make it right for your parish community
- Add relevant events / resources from your local parish to these email templates
Part 1 - A newborn congratulations
For those that have newborns, this simple and thoughtful email celebrates this life stage with them. This Newborn Email reminds them that they are part of a community that is in it with them, and also begins touch points for the pastor to remind them about baptism.
For those that have newborns, this simple and thoughtful email celebrates this life stage with them. This Newborn Email reminds them that they are part of a community that is in it with them, and also begins touch points for the pastor to remind them about baptism.
Part 2 - Baptism sign-up confirmation
This Baptism Sign Up email helps extends a warm welcome to parents and points them to important details of the baptism step. It offers resources, and even potential next steps, especially for those who may not be deeply integrated into the parish yet.
Many parishes have a regular touchpoint with parents when they sign up for baptism, so use these templates as a starting point, a template you can edit to make your own, or use it as inspiration to bolster your current communication.
This Baptism Sign Up email helps extends a warm welcome to parents and points them to important details of the baptism step. It offers resources, and even potential next steps, especially for those who may not be deeply integrated into the parish yet.
Many parishes have a regular touchpoint with parents when they sign up for baptism, so use these templates as a starting point, a template you can edit to make your own, or use it as inspiration to bolster your current communication.
Part 3 - Baptism confirmation with details
This detail-focused email helps create clarity and care for parents before the baptism. It reminds them that they are not alone in this process and the pastor is excited with them. Many parishes already have some template for this stage so we hope this can be integrated into your current flow.
This detail-focused email helps create clarity and care for parents before the baptism. It reminds them that they are not alone in this process and the pastor is excited with them. Many parishes already have some template for this stage so we hope this can be integrated into your current flow.
Part 4 - 1-3 months after Baptism
This detail-focAfter baptism, we want to remind parents that they are not alone in this journey and we want to engage with them, even after the formal touchpoint with the parish is over. This email offers prayers and encouragement as they step into this new season, and resources that could help with both parents in postpartum.used email helps create clarity and care for parents before the baptism. It reminds them that they are not alone in this process and the pastor is excited with them. Many parishes already have some template for this stage so we hope this can be integrated into your current flow.
This detail-focAfter baptism, we want to remind parents that they are not alone in this journey and we want to engage with them, even after the formal touchpoint with the parish is over. This email offers prayers and encouragement as they step into this new season, and resources that could help with both parents in postpartum.used email helps create clarity and care for parents before the baptism. It reminds them that they are not alone in this process and the pastor is excited with them. Many parishes already have some template for this stage so we hope this can be integrated into your current flow.
Part 5 - 9-12 months after Baptism
The journey of parenting is a long road and each year (and sometimes each month) brings new challenges and joys. This email is a reminder down the road that the parish community cares and is here when parents need it. This is the last email in this journey and a good opportunity to end, or it can be a starting point for you to create long-term accompaniment with parents.
The journey of parenting is a long road and each year (and sometimes each month) brings new challenges and joys. This email is a reminder down the road that the parish community cares and is here when parents need it. This is the last email in this journey and a good opportunity to end, or it can be a starting point for you to create long-term accompaniment with parents.
Helpful Guides For Implementation
Yes! All our assets are made to be edited and adaptable to your parish brand. If you need any help editing the files, let us know.
