Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Portlaoise baptism boom

In 2011, Portlaoise parish had a baptism for every day of the year .  

The 365 baptisms is the largest number in the Co Laois parish in any one year since records began in 1826.  

In a ten-year period to 2011, the number of baptisms has gone from just over 200 in 2002, to passing the 300 mark in 2007, and now 365.

“It is down to the actual population increase in Portlaoise and towns like it,” Msgr. John Byrne, parish priest of Portlaoise parish told ciNews, “I think there were about 180 -190 baptisms 20 years ago compared to 365 today.”

He says this has implications for schools in the area and there is also a challenge for the parish to stay engaged with these 365 children and their families.  Sadly, with some, this does not always happen.

“It raises a whole lot of questions too, that we are baptising a very high percentage of the children born in a community like Portlaoise.  In other countries, they approach it differently and set the bar higher perhaps, for qualification for having your child baptised.  We tend to 
accept everybody who requests baptism for their child,” said Msgr Byrne.

Portlaoise, like most parishes now, has baptism preparation with the families and godparents, but this tends not to impact on, or getting more commitment from, those for whom baptism is a rite of passage or a way of celebrating a birth, and not a sacrament that should be both a celebration of faith and of a community of faith.

“We have to accept that for a significant percentage [of those baptised] the next engagement will be at First Holy Communion.  That is something that is on the agenda of every parish in every diocese - what should we be demanding of baptism?  Or, where should we begin make it an obligation to be an active part of the church before you baptise your child?” said Msgr Byrne.

Portlaoise Parish has employed a full-time catechist who is involved in preparation for the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.  There is also a large number of committed parents and lay people in the parish.

“There is also the engagement of a lot of people who sincerely want to hand on the faith and become involved and reinforce their children and reinforce their own faith during these occasions,” concludes Msgr Byrne. 

“Maybe we should be concentrating on those.”