The max. number of attendees for baptism remain at 10. For baptisms, the Diocese of Calgary does not consider the celebrant as one of the 10 guest allowed.
Limit the Baptism to one child at every celebration or several if they belong to the same family.
Clergy should wear a non-medical mask at all times.
Clergy and others speaking in front of a congregation are permitted to remove their masks while speaking provided they maintain 2 metre distance from others while doing so. Once finished speaking, the speaker must put on their mask again.
Water: Rather than at the baptismal font, a vessel of water should be prepared in the sanctuary beforehand. There should be a second empty vessel over which the water will be poured so that the water poured over the person being baptized does not return to the original vessel holding the blessed water. The priest should use a pitcher to pour the water, not his hands. Following the baptism the water should be poured down the sacrarium or into the ground.
Signing with the Cross: The celebrant should sign the child without physically touching the child. The same can be asked of godparents should the parents prefer.
Anointings: Before the celebration a cotton ball should be dipped into the Oil of Salvation and placed oil-side-down in a separate vessel. This should be used to anoint the child on the breast. Another cotton ball with the Sacred Chrism should be similarly prepared and used to anoint the child on the crown of the head. Both cotton balls should be burned after the celebration.
Ephphatha: The celebrant should bring the thumb near the ears and mouth but not touch the ears and mouth while saying the text.
Parish will be collecting contact information of attendees if they would wish to participate voluntarily for the purpose of contact tracing. Parishes will have full ownership of their attendance lists; Records should only be kept for 2 weeks then destroyed; Parishes will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite.
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
The sacrament of Baptism has many significant rites and symbols within the celebration itself. We begin with the sign of the cross, which marks the gift of redemption that Christ brought about through his dying on the cross.
The proclamation of the Wordreveals God's truth to the assembled.
The prayer of exorcism and anointing before baptismfrees us from sin and prepares us for the Holy Spirit. Strengthening us with God's power.
Thebaptismal wateris blessed and is a sign of God's gift through the Holy Spirit, of new birth into divine life.
Our profession of faith is a renewal of our faith and a promise as a community of believers that we will develop and grow our faith and that of the person being baptized.
Next is the essential rite of Baptismwhich involves immersion or pouring of the baptismal water three times.
Anointing with the sacred chrismsignifies being anointed by the Holy Spirit and becoming a member of Christ's body, sharing in everlasting life.
The white garmentshows us that the baptized member has been "clothed in Christ".
The candle is lit from the Easter candle revealing that we have now been "enlightened by Christ". Ephphetha or Prayer over Ears and Mouthasks that we receive and proclaim the Good News.
The solemn blessingconcludes the celebration and blesses the parents that they teach and bear witness for the baptized.
