East Worthing Parish Newsletter

the Roman Catholic communities of Holy Family, Lancing & St Charles, Worthing

part of the Arundel & Brighton Diocesan Trust, a Registered Charity No. 252878

9th December 2018 : 2 Advent Year C Volume 12 Issue 02

Who is this Jesus? . . . . . After his introductory material, including the infancy narratives in chapters 1 & 2, St Luke picks up the gospel story he inherited from St Mark. That is, today’s reading from Luke is based upon the opening verses of the Gospel of Mark with important additions. Beginning with John the Baptist’s preaching, Luke situates the Christ-event in a particular historical time and place, for, as he tells us in Acts 26:26, these things did not happen in a corner. And it is precisely because of Luke’s desire to give us the historical details that scholars can be fairly confident of their dating. Luke cites both civil and religious leaders to situate the Christ-event in history. The Emperor Tiberius, who reigned from AD 14-36, succeeded Caesar Augustus, which means that the fifteen year of Tiberius’ reign could be anywhere from AD 27-29 depending on how one counts the years. This is the most specific date given by Luke in this passage; the other figures named by Luke all fall within a wider range than that. For example, Pontius Pilate served from AD 26 to 36. The historical details do much for the modern Christian (and ancient Christian for that matter) in demonstrating that Jesus was a historical figure. The Christ-event is not a mere myth like so many other Greek and Roman tales. Jesus was a living, breathing Jewish human being who lived in the Roman Empire in the province of Judea. These things did not happen in a corner (c.f. Acts 26:26). Once the events are situated in their historical setting, Luke continues the narrative with the story about Joh the Baptist, whose birth is recounted in the first chapter. There we hear the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth having a child even though Elizabeth is barren. It is Luke who essentially makes John a cousin of Jesus, a detail found nowhere else in the New Testament. The appellation of John as ‘son of Zechariah’ (Luke 3:2) is a nod to the story

in the first chapter. These details alone - the historical setting and the familial relationship between John and Jesus - tell us we are dealing with a unique author who has his own theological insights to convey. Luke is a gifted storyteller, theologian, and evangelist. We do well to read this story very carefully. Question of the week -

Can I properly discern what is of value and then act according to those values?

In the event of an emergency when a priest is urgently required and there is no answer at the above telephone number please ring St Mary’s (200416) or St Peter’s (01273 452654).

Parish Priest

Rev Fr Daryl George JCL

St Charles’ Presbytery

Chesswood Road

WORTHING

West Sussex

BN11 2AE

THIS WEEK:

B I B L E R E A D I N G P L A N

S U N E S T . 9 - 1 0 ; L K . 1 3 : 2 3 - 3 5

M O N H A G G . ; L K . 1 4 : 1 - 2 4

T U E J O S H . 1 - 3 ; L K . 1 4 : 2 5 - 3 5

W E D J O S H . 4 - 6 ; L K . 1 5 : 1 - 1 0

T H U J O S H . 7 - 9 ; L K . 1 5 : 1 1 - 3 2

F R I J O S H . 1 0 - 1 2 ; L K . 1 6

S A T J O S H . 1 3 - 1 5 ; L K . 1 7 : 1 - 1 9

Financial News . .

Weekend of 02/12/18

1st £ 173:75

2nd £ 53:21 Maintenance Fund

2nd Collection . . .

This Weekend 09/12/18

2nd National Catholic Fund #4

Gift Aid members are able to make this collection tax efficient by using our Parish Envelope.

Next Weekend 16/12/18

2nd Christmas Flowers

Gift Aid members are able to make this collection tax efficient by using our Parish Envelope.

Many thanks for your continuing generosity to your Parish.

Bite Size . . .

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

Fr. Alfred D'Souza

Our Parish Liturgy . . . . .

This Week (2 Advent C)

DIVINE OFFICE

WEEK 2

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

18.00 10.30

107 ANTIPHON : below

CHILDREN’S LITURGY

18.00 10.30

N/A 979 v2

PENITENTIAL RITE

18.00 10.30

Said 67

FIRST READING

Baruch 5:1-9 God means to show your splendour to every nation.

PSALM RESPONSE

18.00 10.30

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad. SONG FOR THE WORD : below

SECOND READING

Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Be pure and blameless for the day of Christ

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

18.00 10.30

Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! 68

GOSPEL READING

Luke 3:1-6 All mankind shall see the salvation of God.

PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS

18.00 10.30

94 598

SANCTUS 18.00 10.30

S 553 S 74

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION

18.00 10.30

S 554 B S 75 C

GREAT AMEN 18.00 10.30

S 555 S 76

AGNUS DEI 18.00 10.30

Said Said

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

18.00 10.30

Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God. SONG FOR THE TABLE : below

THANKSGIVING

18.00 10.30

92 108

RECESSION

18.00 10.30

108 94

Next Week (3 Advent C)

DIVINE OFFICE

WEEK 3

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 3:14-18 The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.

SECOND READING

Philippians 4:4-7 The Lord is very near.

GOSPEL READING

Luke 3:10-18 What must we do?

Music and text of Antiphons from Psallite, © 2005 Collegeville Composers Group. Published by Liturgical Press, MN56321.

Used with Permission. Calamus Licence No.0338

Before Mass - Talk to God During Mass - Listen to God After Mass - Talk to your friends

(01903) 239611 EastWorthing@dabnet.org

EastWorthingParish.org

It is now possible to make an online donation to the Parish via our Homepage:

EastWorthingParish.org

MARRIAGE MATTERS

SMOOTHING OUT ROUGH WAYS . . . TO WELCOME YOU

St Paul speaks of our ‘partnership in the Gospel’ and prays that our love continues growing. He wants us to ‘come to true discernment’ about our choices. Luke’s Gospel challenges us as married couples: are we enabling each other to ‘prepare a way for the Lord’? Are there ‘paths’ that need ‘straightening’ or ‘rough’ attitudes/behaviours that need to be made smooth?

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage . . . they come back full of song, carrying their sheaves

(Psalm 125:3-4).

CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS

When you purchase one of Traidecraft's charity Christmas cards, a donation is made to Traidcraft Exchange and C.A.F.O.D. in a bid to combat poverty on a global scale and make as much change as possible. Remember that when you buy your cards directly from a charity the charity will get more of the proceeds than they would when you buy from a high street store.

www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

P A G E 2 Parish Office . . . . . Parish Deacons: Rev. John Body 762038 Rev. Patrick Moloney (Retired) Rev. Phil Richardson 752292

Office Hours : Monday, Wednesday & Friday 09.30 - 11.30.

Fr Daryl’s Surgery this week : Tuesday, 17.30 - 18.30.

Newsletter Editorial : Items for possible inclusion in the Parish Newsletter (if there is room) need to be received (in writing please) at the Parish Office by midday on Wednesday.

General Parish Information . . . . . Parishioner Registration : Every household within the Parish is requested to complete a ‘Parishioner Registration/Census’ form so that our Parish records may be kept up to date. These forms can be found in the church narthex and should be completed fully before being returned to the Parish Office. Should you move address within the Parish at any time please complete a new form and write ‘AMENDMENT’ across the top of the form. Thank you.

Hospital : Parishioners are advised that our local General Hospital (Worthing) in Lyndhurst Road does not give the names of inpatients to the Chaplaincy Department. This means that should you find yourself admitted as an emergency case to the hospital you will need to inform the staff that you wish the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy to be informed, either yourself or through a relative. If you are going into hospital as a ‘planned admission’ you are strongly encouraged to contact the Parish Priest well beforehand so that, if appropriate, the Sacrament of the Sick can be celebrated beforehand.

Infant Baptism : Infant Baptisms are intended for the children of practising parishioners only and are celebrated on five occasions during the year after parents and godparents have completed a course of preparation. There can be no celebration without this important course. The dates of the courses for the current year can be found in the application form in the church narthex (bright green). Baptisms do not take place during the seasons of Advent or Lent.

Sacramental Preparation : Notice of the availability of application forms for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist will be made in the Parish Newsletter between the school Summer Half Term and 31st August each year. Possible candidates for Confirmation should respond to the announcements made in the Parish Newsletter during the Autumn school term. Parishioners are advised that it is very difficult to imagine that any family/individual who is not regularly practising their faith as a member of our community could possibly be ready to celebrate a Sacrament of the Church.

Marriage Preparation : Marriages are celebrated by appointment with the Parish Priest. It should be remembered that in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton twelve months minimum notice is required before a marriage may take place; this is a requirement of the Church for all marriages that involve a Roman Catholic (even if they are not taking place in the Catholic Church). It is also necessary that one of the parties must have a meaningful connection with the Parish. Marriages do not take place during the seasons of Advent or Lent.

P A G E 7

Church Mouse (cub reporter). . . The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . .

This wee has been a little less busy than things were last week as Fr D ran around making preparations for the Parish Christmas Bazaar (final total this year

£2,576:40, he’s delighted!); however, he fully expects things to start ‘hotting-up’ again this coming week as he gets Advent Penitential Services and Christmas sorted . . . .

The new Church’s year began last weekend with the First Sunday of Advent; Fr D felt that things really had begun when he was celebrating Advent Evening Prayer & Benediction last Sunday afternoon - this forty minutes of quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament helps him to think about all that is happening at this point in the year.

Monday morning Fr D seemed to be changing his routine slightly when he pulled out from his wardrobe a small box on wheels (like the big one he gets out when he’s off on holiday)! In fact he was packing for an ‘overnight’ with Bishop Richard in a convent in Rottingdean - these happen about every three years (the last one that Fr D went to was at Coolham, now closed). He had to be in Rottingdean for 15.30 and was scheduled to be there until after lunch on the Tuesday along with six other priests from the diocese.

After he returned from Rottingdean on Tuesday afternoon Fr D just had time to get all his paperwork together before rushing off to St Peter’s School for a meeting of the Governing Body.

Wednesday, after Mass, he was over to Bishop’s House in Hove where he was delighted to see that the contractors fixing the roof and ceiling etc. in his office were finally hard at work; he had also been left a carpet samples card and paint swatch for the redecoration after the works which he took great delight in making choices from (he still needs to choose a new desk though!). After Christmas, whilst the sales are on he’ll look for blinds for the office windows.

On Thursday he was back across to Bishop’s House again where he managed to get another one of his cases ready to be judged in time for Christmas (this means that the week before Christmas he will be judging three cases - hopefully leading to a new start for three couples).

Friday morning after taking the newsletters over to the Parish Office to be put together ready for the weekend Fr D had arranged to see several housebound parishioners with Holy Communion before Christmas hits. He was able to take with him copies of this year’s Parish Christmas Card which is published this weekend . . . . .

Children’s Word Search 2nd Sunday Advent Year C

P A G E 3 Services For The Coming Week . . . . . Day Date Where Time Service / Intention Donor

Sat. 8th Dec. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Family 11.00 ADVENT CHILDREN’S RECONCILIATION SERVICE [8-11 YEARS]

St Charles 17.00 - 17.45 EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR PRIVATE PRAYER

St Charles 17.00 - 17.30 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

St Charles 18.00 For the Parishioners

Sun. 9th Dec. 2nd Sunday Advent, Year C

Holy Family 10.30 Krystyna Sieniawska Sieniawski Family

St Charles 15.00 ADVENT EVENING PRAYER & BENEDICTION

Mon. 10th Dec. Advent Weekday

No Service Today

Tue. 11th Dec. Advent Weekday

St Charles 09.30 Rev Fr Thomas Foley

Wed. 12th Dec. Advent Weekday

Holy Family 09.30 Deceased Members of the Dolan Family Fergus & Cecily B.

Thu. 13th Dec. St Lucy, Virgin & Martyr

St Charles 09.30 Deceased Members of the Brotherton Family Fergus & Cecily B.

Fri. 14th Dec. St John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Day of Abstinence)

Holy Family 09.30 George Coulson Fergus & Cecily B.

Holy Family PLEASE NOTE : NO EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT TODAY

Holy Family PLEASE NOTE : NO SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION TODAY

Sat. 15th Dec. Advent Weekday

St Charles 17.00 - 17.45 EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FOR PRIVATE PRAYER

St Charles 17.00 - 17.30 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

St Charles 18.00 Sylvester Fernandes Julie F.

Sun. 16th Dec. 3rd Sunday Advent, Year C

Holy Family 10.30 For the Parishioners

St Charles 15.00 ADVENT EVENING PRAYER & BENEDICTION

Mass may be offered for both the living and the dead and also for most other intentions. We do our best to try and accommodate specific dates but this can be especially difficult on weekends and at less than three months notice.

‘Mass Intentions’ are published in the Parish Newsletter on the weekend before they are celebrated although sometimes a Requiem Mass will ‘bump’ an intention to a later date.

Bible Sunday 9th December . . . . . We live in a world where too many people don’t engage with the Bible.

There are parts of the world, where the Scriptures are difficult to access or are simply unavailable. In this country, the Bible is readily available but has lost its significance and its value is unrecognised by millions.

The Bible Society works hard here at home and in key areas across the world to change this. The Bible Society takes the Bible and finds ways to translate and

distribute it, create digital formats, advocate for its place in society and help people relate to and make sense of it in their everyday lives.

You might be surprised by some of the fun resources for children on this website.

Take a look at:

www.biblesociety.org.uk

Living The Paschal Mystery . . . P A G E 6

Christians believe in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the son of the Living God. Jesus walked this earth, breathed the air, enjoyed the sunshine, had meaningful relationships, and ultimately suffered death at the hands of the state. His story really happened: it is not myth, make believe, or something we simply tell children so they will be nice to one another. Luke is an evangelist who gives us the details, which allow scholars to situate the life of Jesus in a historical context. The names of civil and religious leaders like Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, and others throughout the gospel are known by ancient pagan sources as well. They form something of an anchor or peg upon which to hang a timeline for Jesus and his ministry. In the language of another gospel, this is the story of the Word made flesh in a given time and place. Jesus lived in a province ruled by Rome and was executed by that ruling power. Though put to death by the state he was raised up by God, giving us the paschal mystery. On this Second Sunday of Advent we pause to reflect on Jesus’ historical circumstances and our own, knowing that death is not the end.

Earlier in the Gospel of Luke we hear of John the Baptist’s childhood in which ‘the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel’ (Luke 1:80). This desert time is important for John’s formation as the preacher we hear in the gospel today. In the desert one must listen. John proclaims the words of the prophet Isaiah to the people, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord.’ These words were addressed originally to the Israelites in exile in Babylon. The way being prepared was the way the Lord would lead them out of exile and restore them to their homeland. Now John invites his listeners to undertake an interior way of repentance.

In the gospel we hear of John the Baptist drawing close to God in the desert. In the first two readings both the apostle Paul and the prophet Baruch are undergoing their own ‘desert’ experiences. Paul is writing to the Christian community at Philippi from a prison. Baruch preaches a word of hope to the people of Israel in exile in Babylon.

While difficult, desert experiences often serve to sharpen our faith and put our lives into focus. Where is the desert in our lives right now? How might God be speaking to us in the desert?

Psalm 125 is one of pure joy and exultation. A people that were taken captive and exiled to another land are restored to security and prosperity in their homeland. This exultation is echoed by the prophet Baruch in the first reading. Baruch speaks to the city of Jerusalem mourning the loss of her children in the Babylonian exile. Baruch reassures her, saying, ‘Turn your eyes to the east: see your sons reassembled from west and east at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered them.’ Another prophet raises his voice in the gospel reading: John the Baptist. Unlike the psalm and the first reading, the gospel sounds harsher in some ways. Broaching no nonsense, John calls the people to a baptism of repentance. His call, though, is also reason to rejoice. Our God is one who does not turn his back on sinners. Instead, God wishes to restore all those who have fallen ‘captive’ to sin. And when that happens ‘those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.’

The word of God comes to John the Baptist in the desert. We are not told what this word is but we see the result: John leaves his life of solitude and prayer to proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As the forerunner of Jesus, John’s work is to prepare the people to receive the one who is coming, the one who is ‘the salvation of God.’ John has been prepared for his mission by his life in the desert. Later Jesus will also follow this path. After being baptised in the Jordan, he will be led into the desert by the Spirit where he will fast and pray for forty days and forty nights.

A few hundred years later, around the third century AD, a group of monks and nuns return to the desert to live lives of solitude and prayer. These Desert Fathers and Mothers left behind words of wisdom and a model for living the spiritual life. Although we may not be able to follow their austere example, we can cultivate areas of stillness and quiet in our own lives.

Advent and Lent, our two season of preparation in the church year, provide annual opportunities for us to enter into the desert on retreat. We are given time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, John and the desert Fathers and Mothers to listen to God away from all distractions. Where can we find space in our lives to cultivate interior silence and contemplation? How might we set aside time for deep listening to the word of God?

Parish Ministries For Next Weekend . . . . . P A G E 4

DATE / MASS WELCOME MINISTERS

READERS EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

ALTAR SERVERS

CHILDREN’S LITURGY

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

SATURDAY 3 Advent C 15/12/18

18.00

ST CHARLES

T. Gear J. Finch K. Dalton

M. Puno A. Conroy

S. Morris

N/A N/A

SUNDAY 3 Advent C 16/12/18

10.30

HOLY FAMILY

B. Morris S. McCann

G. Duffy L. Duffy

T. Sharpe S. Body B. Southey T. Selby

S. Morris M. Sieniawska P. Sieniawski Z. Sieniawska

T. Paterson S. Bottomley

PLEASE REMEMBER : If you are unable to complete your particular ministry then it is your responsibility to arrange cover with another minister. In this way our Sunday Liturgies will run in a smooth and prayerful way.

For those who

are unwell…….

those who have

died recently….

those whose

anniversaries

occur…..

the Holy

Father’s Prayer

Intention….

FOR THOSE UNWELL AT THIS TIME:

Kathleen E., Eileen S-S., Kathleen McK., John P.,

John & Kate N., Christopher B., Michael L., Joan C., Ena S., Eleanor J., Sue B., Shirley W., François G., Rosemary B., Stephanie S., Elizabeth R., Anne S., Paul W., Joan H., Anne A., Maria R., Hamish P., Deacon Pat, Fr Alan Sharpe & Fr John Healy.

THE RECENTLY DECEASED:

Prayers Please . . . . . ANNIVERSARIES OF DEATH:

Winifred Vieyra, Dorothy McPhearson, Dorothy Aitken, John Harper, Henry Hines, Margaret Hutchins, Thelma Oberholzer, Maria Wilson, Sr Josephine O’Brien, Harold Simpson, Kay Torrance, Laura Haywood, Tina Jannece, Alan Theodoridi, Hanora Hanna, Mary Caldwell, Peter Berney and Fr Joseph Rowland.

HOLY FATHER’S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTION:

“. . . . that people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.”

Parish Roundup . . . . . P A G E 5

Holy Family, North Road, Lancing Mass 10.30 Sunday

St Charles, Chesswood Road, Worthing Mass 18.00 Saturday

MISSIO (A.P.F.) RED MISSION BOXES - In order that all the banking and account reconciliation can be achieved before the end of December 2018 ALL Red Mission Box holders are asked to bring along their box (with your name correctly completed on the sticker underneath the box). PLEASE NOTE : the final date for handing in your box for emptying will be next Sunday (16th December). Any questions please contact our local Missio Secretary Fergus Brotherton (527209). Thank you.

ADVENT EVENING PRAYER & BENEDICTION - Every Sunday of Advent there is a celebration of the Evening Prayer of the Church and Benediction at 15.00 in St Charles’ Church; a chance to step aside from the hustle and bustle of the more secular preparations for Christmas. HOLY FAMILY CAR PARK - Over the past few weeks there has been a marked deterioration at the standard of parking in the Holy Family car park on Sunday morning. We do operate from a fairly restricted site and would ask the co-operation of all drivers using the car park to make sure that they are parking sensibly and courteously when using this cramped facility. It is extremely important that cars DO NOT park directly outside of the rear sacristy entrance as this is a fire exit and must be kept clear at all times.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARDS - Please be sure to pick up one of our Parish Christmas Cards (white envelopes) from the narthex as you leave Mass this weekend. These contain all the details of our services over the Christmas and New Year period. CHRISTMAS MINISTRIES - On the narthex notice boards this weekend are ‘sign-up’ sheets for the various ministries that will be required over the Christmas period. Please do have a look to see where and when you might be able to assist in making our liturgies run with their normal smoothness.

HOLY FAMILY PRE-CHRISTMAS CLEAN - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! On Wednesday 19th December we are asking parishioners to make a special effort to come along to the Holy Family church for ONE hour and help in a ‘special clean-up’ in preparation for our Christmas liturgies. Meet at the church 10.15 and there will be coffee and mince pies available afterwards. Thank you. PARISH WOMEN’S GROUP - The next meeting of the Parish Women’s Group will be a ‘Festive Tea’ which will take place on Friday 14th December at 14.30 in St Charles’ Parish Centre. Please contact Sheila (523678) to confirm your attendance (for catering purposes). ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE UNBORN - The London Borough of Richmond have started a consultation process to bring in a PSPO around the abortion centre in Rosslyn Road, Twickenham. The object of the “buffer zone” is to stop pro-lifers praying there and offering women alternatives to abortion. The council voted to start the process at a meeting in October, even after hearing from two mothers that have been helped. It is particularly hard to believe that having listened to one mother tell them that she had become pregnant as a result of rape, she then felt she was being forced against her wishes to have an abortion. The council members then voted to ban those offering help to such women. To be blunt, they did not care if many women are coerced into abortions that they do not want. This “buffer zone” would effectively be an attack on vulnerable women who are being coerced into abortion by boyfriends, family or circumstances, who need an offer of help and this should not be denied them. It is also an attack on the rights of Catholics (and others) to pray in public. Please take a few minutes to fill in the Council’s online consultation after reading the notes here; https://behereforme.org/richmond-consultation/

DEACONS’ THOUGHTS . . . .

John, the son of Zechariah went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, we hear in today’s Gospel reading. In fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in this way, John heralds in the start of Jesus’ ministry. But it is the meaning of John’s baptism that I want to comment about; a baptism of repentance, of being sorry for having sinned, a willingness to turn to God again, and looking for forgiveness.

It is not the same as a Christian baptism, which is a Trinitarian baptism; the person is baptised ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ This is a sacrament, and can only be received once, bringing the newly baptised into the Church and the new life of being a Christian. In this baptism we die with Christ, and are raised to a new life; being given the promise of an eternal life as children of God. This is in my own thoughts as I recently had the privilege of baptising my grandchildren, heralding the reality of Christ into their lives.

All sins are washed clean at baptism, the font itself representing the tomb of Christ, and also a womb of new birth. A candle is given, representing the presence of Christ in their life, it is a light taken from the Paschal Candle, showing the new life of the resurrected Christ at Easter. A white garment is worn to clothe the newly baptised in Christ, and parents and godparents promise to help guide the newly baptised in their Christian life. It is, when understood fully, the most important day of a Christian’s life.