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Post by Tim Killmeyer on Oct 3, 2013 7:32:21 GMT -5
While it is true that we are (ostensibly) ordained for ministries of charity and justice, there is no denying that many of us are often called upon to help with Sacramental duties as well as taking on leadership roles in para-liturgies and other types of prayer services. These are all part of what we were ordained to do but some of our diaconal assignments lend themselves to doing more of these things than other assignments.
There are also MANY variables that can't be reflected in the POLL, like the fact that a deacon assigned to a young suburban parish "might" do more baptisms than a deacon assigned to an elderly, urban parish (who "might" do more committal services). You get my drift. It might be interesting to do the same POLLs in 5 or ten years and see if percentages have changed!
Over the next few weeks we will highlight a different aspect of ministry. As usual I am open to suggestions for future POLLS.
We'll start with baptisms.
Tim
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Post by Tim Killmeyer on Oct 3, 2013 7:39:49 GMT -5
I do one, sometimes 2 or 3, every couple of months. Besides my assignment to the Diocesan Department for Persons with Disabilities I am attached to a large suburban parish now down to the pastor and a priest-in-residence who helps out occasionally. Only a few years ago, when we had a pastor and a parochial vicar, there was very little reason for me to do baptisms and I did very few.
Usually, if the parents choice is to have the baptism during Mass, the priest just does it, but if they choose to have it after the Noon Mass on Sunday and the priest is busy, he might ask me to do it (them).
Tim
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Greg Kandra
New Member
Diocese of[br]Brooklyn[br]Class of 2007
Posts: 0
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Post by Greg Kandra on Oct 3, 2013 8:00:45 GMT -5
I'm in rotation with two priests in my parish. We have baptisms on the first Sunday of every month, so I generally do baptisms every third month, or four times a year. Once in a while, I'll step in to do a private one, but most are group baptisms, with anywhere from 6 to 14 infants.
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magnetic
New Member
Diocese of[br]Syracuse, NY[br]Class of 2010
Posts: 0
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Post by magnetic on Oct 3, 2013 8:19:20 GMT -5
Good morning Tim:
Most of our baptisms are during weekend liturgy, either the 9:00 0r 11:00 Mass, usually done by the pastor. If we have a visiting Priest, then I do the baptism. If couples prefer a private baptism, then I do them. I have done 11 baptisms this year with one more next weekend.
Peace
Mike Letizia
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mjrobb43
New Member
Diocese of[br]Rochester[br]Class of 2006
Posts: 1
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Post by mjrobb43 on Oct 3, 2013 8:51:00 GMT -5
Like Deacon Mike from Syr, o
ur baptisms are predominantly performed during Mass, so I do the handfull of those outside of Mass.
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jerrylozon
New Member
Diocese of London, Ontario Canada[br]Ordained 2007
Posts: 2
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Post by jerrylozon on Oct 3, 2013 9:25:47 GMT -5
There are two deacons in my parish cluster and one pastor. Our pastor does some of the baptisms during mass throughout the year and then the three of us take our turn each month for the outside of mass baptisms. We would each celebrate between 30-40 baptisms per year.
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warrenhoy
New Member
Diocese of Monterey[br]Class of 2009
Posts: 2
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Post by warrenhoy on Oct 3, 2013 11:17:22 GMT -5
My parish does about half our baptisms at Mass, which the pastor usually does, and the other half on Sunday afternoons after the last Mass of the day, which I usually do. We have another deacon who does some, but his schedule and preferences often have him off the schedule on Sunday afternoons, so I tend to do most of them. That's fine with me -- I love doing baptisms!
I also teach the pre-baptism classes for parents and godparents.
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msudnik
New Member
Diocese of[br]Birmingham[br]Class of 2005
Posts: 0
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Post by msudnik on Oct 3, 2013 11:23:03 GMT -5
Most of the baptisms I perform are in the hospital, and I am asked to baptize a child in danger of death. Only rarely do I perform a baptism in the church. I am normally called to perform 3 to 4 such baptisms in a year.
Mike Sudnik
Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
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dcnmick
New Member
Archdiocese of[br]Liverpool[br]Class of 1998
Posts: 3
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Post by dcnmick on Oct 3, 2013 16:55:09 GMT -5
In our church we have baptisms twice a month outside of Mass. Father does one weekend and I do another. I also help out with baptisms occasionally at another parish in Liverpool. We normally have three or four children at a time for baptism.
I love baptisms.
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Post by deaconjohnschiffer on Oct 4, 2013 13:40:15 GMT -5
We take a regular rotation on Baptism Sunday, 3 to 4 times a year, plus a few off the regular schedule to accommodate parishioners with family travel issues.
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Post by Deacon James [Jim] Sheil on Oct 6, 2013 19:16:55 GMT -5
Most of our baptisms are after the last Mass on Sunday; since I have to be at the prison for Mass, i usually do not perform or assist at these baptisms. I might do (or assist at) 1 or 2 baptisms per year.
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dcnbobdavis
New Member
Diocese of[br]Paterson[br]Ordained 1995
Posts: 0
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Post by dcnbobdavis on Oct 17, 2013 14:57:35 GMT -5
In our parish, the two deacons alternate with the pastor each month, if there are any baptisms. For example, I'm scheduled for this month, but there aren't any baptism scheduled.
If the baptism is at a Mass, Father usually does it, but not necessarily. If it's a deacon's 'month', then the deacon can still do the baptism if he wishes, or might just assist the priest, perhaps doing the anointing.
We're a small parish, so the number of baptisms isn't huge.
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Russ O'Neill
Lector
Diocese of Youngstown Class of 2000
Posts: 189
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Post by Russ O'Neill on Oct 24, 2013 14:46:00 GMT -5
Like many who have responded, we urge couples to have Baptisms during one of the weekend liturgies, and most do. Involving the parish is important. Because of that, Father usually does the rite. We now have 3 deacons, but it is rare that we do baptisms. In my 13 years, I have had many more marriages than baptisms.
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bigj
New Member
Diocese of[br]New Orleans[br]Class of 1985
Posts: 7
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Post by bigj on Nov 2, 2013 8:26:33 GMT -5
Assignments certainly change from parish to parish and time period to time period.
My original assignment lasted for twenty-four years. In that time I saw us go from two baptism dates a month, with many Baptisms to one Baptism date for month with an average of ten baptisms a month.
Now, I am in a parish assignment with an average of less than one Baptism per month. all this is due to the mean age of parishioners.
During this time the Deacons did all the Baptisms unless a parishioner requested another Cleric baptize.
Bigj
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Jim Bauhs
New Member
Archdiocese of[br]St Paul and Minneapolis[br]Class of 2010
Posts: 4
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Post by Jim Bauhs on Nov 16, 2013 21:32:41 GMT -5
I am responsible for all Baptism prep classes that we run every other month and on-demand in special cases. I am also scheduled to perform Baptisms after our 10am Mass on e first Sunday of the month We can accommodate up to 4 Baptisms due to a noon Spanish Mass. I will also do special requests, although we do do not allow "private" Baptisms. Once per month we schedule a Baptism during Mass but that is rarely chosen or performed. During the Mass the presider will normally perform the Baptism unless there is a special request for someone else.
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deaconjer
New Member
Diocese of[br]Camden[br]Class of '99
Posts: 0
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Post by deaconjer on Nov 23, 2013 7:51:15 GMT -5
Like some of the post I have read, in my parish we do Baptism's during Mass on Sunday. That being said, I know that if asked to do a private Baptism there would be no problem. I know my pastor would let me do a private Baptism.
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cookydeacon
New Member
Diocese[br]of Camden[br]Class of 1999
Posts: 3
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Post by cookydeacon on Dec 3, 2013 11:59:46 GMT -5
I've been doing Baptisms monthly since I was ordained almost 15 years ago. In my current assignment, I run the Baptism class, schedule the Baptisms, etc.
We do group Baptisms every month, which I primarily do, though the pastor in the last year has opted to do more, especially if someone in group he did wedding for or a family he knows.
We have one Mass each month that we also do Baptisms at, with a limit of 2 at the Mass. That is all the pastor allows for the month right now.
I will schedule private Baptisms, which the pastor leaves at my discretion; who's going to do it, availability of celebrant and when.
Many times pastoral consideration will modify how/what we do. I have scheduled one with the pastor for soldier home on leave at the end of month.
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Tom Moseley
New Member
Diocese of Marquette[br]Ordained 2004
Posts: 4
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Post by Tom Moseley on Dec 4, 2013 11:07:31 GMT -5
My parish does all Baptisms after the Saturday Mass. Our priest does all the prep and most of the 20+ Baptisms. I do about 1-2 a year. Our town is about 3000 in a county of about 10,000
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formator
New Member
Posts: 0 
Diocese of: Rochester
Year of Ordination: 1999
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Post by formator on Jan 16, 2017 11:41:58 GMT -5
At my parish there is a parental choice - at Holy Mass or after. About 95% opt for after. Baptisms at Holy Mass are by the celebrant. After Mass the deacon baptizes. On average I baptize two a month.
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