Baptisms at the Sanctuary

The Shrine of Christ-King celebrates, since its inauguration, the Sacrament of Baptism.

Since Baptism is the Sacrament which turns Men and Women into Children of God and incorporates them into the Church, the Code of Canon Law (Canon 857) determines that the proper venue for the celebration of Baptism is the Parish.
It is in the Parish that the whole process of Christian life is initiated, that one is born to God, that one grows in the Spirit, that one feeds his soul.
This being the case, it is up to each Pastor to verify the conditions placed by the Church in what pertains to the fitness of Parents and Godparents, as determined by Canon Law.
To have the children baptized outside their Parishes there has to be a special reason (Can. (857, 2).
In what regards the National Shrine of Christ-King, the special reason could be a special devotion to Christ-King or to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This Shrine only accepts to baptize children with express authorization of the respective Pastor.
At the Shrine, we do not baptize adults, except in rare occasions and always on the above conditions.

 

Duties of Parents and Godparents

Holy Baptism is the foundation of the entire Christian life, the door to life in the Spirit ( vitae spiritualis janua - door of the spiritual life) and also the door of access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ and are incorporated into the Church, thus becoming participants of her mission. " Baptismus est sacramentum regenerationis per aquam in Verbo - Baptism may be defined as the sacrament of regeneration through water in the Word".

God calls to life through the concrete love between husband and wife. The child is born. Creation is remade. With that gesture, God is recreating the world, using, for that purpose, our human parents. "God saw how good it was" (Gen 1, 25). To parents, therefore, is entrusted, in first place, the continuation of the project of divine goodness. On them, on Godparents and on the Community (Church) is going to depend the physical, intellectual and spiritual growth of the new human being.

 

Pratical Rules

Date/Time/Venue

  • The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays between 10h30 and 12h30 and between 14h00 and 15h00, in the Chapel of the Monument, upon previous scheduling. The Chapel can hold 190 people.

Needed Documents

  • Canonical Provision from the Diocese of Setúbal (process to be taken up at the Parish of Parents).

  • If the Process comes from a different Diocese, it is necessary to get a Provision from that Diocese (Process to be taken up at the Parish of Parents) and a Certificate from the Diocese of Setúbal (to be requested by the Shrine).

  • Supplemental Identification Form duly filled out (to be supplied by the Shrine).

Note. - The Process must have been completed at least 8 days before the date of celebration.

Expenses:
  • Stipend for the Shrine: $30 Euros
  • Certificate from the Diocese of Setúbal, in case of transfer from a different Diocese to the Shrine: $23 Euros.