'Christening', 'Baptism' or 'Blessing', whatever term is used depending on what religious denomination, is one of the traditions that never seems to die as several parents continue with the tradition of carrying their newborn to be blessed by the Church.

From the earliest times, Christians have baptised whole families, including children. Clearly, infants cannot make a personal commitment to Christian discipleship, so the Christian parents or parent, helped by 'sponsors', or 'godparents', make the promises on their behalf.

The parents and godparents promise to bring the child up in a Christian home, to take part in Christian worship on a regular basis.
Checks made with some church officials showed that this practice has not changed with time, as several parents along with relatives and close friends continue to go to church for this important moment.

Reverend Denzil Jack, a Baptist Minister at the Bethel Bog Walk Baptist Church in St. Catherine told All Woman Magazine that over the years there has not been a reduction for this request.
"I have not seen a reduction. Most parents who have a child within the first three months would turn up to have their child blessed," he said.

Meanwhile, Pastor Charles Blythe of the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) of Seventh Day Adventists said that both Christians and non-Christians continue to call upon the church to have their child committed to the Lord.

Reverend Jack said in performing the ceremony both parents and godparents are called in for a session discussing the importance of raising children. "We reiterate the importance of parenting and use the opportunity to also show the importance of the family unit," he said.
According to first-time mom, Nadine Moncrieffe, although she no longer attended church, it was very important that her child was 'blessed' by the Church.

"It is tradition. It is something that is expected. To not have done it would have been taboo," she explained.
She said that she went all out for that special ceremony. Even getting the right dress for her child. "She was decked out in a pretty white dress with a matching hat and she looked beautiful," pointing out that her mother-in-law and mother insisted that the child should be dressed appropriately for the ceremony.

Moncrieffe said that all the members of her family and friends were present except her husband who was not in the island at the time.
"My daughter had passed the three months' stage where it is usually performed and my mother insisted that it had to be done now and not later as this was very important. So I just went along with it," she explained.

The christening ceremony is usually where the child is also given its name and as a result has the same importance as that of a wedding ceremony. Next week we will look at the importance of the christening certificate or baptismal certificate.

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