Special Occasions

Baptism

Baptism is the first of the sacraments. In the Rite of Baptism for Children the family is welcomed at the church door, the Word of God is proclaimed, the water is blessed and each child is baptised, then anointed, clothed in white and given a lighted candle. Below is the order of the celebration outside Mass, with music for each moment.

Baptism songs for each moment

17 songs in the library. Each song is placed under the moment it is written for; songs not yet marked for a moment are listed after the order of the celebration.

  1. Reception of the children

    At the church door the parents and godparents are welcomed and the children are signed with the cross. A song accompanies the procession to the place where the Word is read.

    No baptism song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Entrance song →

  2. Responsorial Psalm

    No baptism song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Responsorial Psalm song →

  3. Gospel Acclamation

    No baptism song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Gospel Acclamation song →

  4. Intercessions and Litany of the Saints

    The intercessions end with a short litany of the saints, which may include the children's patron saints.

  5. Blessing of the water

    The celebrant blesses the water (outside Easter time). A sung acclamation may answer the blessing.

  6. Baptism

    After the renunciation of sin and the profession of faith, each child is baptised. The people may sing a short acclamation after each baptism.

  7. Anointing, white garment and lighted candle

    The newly baptised are anointed with chrism, clothed in a white garment and given a candle lit from the Easter candle. A baptismal song may accompany the procession to the altar.

  8. Closing song

    After the Lord's Prayer and the blessing, a song of thanksgiving and Easter joy, or the Magnificat.

    No baptism song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Recessional song →

More baptism songs 10

Not yet marked for a particular moment: open a song to read its words and choose where it fits.

All "Baptism" songs Request a song

Readings in the Rite of Baptism for Children

Scripture references only: read the texts from the Lectionary or a Catholic Bible, and check the verse numbers against the Lectionary your parish uses.

Old Testament

  • Exodus 17:3-7
  • Ezekiel 36:24-28
  • Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

New Testament

  • Romans 6:3-5
  • Romans 8:28-32
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
  • Galatians 3:26-28
  • Ephesians 4:1-6
  • 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10

Responsorial Psalm

  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 27
  • Psalm 34

Gospel

  • Matthew 22:35-40
  • Matthew 28:18-20
  • Mark 1:9-11
  • Mark 10:13-16
  • Mark 12:28b-34
  • John 3:1-6
  • John 4:5-14
  • John 6:44-47
  • John 7:37b-39a
  • John 9:1-7
  • John 15:1-11
  • John 19:31-35

One or two readings are chosen, with a psalm, before the Gospel.

Plan the order of service

Choose the songs for each moment, add the readings, names and your own rows, then print the programme or save it as a PDF. The song lists start with baptism songs. Nothing is saved on this site: the link holds your whole programme, so keep it to share or change it later.

  1. Step 1The celebration
  2. Step 2Music and readings
  3. Step 3Print or share

Step 1: The celebration

Printed at the top of the programme. Only the date is needed: the celebration and readings follow from it.

Enter the reading references in step 2 from your lectionary (for example: Isaiah 55:10-11).

Step 2: Music and readings

Search the library for each part, or type a title we do not hold yet. Rows are printed in this order, and rows left empty are left out.

Rename, move, remove or add rows

Click a heading to rename it (for example “Entrance” to “Processional”). Move a row with the arrows, remove it with ×, and add intentions, announcements, events or a note with the buttons under the list. A part you removed can be put back in its place.

  1. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  3. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  5. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  7. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  8. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  9. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  10. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

  11. Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

    Add the wordsWords added for a song that is not in the library

    Number the verses (1. 2. 3.) and start the chorus with “Chorus:” to have them laid out like a hymnal, with the chorus in bold. Nothing you type is saved on this site.

Step 3: Print or share

Create the programme, check it, then print it, save it as a PDF or copy its link.

Text size, typeface and colours: choose them on the next screen, where you see the programme change as you go.

Other special occasions