Baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit. Through Baptism a relationship is established between the individual and God. This incorporates the individual into the community of believers, the priesthood of the faithful. It confers on the soul a permanent character which designates a permanent relationship with Christ and his Church, even though one might cease to be an active member of the community. All of the other christian sacraments, therefore, derive their meaning from baptism.

Bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of baptism, although in the case of imminent danger of death’ anyone with the right intention may administer the sacrament of baptism. The words for conferring baptism are “ I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.