From Fr Louis Anthony Padua, Cape Town
I found the question regarding baptism by immersion and Michael Shackleton’s answer in the Open Door column of February 29 interesting. Canon Law 851 reads as follows: “Baptism is to be conferred either by immersion or by pouring, in accordance with the provision of the episcopal conference”. It would seem to me that immersion takes place of preference.
Immersion is without a doubt more symbolic than that of pouring, highlighting our death to sin so that we might rise with Christ to new life. In 2010 our parish of St Lawrence in Delft, Cape Town completed construction of a baptismal pool which has been put into full use since then, especially at Easter.
I would like to point out that this is the particular baptismal font featured in the South African Liturgical Calendar of 2011 for May. Since then further symbolic features have been added. To the best of my knowledge this is not the only baptismal pool which has been constructed in the South African conference region.
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