For everything there is a season…and the “season” is coming to a close for our current Baptismal font, which I believe is our parish’s original one since it matches the original and former altar, presider’s chair, ambo and tabernacle altar—or at least that what the “provenance” suggests.

Understandably, time (nearly 47 years) takes its toll on every created thing—heat and air
conditioners, roofs, paint jobs and more—and our current font has issues of warping, splitting wood in some areas, and the baptismal bowl area is weak and is ill-fitting. Add to that, the wood used in production does not fare well with water. And we will need to see how the new font works with water and how the water is emptied from the bowl, after baptism. In caring for areas in item used in Sacramental actions (blessed water, consecrated oils, etc.) we need to ensure for both the care and usage of such sacred things—the font itself and the oils , blessed water spilled--to pro-vide for both public and private symbolism and meaning of the Sacred Rites of the Church. Thus, how we dis-pose of the blessed water, the cleanup of the consecrated oils, etc, is important. All this needs to be considered in the design and use of the font.

Having said all that, I am putting this in our bulletin as we will certainly to offer opportunities for individuals to memorialize this new font, donations in names of deceased or living family members or loved ones--are appropriate. However, that requires a firm cost in the making of this new Baptismal font. That will come in a short while once the craftsperson gives us a quote for the wood itself and the effort required in the font’s production.

Like the altar, ambo, credence table, presider’s chair and tabernacle altar, this item too is a piece of art which tells a story: the eternal meaning of Baptism and the Love of God for His Children called to the Sacrament. More detailed information to come in the not too distant future.