St. Ann in Arlington schedules them during mass as well as outside mass. The outside mass ones may be with one other family but often it ends up as just one family. You can also schedule a completely private ceremony but it usually requires having your own priest/deacon.

DH was just a godparent at a baptism at Little Flower. The baptismal font area is small and circular so I would guess all of the baptisms are probably private.

My understanding is that it is the pastor's decision. My Catholic church usually has communal baptisms but once in a while a family requests a private baptism for a variety of reasons. It's up to the priest to say yes or no.

Anonymous wrote:I've never seen anything BUT a private baptism...

Me too. All of DH's family did private, as did we. Our parish is very clear you can do either. OP just needs to talk with her priest.

I've never seen anything BUT a private baptism...

We had ours at St Joseph's in old town aalexandria and it was private. You're generally supposed to do them at your parish church though.

Anonymous wrote:Why do people do private baptisms? I thought that part of the ritual is that the congregation welcomes the baby into the community. Not being critical. I grew up catholic and this is new to me so I am curious. I have seen first communion done in a home where an uncle is a priest and it was nice.

My DD was baptized during the Mass, but was the only child being baptized that day. Previous family baptisms, including a cousin for whom I am godmother, were private baptisms. What I like about the private, is that it's a little more personal. I've seen some at my church where 3 or 4 children are baptized at once, and it almost feels like an assembly line. At DD's, I liked that the priest had the time to comment on her name, speak to our extended family who were in attendance, and truly make eye contact with us and her godparents.

My parish, queen of apostles, is in theory communal, but both times I had my kids baptized they were the only ones that day.

Why do people do private baptisms? I thought that part of the ritual is that the congregation welcomes the baby into the community. Not being critical. I grew up catholic and this is new to me so I am curious. I have seen first communion done in a home where an uncle is a priest and it was nice.

We just had our baby baptized at Blessed Sacrament in DC. It was private....and fabulous! I have never heard of a church not doing private ones. Odd.

All baptisms I've attended at Catholic churches are now communal with several other families. You might speak to your priest directly if you have a specific reason for wanting a private baptism to see if your church could help.

Does anyone know of a catholic church in the area that does private baptisms? Our church only does communal ones. Thanks!