I am a retired priest at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Fort Frances, Ontario. I would like to share with you a story about the last baptism in Keewatin Diocese.
In the summer of 2014, our grandson, Daniel, his wife, Krystal, and their three little boys, who live in Thunder Bay, were here for a holiday. I was so pleased when they asked me to baptise their three month old, Isaac. As our rector, Wayne McIntosh, was on vacation, Georgina Connor and I officiated at the service.
It was a very special service for our family, as you will see. Isaac’s paternal grandparetns, Carol and David, were here from Sioux Lookout, and his other parternal great-grandparents, Bernice and Don DeBenedet, came from Thunder Bay. Also present were his aunts and uncles.
It was not what you would call a “quiet” service, as we had six other great-grandchildren present, four years of age and younger! Isaac’s four-year-old cousins carried up the bread and wine (under adult supervision!)
We were also pleased to have fellow Christians with us from the United Church, as they have a midweek service only during the summer, and from the Roman Catholic Church. Certainly Isaac was very warmly welcomed into our Chistian family!
What made it especially memorable for us was that Isaac’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all present and all four had been baptised at St. John’s.
Barbara Murray
