We have a family in the Parish where the husband is an Eastern (Byzantine Rite) Catholic & the wife is a Roman Catholic. Canon Law (Church law) states that when the family is Catholic (both East & West) the children will be baptised according to the fathers tradition. This means the children of this family are received into the Church through the Byzantine Rite – all sacraments of initiation are given to them as a baby (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion). The baby then continues to receive communion as they attend Mass at either a Byzantine Catholic Church or Roman Catholic Church. In the Byzantine Church it is common practise for babies to receive communion as the family attends Church. In Roman Catholic Churches this is not the practice however, it is valid for an Eastern Catholic baby to receive communion at either Church. You may see a baby being distributed communion (only by the priests) at Masses in our Parish as the family attends weekly at both the Byzantine Church on Saturdays & at Bateman on Sundays. If you want to read more about this you can find information here on the ACBC website: https://bit.ly/2CZfEqv or speak to the priests or the family if you have any other questions.
