I was honored when my colleague, fellow Life-Cycle Celebrant Kim Lalicata, asked me to officiate at the baby welcoming for her adorable son, Joey. The ceremony took place at the reception for his baptism, which had been a more private affair attended by a few family members.
The great thing about working with a Celebrant client is that they come with so many great ideas! Kim read a beautiful and meaningful journal entry that she had written to her son, Joey’s aunt and new godmother read from “Oh! The Places You Will Go!,” and Joey’s dad helped me to introduce the Treasure Box ritual, by bestowing his son with the Twelve Gifts of Birth. Guests were then invited to write their own wishes, blessings, and gifts for little Joey and drop them into the treasure box, for Joey to always have through his life.
We also did a special ritual for Joey’s big brother, too. Too honor their Irish heritage, Joey was presented with a claddaugh pendant by his big brother, and I talked about all of the qualities of brotherhood that the claddaugh embodies:
The hands, clasped around the heart, represent friendship – may Georgie and Joey not only be brothers, but friends. The heart represents love – though brothers may fight or quarrel, may they always remember the love that they share as a family. And the crown represents loyalty – may Georgie and Joey always remember, above all else, that they are family, and they share a powerful history together.
And then, his parents presented one to him, too, as a reminder of his little brother’s baby welcoming ceremony!
We ended the ceremony with the song “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon, a very meaningful song for Kim and her sons (and includes the often quoted lyrics, Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans).
All in all, it was a wonderful experience, a beautiful and unique ceremony, and little Joey was welcomed into his family and his community with open arms!
