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Sacrament Preparation for Adults is handled through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults or through an Adult Confirmation class.
The Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) will begin Tuesday, September 4th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall! These are weekly classes. There is no fee. Registration occurs at your first meeting.
This program is for the following types of people:
Any adults who needs to be baptized.
A person of another faith who wishes to join the Catholic Church.
A Catholic who was baptized, but who has not received their First Communion and/or Confirmation.
Any adult Catholic or Non-Catholic who wishes to learn more about the Jesus Christ and our Catholic traditions.
The RCIA class has no fee. Registration will is done at the first attended meeting. We will be available after Mass today if you have questions. Sacraments through the RCIA are received on Holy Saturday, April 14th. This is the day before Easter Sunday.
How Children Grow in Faith
The development of faith is a gradual activity that takes its inspiration from the four phases of the baptismal catechumenate. These four phases are:
- Helping children learn about Jesus through the Gospels.
- An intense and specific preparation for the sacraments that includes the Creed and the Our Father.
- Providing an ongoing dialogue with children as they reflect on the Mass and their experience of the sacraments and what it means to their relationship to God.
- Introducing the whole family to the life of the worshiping community.
A two-year program has been established to serve the families of all children preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation, specifically Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion.
Baptism
- Children 7 years of age and below contact the Parish Office to arrange for Baptism. The information for preparation classes and other requirements are available by calling 323-3108.
- Children 4th grade and up, who require baptism, are prepared through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This program is called the Children’s Catechumenate (CCAT.) All older children, 4th grade and up receive a full initiation - Baptism (if needed,) First Communion, and Confirmation. Contact the Office of Religious Education, Debbie Garton, at 716-1005.
First Holy Communion/ Reconciliation
- Children in 4th grade and up, who have not received their First Communion, enter the first year of the Children’s Catechumenate (CCAT.)
CCAT
Parent Involvement in the Pre-Sacrament Year
- During this first year, the whole family is directly involved the preparation for the sacraments. Parents meet weekly on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. This is the same time as their children’s religious education classes . Once a month, whole families gather together. The parent activities help the adult family members grow in their own faith and the family gatherings allow the family to develop their own religious tradition. This helps the whole family develop a love for God.
- Parents are the primary relationship through which the faith will be passed on to their children. Parental values and devotion to the faith are the foundation for the faith of the child. All religious activity done in parish and school can only support the all-ready present and on-going religious commitment of the parents.
- Therefore, parents must actively live out their faith and their Catholic traditions. They must share the faith with their children, encourage their weekly, active participation at Mass, explore the Word of God and affirm their child’s understanding in and strength of faith when it is displayed. Reception of the Sacraments cannot be performed in a vacuum because the Sacraments build on faith; they do not generate faith in and of themselves.
Parent Involvement in the Sacrament Year
- During the second year, direct preparation of the child continues weekly. The RCIA has several rites, most of which occur at the Sunday Masses, during the second year. The children, parents and sponsors participate in these rites with the adults.
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