Children's Catechumenate & Delayed Sacraments
More and more, parish leaders find themselves in the situation where children approach the sacraments after the normal time. They've missed the normal sacramental preparation process, so we need a different way to embrace them and help them transition into the mainstream faith formation program. This includes:
- Unbaptized children who are old enough to be catechized.
- Uncatechized children who come for First Eucharist or First Reconciliation around the normal age.
- Older children who come for First Eucharist or First Reconciliation, but are developmentally beyond the materials or process you normally use.
Parental involvement will be important in these situations, as the parents need to be coached and welcomed, too.
The three tools below, whether used separately or together, give you great options to open the door to these families and accompanying them in:
- Growing Up Catholic offers family catechesis in preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation at both a elementary school (ages 7-9) and middle school (ages 10-14) levels.
- Helping Our Family - Whole Family Catechesis is a good way children ages ten and up can learn the basics of Catholic teaching with their parents.