When twelve-year-old Connor started nodding off in our children’s RCIA session, I knew it was time for me to stop talking and for everyone else to get up and move. As a catechist in children’s RCIA, I sometimes have to resist the urge to talk too much. No matter how brilliant our RCIA session may be, talking too much can bore our children to tears! Here are four ways keep boredom at bay.

Get up and move

One of my favorite ways, and the kids’ favorite ways, to keep the session moving along is to actually get up and move. I like to call them “field trips.” We go and visit and a different spot in the church or on the parish grounds. Thus, if we are talking about the sacrament of reconciliation, we visit the reconciliation room. Or, if we are talking about the sacred oils (chrism, the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens), we go and find the oils. Our church has beautiful stained glass windows depicting various saints and scenes in the life of Christ, so sometimes we take a look at those and even stop and say a prayer while we’re there.

I usually invite parents, sponsors and everyone to go along on the field trip. Often parents who might be new to Church or returning to Church are interested in the places we are visiting. But, sometimes, I give parents questions to discuss on their own while the catechumens and their companions are with me.

Small group activity

Whether we have four or forty in our children’s RCIA, I do a small group activity every session for at least 10-15 minutes. In a small group (2-5 people), everyone participates and everyone is involved. There are lots of different ways to arrange your small groups and lots of different activities that can be done in this way. Here are just a few.

• Age groups: younger children in a group and older children in a group. You may need a catechist or parent to facilitate the group depending upon the activity.
• Family groups: each family does an activity or discusses given questions.
• Intergenerational groups: I like to do a Bible search activity with an intergenerational group. The adults or older children can help the younger folks find the given Bible story. Then, the group discusses a set of questions about the passage and reports out to the larger group.
• Pairs: Pair folks together in a variety of ways; parent-child pairs, similar age pairs, younger child with older child, sponsor/godparent with child. I like to do a “walk and talk” activity in pairs. The pair is given a set of questions and “takes a walk” while they are discussing the questions.  

Teach them how to pray

Praying is never boring. And, often our young catechumens do not know how to pray. Sometimes prayer has not been a part of their family life, so child catechumens are unfamiliar with the many different types of prayer. The best way to teach prayer is to pray with the children and their families. Of course, that means they don’t just watch you pray, but they are encouraged and shown how to pray.

You might start simply by having everyone say a traditional Catholic prayer together, or read a line in a “scripted” prayer or litany.  I encourage you do try a guided meditation, particularly one centered on a Gospel story. As you well know, there are all kinds of ways to pray.

Celebrate the minor rites

Like prayer, ritual is never boring – at least when it’s done well. Close your sessions with one of the minor rites given in the RCIA, nos. 81-105. These simple rites add a sense of importance and reverence to your sessions. Invite your parish priest or deacon to do the anointing with the oil of catechumens. As a catechist for children’s RCIA, you can likely preside at the other minor rites (see RCIA, nos. 91, 96, 16).  All it takes is a little extra preparation to add this ritual dimension to your children’s RCIA session. And, believe me; they won’t nod off during one of these minor rites.

Your boredom fighters

What are some of the techniques you use in children’s RCIA to keep from boring your children to tears?

Every year I struggle with whether or not to ask child catechumens to come during their Christmas vacation for dismissal sessions on Sunday morning during Mass. By this time of year, the families usually need a break and my family often goes out of town over Christmas. It’s easier just to not meet during Christmas. It’s easier to not be committed during Christmas. It’s easier for everyone to just be on vacation.

Do we take a break from discipleship?

But, then I start thinking about what that teaches child catechumens. Does it teach them that Catholics don’t go to church when school is not in session? That disciples of Jesus are on vacation during Christmas? That it’s okay to skip Mass and the Scripture readings aren’t that important for us to discuss anyway?Of course, we don’t want to give child catechumens any of those messages.

What should we do on Christmas day?

Furthermore, this year (2011) is even more complicated because Christmas is on Sunday. Do we do a dismissal session (also known as breaking open the word) on Christmas? Even though I am urging you to do dismissal sessions during Christmas vacation, I have to admit that we don’t do dismissal on Christmas. Please, comment in the box below and let us know if you do dismissal on Christmas! We’d love to hear about your experience. Instead, here is what I recommend for the Christmas season with child catechumens.

• Give catechumenal families a reflection and discussion guide for the readings of Nativity. In this way, even though you don’t do dismissal on Christmas, the child catechumens can talk about the readings with their family.
• If Christmas is not on Sunday, I urge you do the dismissal on the Sunday after Christmas. This is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The readings are so great for kids! Don’t miss the opportunity to reflect upon these readings with your child catechumens. The characters and the messages are riveting – especially for kids.
  • The magi, Herod, and Joseph’s dream to take the family to Egypt (Year A).
  • Sarah gives birth to Isaac; Simeon, Anna and the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple (Year B).
  • Hannah and Samuel; boy Jesus found in the temple (Year C).
• Give a little Christmas gift. I like to give the child catechumens a little gift on the Sunday after Christmas. A tiny Nativity set is my favorite.
• Do dismissal on the first Sunday in January. It’ll be the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God or Epiphany. Again, these readings are especially engaging for young catechumens and carry significant messages for disciples-in-training.
• You don’t need to have a catechetical session after the dismissal session. Celebrate the Liturgy of the Word, do the dismissal session, end with a blessing of catechumens and go home.

Don’t be a slave to the school calendar

Overall, I simply want to encourage you to do dismissal during Christmas vacation. Don’t get caught in the school year calendar that says kids are on vacation during Christmas. Sure, it’s true they are on vacation. But, being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a 24-7 commitment. And, our Sunday worship is part of that commitment. By doing dismissal with catechumens during the Christmas season, we help to reinforce the Catholic Christian way of life.

There are three ingredients in this secret formula. The first two are simple ingredients that you can pull off your shelf anytime. What I mean by “pull off the shelf” is that they are already present and waiting – right there in your parish. It’s the third ingredient that seems to be a secret.

Ingredient #1 – the parish school teacher

Talk to the teacher. The truly critical ingredient is to have the teacher of the catechumen on board and intimately involved in the children’s RCIA process. In other words, it takes collaboration. It may require extra effort on your part, but go out of your way to talk to the teacher in person about the child catechumen in her or his classroom. Talk to the teacher about how you can work together and what is in the best interest of the child. Share your ideas for collaboration and listen to the teacher’s ideas. There is so much you can do if you gain the trust and support of the classroom teacher!

            In addition, you will also need the support of the principal. In order to work with a teacher, you have to start with the principal. So, even before you go talk with the teacher – talk to the principal.

Ingredient #2 – the classmates

Once you have the teacher on board, then involve the children. When a catechumen comes to us via the Catholic school, it’s essential that we involve her or his classmates as companions on the journey. Often, the classmates have already had an important role in evangelizing and bringing the child catechumen to faith.

Build upon the role and the relationship the school children already have with the catechumen. I suggest that with the teacher’s permission and collaboration, you give the classmates special responsibilities along the way. When they feel they have a responsible role in the faith journey of a classmate, they often take it very seriously and get very excited. You might ask classmates to do some of the following:

• Be a prayer partner.
• Be a pew partner during weekday mass (negotiate with the pastor, teacher, principal how dismissal works at school masses, see RCIA no. 75.3).
• Participate as a companion during the major rites or RCIA sessions that happen through the parish.
• Be a holy day helper. When a holy day or feast day arrives, asks a classmate to help the catechumen better understand the day. You’ll need to provide support and materials.
• Be a good friend.

The secret ingredient – the minor rites (RCIA, nos. 81-103)

The minor rites of the RCIA (blessings, anointing, exorcisms, and celebrations of the word) are so simple, yet so profound, that they can have a dramatic affect on the entire school and on children’s RCIA. I consider these rites the “secret ingredient” because many teachers and principals (and some RCIA coordinators!) are unfamiliar with these rites. They can easily be added to a school mass or a celebration of the word or incorporated into a religion class (see RCIA, nos. 92, 96, 100).  

            Picture this scenario. During a regular weekday school mass, after the homily, the catechumen is called forward. The presider invites all the students present to raise their hands in blessing over the catechumen. The blessing is prayed and the presider lays hands on the child’s head (RCIA, no. 97). Then, the child is dismissed with a catechist and a companion to break open the word (RCIA, no. 75.3). In this way, not just the catechumen’s classmates, but the entire school becomes a witness to the faith journey of the Catholic school catechumen.

            There are many ways that the minor rites can be incorporated into the parish school. You can celebrate a blessing or have a priest or deacon do an anointing at the end of religion class. However, it’s also important that the rites be done with great care, with great reverence and with adequate preparation; on the part of the coordinator, the presider and the children participating.

            If you have used the minor rites with children in the Catholic school setting, please tell us your story by commenting on this blog. We’d love to hear from you!

Here is a recipe that is part of the Faith at Home Activity for Friends on the Way for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Click here for more information about Friends on the Way.
 
 
 

Good-Health Muffins

Line muffin pans with 2 ½ inch cups with papers. Preheat oven.

Make 1 cup pulp by blending pitted plums and chop 3 pitted plums. Set aside.

Stir together:

• 1 ¾ cups uncooked oats
• 2 cups flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Quickly stir in:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup oil
• Plum pulp and pieces

Spoon into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

The latest Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II opens next week in theatres. I cannot wait to see it! In this seventh and final episode of the Harry Potter saga, Harry and his friends have the ultimate confrontation with the Dark Lord, Voldermort, and his wicked allies. It’s a brutal battle in which Harry, Ron, Hermione and the other adolescents fight fearlessly alongside their adult compatriots to defeat evil. In the end, of course, goodness and truth prevail.

            Although some in Catholic circles criticize the witchcraft and wizardry in the Harry Potter series, I believe that Harry Potter can teach those of us in RCIA ministry something about forming kids in faith. And, the climax we see in the final movie points to what it is that Harry Potter teaches.

            Harry, with the supportive guidance of Headmaster Dumbledore and others, teaches his Hogwarts friends that if they are loyal and true and stand united that they can overcome anything – even evil itself as embodied in Lord Voldermort. Indeed, the Hogwarts band of friends defeats the Dark Lord in the final scene and goodness triumphs. So, what does Harry know about teaching kids and what’s this got to do RCIA ministry?

            Harry teaches us about the power of adolescent peers “teaching” each other. For a number of reasons, the professors at the Howgarts School are not able to teach the students to defend themselves against evil forces. In a previous film (or book),  Harry brings a group of students together and he teaches them how to defend against, and ultimately defeat evil. It’s a type of peer teaching. Kids can teach kids in a way that adults cannot. Harry teaches his friends to believe in the good and to believe in each other. It is this point, the importance of peer formation, which I believe we should take to heart.

            The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults speaks urgently about the importance of peer companions in the journey of faith. Indeed, the Rite says that the children’s formation “depends on the help and example of the companions” (RCIA, no. 254). Similar to the way Harry’s classmates learn from him; defense, courage, unity, and importance of standing up for what is just and right; our young catechumens learn faith in Jesus Christ and the ways of discipleship from their Catholic peers.

            There are other “lessons” we can take from Harry Potter that can help us in the way we form kids in faith. Harry has a mission to fulfill and he, along with his companions, makes a difference in their world. I am not suggesting that Harry Potter has overtly Catholic Christian overtones or that we should read too much into the books or movies. (Although, I will say that I love the banquet scenes in the films and in the books). I’m simply suggesting that you take a look at Harry Potter and what he is able to accomplish with the help of his friends and his community.

            In the end, for the fictional Harry Potter and the wizarding world, good triumphs over evil. In our world, God triumphs over evil – always. Not a bad lesson to teach our young catechumens.

When you think about the children’s RCIA process in your parish, are you fairly satisfied with the way it works? Or, are there aspects of children’s RCIA that are weak and need improvement?

Do you wish parents were more involved?

Do you wish the liturgical component was stronger?

Whether you are satisfied with your children’s RCIA or whether you are looking for ways to strengthen the process, here are six simple sure-fire ways to improve children’s RCIA in your parish.

1. Make time to talk individually, in person, to each parent/guardian at the beginning of the process

This is the single most important thing you can do to improve children’s RCIA.

If you are “really” doing children’s RCIA, then you are doing a precatechumenate that is different in design and purpose from the period of the catechumenate. And, in order to design a precatechumenate that fits the needs of the child, you must understand the family history and formational needs of the child.

For example, if Annie is unbaptized, but has been going to Church with Grandma for ten years, she probably doesn’t need an extended precatechumenate. On the other hand, if Annie is unbaptized and has rarely been in Church, then the precatechumenate period will likely be extensive.

Furthermore, the family’s religious history and formational needs are not something that can be easily discussed on the telephone or in a group meeting. If you already do these initial, individual conversations with parents, then I suggest you concentrate on using this family information to refine and improve what you do doing precatechumenate.

2. Do the minor rites

The minor rites (RCIA, nos. 81-105) are simple rituals that, when done well, add tremendous depth and reverence to the period of the catechumenate. At the end of your catechetical session, use one of the “Blessings of Catechumens” or “Minor Exorcisms” to close your session (RCIA, nos. 90-97). Everything is spelled out for you in the ritual text and a catechist can preside (see nos. 91, 96).

Practice your presiding skills in advance in front of a mirror.

If possible, when you preside use the ritual edition (leather or cloth bound) of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults instead of your ratty, old paperback edition. Believe me; ending a session with a well-prepared minor rite improves your session tenfold!

3. Connect candidates to their peer companions

Including same age peer companions is a must in the children’s RCIA process (RCIA, nos. 252, 254). Here is a list of ways you can connect children in the RCIA with the baptized kids in the parish. Have the child candidates or catechumens participate in:

• Some of the appropriate First Communion or Confirmation preparation
• Service projects sponsored by religious education or youth group
• Junior high or high school retreats
• The Children’s Liturgy of the Word during Mass
• Occasional religious education sessions when it’s appropriate (National Statute, no. 19)

Also, invite companions to participate in your RCIA sessions. Companions might come on a regular basis as a type of “sponsor” for the children in the RCIA. Or, companions might come to RCIA on an occasional basis, depending on how your sessions are structured.

4. Include peer companions in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens

Another way to include companions is to be sure that at least some of the children’s companions are present at the rites. Companions are mentioned in the Rite of Acceptance (no. 269), although they do not have a specific role within the Rite.

I suggest you make a slight adaptation within the Rite and have the peer companions stand up with the candidates and their parents. During the “Receiving the Candidates/Children” (nos. 48, 262), have the companions come forward during the introduction of the children. Invite the companions to say why they believe Justin or Maddy or Anthony should be accepted as a catechumen.

Later in the ritual, after parents, sponsors, and/or catechists have signed the signed the senses of the candidates, have the companions do the same (nos. 55, 56, 267, 268).

Including companions in the Rite of Acceptance improves your children’s RCIA process in three ways.

1. Helps the catechumens themselves feel more supported by their peers
2. Gives the companions a specific and important role
3. Gets more members of your parish involved in RCIA

5. Involve parents in discerning readiness for the rites

Another way to improve your children’s RCIA is to improve the way you discern the children’s readiness for the Rite of Acceptance and the Rite of Election. The RCIA mentions the bishop, priests, deacons, catechists, sponsors, godparents and the entire community as those responsible for determining readiness for the rites (nos. 43, 121).

In the case of young catechumens, certainly parents ought to be intimately involved in discerning whether or not their children are experiencing conversion.

There are several ways you can engage parents in the discernment process.

• You can give the parents some reflection questions several weeks in advance of the rites. These questions should help them to discern the signs of conversion their child is experiencing. Some of the questions might be designed to stimulate discussion between the parent and child.
• You could schedule individual appointments to talk with parents about their child’s readiness.
• You can design a group process whereby parents can give testimony about their child’s readiness for the rites.

6. Invite kids and families to the Easter Vigil

Perhaps the simplest way to improve children’s RCIA is to personally invite parish children and their families to the Easter Vigil. The more children and families we have at the Easter Vigil, celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation with children in the RCIA, the richer and better our celebrations will be. More children and families at the Vigil is not only a testament of gladness and support to the RCIA families, it’s a way to deepen the faith of our Catholic families.

When more kids and parents are at the Vigil, they experience the power of the liturgy, the sacraments, and the RCIA. This not only heightens awareness of children in the RCIA, it makes more parish children and families want to be a part of it.

My friend and I were laughing the other day remembering how our kids loved to put on “shows.” In fact, on Erin’s daughter’s eighth birthday she received a special gift which she had specifically requested: a huge roll of red tickets – the kind you get at a school carnival or raffle. These tickets were given to drafted parents and siblings who were required to be the audience and watch every show performed in the family room or basement. Remember those days when your kids would dress up and give you “a show?” Or, maybe you’re living “those days” right now.

The point is that most kids love attention.  And many kids especially love the attention received from a group or an adoring “audience.” On the contrary, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults tells that when celebrating liturgical rites with children, we should keep the congregation small, “since a large group might make the children uncomfortable” (see nos. 260, 257). To be sure, liturgical rites are not a “show.” The liturgy is the official public worship of the Church. And, a congregation is not an “audience.” Members of the congregation are active participants in the liturgy. Thus, the point made in the opening story does not directly apply to liturgical rites. Nonetheless, I believe the general principle is true: kids love attention from people who care about them.

And, I believe the people in our parishes care about children in the RCIA. Furthermore, I believe the RCIA is dead wrong about celebrating the liturgical rites with children. I think that both the children in the RCIA and the worshipping parishioners benefit when we celebrate the rites of the RCIA with the Sunday assembly.

First, the children in RCIA benefit from being present in the midst of the Body of Christ. Our Sunday assemblies, gathered for Eucharist, are the Body of Christ made manifest. When children in the RCIA stand in our midst for worship they are being formed by the Body of Christ. The liturgy is formative. And, we do our best liturgy on Sunday in the midst of God’s holy people.

Besides, the children are preparing to join our sacred assembly; they ought to have the opportunity to be among us. Moreover, in my experience children are not intimidated or overly uncomfortable being in a large congregation. Although it’s not uncommon for some children to be “nervous” about being the center of attention, all that’s needed it a little reassurance from a trusted adult. Once they know that loving parents, sponsors and same-age companions will be walking with them throughout the ritual, they usually feel safe and secure.

Second, members of the parish, young and old, benefit from children in the RCIA celebrating the rites on Sunday. When the rites of the RCIA are done well, they help worshippers grown in faith for the liturgy is formative for all participants. For example, when the person in the pew watches a parent get down on his knees and sign his son’s feet with the sign of the cross, the pew person is led to ask, “Do I walk in the way of Christ?”

In conclusion, even though I am sure the authors of the RCIA had the children’s best interest in mind when they advised us to celebrate the rites with a “small congregation,” I’ll stick to my position that they are dead wrong. And, I encourage you to celebrate the rites of the RCIA with your young catechumens in the midst of your Sunday assembly. You won’t even need the red tickets.

My secret strategy for involving parents in the children’s RCIA process is fourfold.  I promise that if you follow these four steps, you will improve the level of parent involvement in children’s RCIA.

1. Talk to parents in person. The very first step is to sit down, face to face, and talk with at least one of the parents. It makes all the difference in the world, if you have this conversation in person, rather than talking on the telephone or sending a letter to describe parish expectations for RCIA. It takes a lot of time to meet with each family, but it is well worth it!

During your initial discussion, you’ll talk with parents about their child’s faith formation history and what it is they are seeking for their child. Of course, you’ll do all this with a spirit of gracious hospitality and you’ll express the Church’s joy that they are asking for baptism for their child. Then, you’ll emphasize the importance of parental involvement in the RCIA by cover the following points:

• Be kind, clear, and unapologetic about your expectations for parent involvement. Do you expect a parent to come to every formation session or just once a month? Explain the importance of parents in the rites and how this role is dependent upon their presence throughout the process.
• Explain why it is so important for parents to be involved in the process. Explain how the Church feels strongly that parents are the primary catechists of their children. Explain how this is an important journey of faith and the Church wants parents to accompany their children on the journey.
• Offer childcare for younger siblings or, if the ages of the children permit, include siblings in intergenerational formation sessions.

2.  Be flexible. The second part of the secret formula is to be flexible and not too demanding. Although you want to be firm in your expectations, you also want to use your best pastoral judgment. Sometimes life is too complicated and parents simply cannot be involved. Other times, if we are willing to change or adapt the process, we can accommodate the needs of families with children.

            For example, one parish in Indianapolis always did RCIA on Thursday nights. However, many of the parents worked in the restaurant industry. Thus, Thursday night was impossible! So, they changed their RCIA to Saturday morning so that parents could participate in sessions with their children.

3.  Be welcoming. One of the most significant and powerful signs of welcome for a parent is to include all their children and not expect them to make arrangements for childcare. First, some can’t afford childcare. Second, some want their younger children to be with them. Just yesterday I talked with a young mother who chose a parish specifically because she felt her young daughter was more welcome there than at another parish. Yes, there are certainly times when it’s not appropriate for young children to be at a session. In those cases, refer to point 2. Be flexible.

            Another way to make parents feel welcome is to offer food and beverages. A cup of coffee or a bottle of water with a little snack can help energize any bedraggled parent. Plus, it’s just plain nice!

4. Give it a try. For those parents who resist coming or argue that they are too busy to come, ask them to give it a try for one month. If after a month, that don’t see the value in coming, then re-negotiate. Most often, after participating in the faith formation of their child, even the most reticent parent has had a change of heart.

After you’ve implemented this fourfold process for increasing parent involvement in children’s RCIA, send us an email here at TeamRCIA and let us know the results. 

From childhood till now you taught me to praise your wonders.

Psalm 71:17

“Yes, but, do we have to go to all three?” my own children asked at dinner last night as we discussed the family schedule for the week. The unequivocal answer is, “Yes.” It is right and good for children to celebrate the sacred Triduum, and most especially if those children are the elect.

For some reason, probably because family life is so chaotic, many initiation ministers think it is “too much” to ask children who are elect to spend three evenings in church celebrating the great paschal feast. However, consider that my middle school daughter has three track meets on three consecutive nights this week. And, many kids practice sports four nights a week and more! My point is that most kids today are accustomed to a busy schedule and it’s not too much to expect them to be at church for three nights.

A lot to ask

On the other hand, I would argue that it is a lot to ask the elect and their parents to be at church for three nights, and that is precisely the point. Sacramental initiation into the life of Christ is a big commitment, and we expect the young elect and their parents to be there. Don’t apologize, as I sometimes want to do, for expecting the children and their parents to fully participate in the Triduum. Help them to understand that it is an honor and privilege to participate in this sacred three day celebration.

It’s important to view the Triduum as one, unitive feast, rather than as three distinct and separate celebrations. We are asking families to come to one celebration, not three. “The Triduum is a single celebration of the paschal mystery presented over three days”(Roman Missal). The children in the RCIA are being fully initiated into the life of life of Christ. They are being incorporated into the paschal mystery. In order for the children and their families to have the best and richest experience possible, they need to participate in the entire paschal feast. Think of it as a festival which begins with Mass of the Lord’s Supper, continues with celebration of the Lord’s passion on Friday and culminates with Easter Vigil and the celebration of the sacraments of initiation.

Four suggestions

Here are four suggestions that you may want to consider as you begin your final preparations for your paschal festival with children in the RCIA.

1. Telephone each family to confirm final arrangements. Let them know they are in your prayers and remind them what time to be at church on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Tell them you’ll meet them at a certain place and sit together. Even though you’ve told them a thousand times, this telephone call allows you one more opportunity to personally touch base with them and address any last-minute concerns. It also reinforces how important it is for them to be there. Godparents or parish sponsors can also help make these telephone calls if you have a large number of children.
2. Help with the provision of child care for young children. Families with young children are often worried about whether their young children “can make it” through the three day celebration. You may need to provide onsite child care during the liturgies.
3. Make arrangements for a “break room” for children during the Vigil. You may want to consider having an area where children can “take a break” during the Vigil. Sometimes the Vigil is so long, that children need to leave for a few minutes, get a drink and relax before returning to the assembly. This may be the same room where children change into dry clothes after baptism. Remember, it’s a three day celebration so there is nothing wrong with taking a short break!
4. Celebrate the Preparation Rites on Holy Saturday (RCIA, nos. 185-192). Holy Saturday is a day of “reflection and prayer,” rather than a day for rehearsal (no. 186). Include the children in the preparation rites on Holy Saturday, especially the Ephphetaha Rite. It’s a very simple rite that’s effective with children and it can be the basis of your reflection for Saturday morning.

Lastly, take some time for your own personal prayer and reflection on the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. You’ve spent a lot of time and energy preparing these children to enter into the life of Christ. Now, give yourself some time to praise the wonders of God redeeming love.