Archive for the ‘Children’ Category

In the current TeamRCIA newsletter, we announced two Advent resources for faith formation—one for adults and one for children. What we neglected to do was give you link where you could find the resources! So here is the offer, with the appropriate links! (If you didn’t get the newsletter and you’d like a copy, sign [...]

Someday I’ll learn to stop saying, “Now I’ve heard everything” when it comes to the RCIA. Because there’s always something new. You all probably know all about this, but I can be a little slow sometimes. A reader e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago to ask about several baptized Catholic children in her parish [...]

120 members of RCIA teams from northern California have just wrapped up a two-day institute (sponsored by the North American Forum on the Catechumenate and the dioceses of San Jose and Monterey). The institute focused on how to adapt the RCIA for children. Talking with some of the participants reminded me of something I wrote [...]

I am struggling with finding a new source for children’s catechumenate. Can you help?         I understand your frustration. There is not much available. Here is what I’ve used in various situations over the years. As you well know, you have to pick and choose what fits your children and their families. [...]

Why do we need inquiry for children? In the cases of younger children, it seems pointless. The parents have made up the children’s minds for them. They will enter this process and finish it because their parents said so. Why not start these children with Christianity 101 and go on from there? Thanks for your [...]

In the Fall 2009 issue of the Forum Newsletter, children’s initiation expert, Fr. Tim Piaseki, says that the task of RCIA teams is to help children become friends with Jesus. How do people become friends? They spend time together. They have conversations with each other. They do things together. Little by little they come to [...]

I have approximately ten children of various ages that have either been baptized only or have not been baptized. What is your recommendation on the process for initiating them and receiving them into full communion? Right now I put them in the appropriate grade and then work with them. How often should we meet and [...]

My understanding is that in the children’s catechumenate, peer companions over the age of reason could be confirmed along with the catechumens. Is this true? Yes, it is a possibility. According to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, “Baptized children of the catechetical group may be completing their Christian initiation in the sacraments of [...]

(Note from Nick: I asked Rita Burns Senseman to answer a question we recently received. She is a leading expert in children’s initiation. Thanks Rita!) Should young people in the RCIA attend regular religious education classes in addition to the catechesis and programs they take part in with the RCIA? It depends. In most instances, [...]

I’m editing the October 2009 issue of Religion Teacher’s Journal, and I’ve just run across the second author who casually refers to choosing a new name for confirmation as though that’s the ordinary practice of the church. I chose a confirmation name as a child as I’m sure most of you did. But our experience [...]