Children And Christian Initiation Parent Sponsor Guide

Children and Christian Initiation is a resource for Catholic parishes. This easy-to-use resource gives parents and sponsors the confidence to accompany children to full sacramental initiation. It helps them prepare children to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and eucharist by providing an overview of children’s spirituality, the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the four periods of the initiation process, practical ways to prepare for the rites and reflect on them afterwards, experiential activities that link scripture with daily life and simple ways to continue the process at home.

This resource shows both how to celebrate each of the rites within the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and how to prepare children and their families for full participation in the rites. Sets forth a theological framework for the initiation of children as well as the sound praxes provided in the rite. A table outlines the periods and steps in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, showing what takes place during each period and the rites belonging to the period. The Q&A chapter will answer a variety of questions for coordinators, directors of religious education and priests. A glossary defines the terms relevant to Christian initiation. Resources for future reference.

Children and Christian Initiation is a resource for Catholic parishes. If you’re starting or continuing the process of Christian initiation with children, this is the book for you. It gives complete, practical directions for preparing unbaptized or uncatechized children for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and eucharist. Adapting the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for children in age-appropriate ways, this resource includes an overview of children’s spirituality and the vision of the Rite, ideas for preparation before the rites and reflection afterwards, experiential activities that link scripture with daily life, background on each of the four periods, with sample sessions for each, a calendar of celebrations, which can be copied for families and a glossary of terms used in the initiation process.

Parents play a vital role as their children prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist through the catechumenal process. They help nurture their children’s faith and understanding as they accompany them on the path toward discipleship and initiation into Jesus Christ and his Church. This booklet answers the questions parents and guardians often ask as they help their children embrace the faith of the Catholic Church. It can also assist initiation coordinators, parish staff members, and catechists to begin a conversation with the parents and guardians as they and their children start on the path outlined in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Ideally, this resource will be given to the parents or guardians after the initial, face-to-face meeting and reinforce the explanation of why it is so important for parents or guardians to be involved in their child’s journey of faith: the Church says that parents are the primary catechists of their children and wishes for them accompany their children on the journey.

Parents play an essential role in the faith journey of their children who are preparing to enter the Catholic Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Parents nurture their children’s faith, create a prayer-filled home environment, and guide the family’s engagement in parish life. Along the way, however, parents often have questions about the process of initiation that is outlined in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) and the way it applies to their children. This booklet answers those questions and encourages parents to support their children in the life of faith. Initiation coordinators and catechists can also use this book to begin a conversation with parents and guardians about the sacramental journey for their children as it is outlined in the OCIA.

This resource provides RCIA coordinators with the tools needed to train everyone involved in the formation of new adult Christians.

This resource aims to recognize and acknowledge that children of varying ages and states of faith formation undergo a variety of paths to Christian initiation. However, using the rite itself as a backbone, this new book will help RCIA coordinators, catechists, and DREs with suggestions on how to adapt the rite for children. The book will document the author's expertise and experience in ushering children through the process and offers readers practical suggestions to help children and families, and at the same time, helps to underscore that the Rite should be their foundation for how they will do this.