Baptism and CCD question re: my 7 year old

[jujubee]

How does the church deal with an unbaptized 7 year old? When I look at parish websites for their faith formation I see that basically it is a two year process that leads to First Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion. Where does the child’s baptism fit in? Do they have to learn about the faith for two years until they are baptized or does that Sacrament come earlier in the process?

I also have the same question regarding my four year old, but I am under the impression that because of his age he would be considered more of an “infant” baptism. Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[puzzleannie]

a child who has reached the age of discretion (generally age 7) is considered an adult, no longer an infant, for the purposes of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion). He will participate in the Children’s Catechumentate, that is RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation) with his peers, and be received into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil through all of these sacraments, and continue with faith formation throughout his school years, and hopefully as an adult as well. He will prepare for his first confession some time after Easter.

He may be in a class with others of his age preparing for first communion, or if there is a large number of children needing baptism, they will all be in one class. There should be at least a year of pre-catechumenate or inquiry, where he is introduced (according to his learning and grade level) to the basics of the salvation story in the bible, the person of Jesus Christ, the basic beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church, and when he is ready, through the Rite of Acceptance, begin the catechumenate not less than one year before the Easter in which he will be received.

consult the parish in which you will be participating and worshipping for referral to the person in charge of this program.

on his behalf, welcome home.

the 4 yr old is considered an infant in this context, would be baptized the next time the parish baptizes infants, usually parents and godparents are required to attend a class first, and then will enroll in religious education classes when he starts school, and celebrate the other sacraments at the normal age for your diocese.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

How does the church deal with an unbaptized 7 year old? When I look at parish websites for their faith formation I see that basically it is a two year process that leads to First Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion. Where does the child’s baptism fit in? Do they have to learn about the faith for two years until they are baptized or does that Sacrament come earlier in the process?

I also have the same question regarding my four year old, but I am under the impression that because of his age he would be considered more of an “infant” baptism. Is this correct?

Thanks!

I believe the 7yo would need to go through RCIC. My youngest son will turn 10 at the end of the month and he’s in RCIC on an alternating schedule with CCD. He’ll be baptized, confirmed and make his first Holy Communion at Easter Vigil. You might check with your parish and confirm that, but I’m pretty sure that’s what they’ll have your 7 yo do.

The 4 yo would be considered an “infant” baptism, for which you must attend some classes.

 

[IrishAm]

As described above, it is my understanding that any unbaptized child over the age of reason – 7 years – would enter the church through RCIC and be baptized, receive First Communion, and Confirmed at that time.

However, in most US diocese, the age of Confirmation is somewhere between 8th grade and mid-high school.

Therefore (you can see where I’m going here, can’t you), is there an influx of parents who hold off from having their children baptized in order to “get it all over with at once”??

I have heard speculation that this is so . . . but never any first hand information.

(And, before the flames start, I assume we all know there are good – soul-saving – reasons to have a child baptized as soon as possible.)

 

[Pixie_Dust]

As described above, it is my understanding that any unbaptized child over the age of reason – 7 years – would enter the church through RCIC and be baptized, receive First Communion, and Confirmed at that time.

However, in most US diocese, the age of Confirmation is somewhere between 8th grade and mid-high school.

Therefore (you can see where I’m going here, can’t you), is there an influx of parents who hold off from having their children baptized in order to “get it all over with at once”??

I have heard speculation that this is so . . . but never any first hand information.

(And, before the flames start, I assume we all know there are good – soul-saving – reasons to have a child baptized as soon as possible.)

Confirmation for 8th grade and up is intended for Catholic children who presumably have already been baptized and made their first communion. I don’t see any reason why Catholic parents would wait to have their children baptized, but not everyone thinks like me so…

 

[jujubee]

What I am still not clear on is the baptism part. I want my son baptized as soon as the church will allow. I understand the reason for having 1-2 years of instruction before First Communion.

Why does he have to wait that long to be baptized?

 

[puzzleannie]

because this is specified in the Rites for Christian Initiation

I know, I know, and believe me it is so hard to explain to parents why the rule to baptize your infant ASAP changes when your child turns 7, but that is the Rite, and if an adult (and your 7 yr old is considered an adult by canon law in this context, not for marriage obviously but for baptism) is baptized at the Easter Vigil they MUST be Confirmed and receive first communion at the same time.

before you all weigh in with what happens in your parish, diocese, brother in law’s family, that is what the law provides, I know very well the law is not followed everywhere, but I have to go by what it says.

My advice to OP:
go to the parish where you wish to participate, receive the sacraments, go to Mass and talk to the priest. let him refer you to the people responsible for sacramental prep, but talk to him first, but right away, it may be they will stretch a point because of your family situation and baptize both children now, but don’t wait, once he turns 8 yrs old it is pretty clear cut, although age 7 is borderline.

 

[lak611]

What I am still not clear on is the baptism part. I want my son baptized as soon as the church will allow. I understand the reason for having 1-2 years of instruction before First Communion.

Why does he have to wait that long to be baptized?

Once a child reaches the age of reason, he must understand the Catholic faith in order to be baptized, just like an adult convert would. He is of the age that he must make his own profession of faith, so he needs to know what that faith is.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

What I am still not clear on is the baptism part. I want my son baptized as soon as the church will allow. I understand the reason for having 1-2 years of instruction before First Communion.

Why does he have to wait that long to be baptized?

Assuming you mean your 7 year old, it is because he has reached an age where it is his decision to be baptized and becoming a baptized member of the Church requires that he know something about what he’s getting into!

Have you talked to your parish priest about this? He’s going to be able to answer your specific questions better than any of us here, though we try our best to be helpful!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

How does the church deal with an unbaptized 7 year old? When I look at parish websites for their faith formation I see that basically it is a two year process that leads to First Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion. Where does the child’s baptism fit in? Do they have to learn about the faith for two years until they are baptized or does that Sacrament come earlier in the process?

I also have the same question regarding my four year old, but I am under the impression that because of his age he would be considered more of an “infant” baptism. Is this correct?

Thanks!

I would suggest that you speak with your pastor ASAP about both. At their ages they both could be Baptized as infants. Older than 7 or 8 they would normally go through the RCIA process, geared to their level.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As described above, it is my understanding that any unbaptized child over the age of reason – 7 years – would enter the church through RCIC and be baptized, receive First Communion, and Confirmed at that time.

However, in most US diocese, the age of Confirmation is somewhere between 8th grade and mid-high school.

Therefore (you can see where I’m going here, can’t you), is there an influx of parents who hold off from having their children baptized in order to “get it all over with at once”??

I have heard speculation that this is so . . . but never any first hand information.

(And, before the flames start, I assume we all know there are good – soul-saving – reasons to have a child baptized as soon as possible.)

Remember that the Law says “About the age of 7”. There is some discretion available to a pastor right at 7YO, especially if there is also younger children being Baptized as Infants.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

What I am still not clear on is the baptism part. I want my son baptized as soon as the church will allow. I understand the reason for having 1-2 years of instruction before First Communion.

Why does he have to wait that long to be baptized?

You should have spoken with the pastor within a few weeks of his birth, or before about having him Baptized. I realize that you just may not have been aware that you needed to ask about Baptism.

 

[mderuntz2010]

I’ve been wondering the same thing re: preschoolers 2, 3, and 4 year olds that are not baptized. We have a pre-K religious education class at our church. Is a non-baptized child supposed to attend these classes?

 

[KarenElissa]

I’ve been wondering the same thing re: preschoolers 2, 3, and 4 year olds that are not baptized. We have a pre-K religious education class at our church. Is a non-baptized child supposed to attend these classes?

Children under 7 are baptized as infants based on the faith of their parents. So you should call your parish and ask about arranging for their their baptism. There is usually a class for the parents before hand to prepare you.

As for the RE class, yes, you should put your children in these classes. They won’t prepare them for baptism, but they will help you in teaching them about God and the Church.

 

[MissRose73]

My sister is a lapsed Catholic who didn’t have her kids baptized as infants. She eventually relented to my mother’s suggestions that the children be raised with religion in their lives, and gave consent for the kids to participate in a child’s version of the RCIA when her kids were 7 & 9 years old. I was one of the Godparents/Sponsors as I am a Catholic but active.

The kids went through the required formation classes and received all 3 initiation sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass. They were in a class with about 4 or 5 other children ages 7 to 13 years old that most had to have all 3. Only 1 or 2 did not need baptism, they needed Confirmation and First Communion.

I wish the OP all the best with her kids getting the sacraments and welcome home to them all.

 

[Lapey]

How does the church deal with an unbaptized 7 year old? When I look at parish websites for their faith formation I see that basically it is a two year process that leads to First Reconcilliation and First Holy Communion. Where does the child’s baptism fit in? Do they have to learn about the faith for two years until they are baptized or does that Sacrament come earlier in the process?

I also have the same question regarding my four year old, but I am under the impression that because of his age he would be considered more of an “infant” baptism. Is this correct?

Thanks!

Many Parrishes do not have an RCIC program. Check with you pastor, he may have the child baptised then enter them into the CCD classes and “catch up” classes that may have been missed.

This would be better for a 7 year old than putting them in RCIA if there is no program for children. However, it is up to the bishop, then the pastor. Some will have a 7 yr old go through RCIA.

See what’s available for your parrish.

 

[KarenElissa]

First I’ll point out that most of this thread is 3 years old.

Many Parrishes do not have an RCIC program.

Sorry, pet peeve here, actually no parish has RCIC as there is no such thing. It is properly called RCIA adapted for children (or teens) since that is what they are being baptized as, adults. If a parish doesn’t have an RCIA kids class, they can be catechized in whatever “catch-up” classes the parish has, but they should really still go through the RCIA rites and receive all three sacraments at the Easter Vigil like the adults, since that is what they are.

 

[Lapey]

First I’ll point out that most of this thread is 3 years old.

Sorry, pet peeve here, actually no parish has RCIC as there is no such thing. It is properly called RCIA adapted for children (or teens) since that is what they are being baptized as, adults. If a parish doesn’t have an RCIA kids class, they can be catechized in whatever “catch-up” classes the parish has, but they should really still go through the RCIA rites and receive all three sacraments at the Easter Vigil like the adults, since that is what they are.

This may be a pet peeve, but it is generally called and reffered to RCIC, It is in fact a part of RCIA, but aren’t you splitting hairs here? The purpose of my statements were to direct the OP to the pastor, he will know better than us.

Check with your pastor and diocese, you may find a different opinion as far as recieveing all three initiation sacraments on Easter Vigil. Take a look at this canon;

Can. 852 §1. The prescripts of the canons on adult baptism are to be applied to all those who, no longer infants, have attained the use of reason.

§2. A person who is not responsible for oneself (non sui compos) is also regarded as an infant with respect to baptism.

Is a 7 year old responsible for one self in a typical society? Not in the society and culture I live in.

I have baptised several kids from the age of 7 to 12 with the approval of my pastor at the request of the children’s parents. These little ones were then placed in their grade level CCD classes, and also make up classes to get them caught up on the instruction they may have missed.

I have also seen other pastors have the kids go through an RCIA program and recieve all three sacramnets at the Easter Vigil, thus the only thing for the OP to do is see their pastor.

 

[KarenElissa]

This may be a pet peeve, but it is generally called and reffered to RCIC, It is in fact a part of RCIA, but aren’t you splitting hairs here? The purpose of my statements were to direct the OP to the pastor, he will know better than us.

I’m a big believer in words have meaning and referring to things by their correct name, maybe part of that is the scientist in me, but I think it is important. And as for it being generally referred to as RCIC, no, not here. I teach RCIA for kids, and it was called that even before I started teaching it, so it isn’t just me.

And as for the OP, since this is three and a half years later, I would hope they have already sorted this all out with their parish.

 

[Lapey]

IAnd as for the OP, since this is three and a half years later, I would hope they have already sorted this all out with their parish.

I have to say…I totally missed that!!!

PS. If you come to my home parrish and say RCIC, you would get blank startes and questions of, “what?” So in some places you are correct 100%. But other parrishes have established RCIA programs for children, and many call the RCIC, it is a regional term, proper or not, it is what it is. I am sorry if I offended you by useing a cultural term that is accepted as the norm in many areas.