Baptism and first communion on a 10 year old

[andrean]

So my whole family is catholic but I have not gotten my 10 year old baptized yet. I want her to go to the catholic school I attended next year. Well she be able to get both these things done in less than a year so she can go to the catholic school? So I plan on calling the church this week about the baptism and I think I have to take a class???But should I get her signed up for church classes now since they usually start around this time? Just want to find out if I will be able to get all this done in less than a year.

 

[bluerose]

Does the school require its students to be baptized Catholics? I know that when I was in school (a long time ago!), one did not have to be baptized–or even Christian–to attend the parochial school.

 

[andrean]

no she does not have to be catholic but it’s cheaper and I really want her to get baptized and have her 1st communnion, I just wish I would of gotten this done a long time ago.

 

[bluerose]

I know that it typically takes about two years to complete First Communion preparation, but baptism classes should not take that long… if your daughter is even required to take them. Check with your pastor to see if anything is needed for her to baptized other than for you to demonstrate that you are willing to raise her in the Catholic faith (which may require you to attend a class on baptismal preparation… that is all that is needed for an infant to be baptized.) Prayers for you!

 

[EasterJoy]

no she does not have to be catholic but it’s cheaper and I really want her to get baptized and have her 1st communnion, I just wish I would of gotten this done a long time ago.

If you are an active member in the parish, having her in the parish RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) program may count for tuition purposes. It would also probably be most appropriate for her situation. RCIC typically runs the same amount of time as RCIA, and a ten-year-old would be baptised and make her First Holy Communion at Easter Vigil, before the regular First Holy Communion group for that year. (After the age of reason, children are enrolled in RCIC where they choose baptism; their parents can’t make that decision for them any more.)

Check with director of religious education, but typically RCIC would start either when RCIA does or when the regular religious education classes do. She would just have some coursework or formation experiences apart from what the other kids in her class would have. She may have to attend after-school classes, because RCIC also needs to accomodate children entering the Church who aren’t enrolled at the parish church. (Again, think of it as just being age-appropriate RCIA.)

 

[jmcrae]

I know that it typically takes about two years to complete First Communion preparation, but baptism classes should not take that long… if your daughter is even required to take them. Check with your pastor to see if anything is needed for her to baptized other than for you to demonstrate that you are willing to raise her in the Catholic faith (which may require you to attend a class on baptismal preparation… that is all that is needed for an infant to be baptized.) Prayers for you!

Since she is over the age of seven, she will most likely be treated as an adult convert, and will most likely be directed to an age-appropriate version of the RCIA process. She will be baptized, Confirmed, and receive First Holy Communion at an Easter Vigil after receiving appropriate instruction and spiritual preparation. The good news is that the age appropriate RCIA process is typically shorter for 10 year olds than it is for adults - she can probably complete the whole process during this school year, if she acts now to get everything set up.

 

[puzzleannie]

So my whole family is catholic but I have not gotten my 10 year old baptized yet. I want her to go to the catholic school I attended next year. Well she be able to get both these things done in less than a year so she can go to the catholic school? So I plan on calling the church this week about the baptism and I think I have to take a class???But should I get her signed up for church classes now since they usually start around this time? Just want to find out if I will be able to get all this done in less than a year.

Most Catholic schools will enroll her now (if they have room) and send you to your own parish to have her prepared for baptism and the other sacraments through RCIA, since she is no longer an infant. The time for RCIA varies but should not be less than one calendar year, and for children is often longer, one year of initiatial faith formation, then a year of sacramental preparation.

Call your parish office and get started since yes in many places that do not have a year-round process new classes are forming now.

congratulations on taking care of this now, especially seeing to it that she is being educated in the Faith.

If she were attending our school her initial faith formation would be with her school religion class, and she would come over to the Parish next year for RCIA, which here meets on the weekend, and yes parents and godparents also have classes to take.