CCD children and Mass

[utah_rose]

I’m a CCD teacher for 12 year old Hispanics. Most are in their first year of religious training. Yet, their parents either don’t or won’t take them to Mass. Even though I stressed in our class before Christmas that it was a holy day of obligation, wrote the Mass times on the board, none attended. I love these kids, they’re great. It’s been a learning and humbling experience for me. However, I wonder if this may be a cultural thing, or are other teachers having the same problem. If so, do you have any suggestions? I might add I’m a senior and picking them up for Mass isn’t possible. I hesitate to call the parents as many speak Spanish, but I don’t. Would appreciate any help.

 

[1ke]

However, I wonder if this may be a cultural thing

No.

or are other teachers having the same problem.

Yes.

If so, do you have any suggestions?

No.

Just keep teaching them the commandments, and stress when they are old enough to get to Mass on their own power they have a serious obligation to Our Lord.

I might add I’m a senior and picking them up for Mass isn’t possible.

Without permissions slips, this really isn’t feasible anyway. Parishes and dioceses have policies regarding transporting children as part of safe environment rules.

 

[otjm]

I’m a CCD teacher for 12 year old Hispanics. Most are in their first year of religious training. Yet, their parents either don’t or won’t take them to Mass. Even though I stressed in our class before Christmas that it was a holy day of obligation, wrote the Mass times on the board, none attended. I love these kids, they’re great. It’s been a learning and humbling experience for me. However, I wonder if this may be a cultural thing, or are other teachers having the same problem. If so, do you have any suggestions? I might add I’m a senior and picking them up for Mass isn’t possible. I hesitate to call the parents as many speak Spanish, but I don’t. Would appreciate any help.

Our local Catholic grade school has a similar problem; there is a weekday Mass for the children and many parents attend; some of them consider the Wednesday Mass “good to go” and don’t attend on Sunday.

Go figure…

If the parents are uncatechized or under catechized, it makes your job somewhat similar to trying to shovel water uphill with a pitch fork.

Keep doing what you are doing, to the best of your ability. God does not expect anything more from you (and if He should, be sure that you are really getting a prompting from the Holy Spirit, and not just meddling).

Ultimately, parents are responsible for raising their children; how God is going to judge them is between God and them, not for us to pass on. Which makes it no less painful to observe; but ultimately, we can do only what we can do.

And reflect on the Gospel passage of the sower who sowed seeds.

 

[Corki]

This is a common problem. All parishes have issues with kids just being dropped off for CCE but not having any other connection to the parish. But there is a cultural aspect too. At least in our parish, many of the Hispanic parents just don’t see Sunday Mass as a big deal or a requirement. It’s just one option out of many to be an active Catholic. Many of the parents go to weekday prayer services or Bible study but don’t come to Sunday Mass. While most of the “anglo” families would consider Sunday Mass the minimum and the rest the “extras”, the Hispanic community seems to view them as interchangeable. And they pass this on to the kids too with CCE but no Mass.

 

[pianistclare]

It’s not so much that they don’t think it’s a bog deal per se…but most of them cannot receive Communion, are not married in the Church, or at all even, and the Mexican priests are pretty blunt with them, even to the point of chasing people out of the confessional.
There needs to be catechesis of the parents as to how they can fix their marital situations, and the benefits of assisting at Mass.
The kids don’t drive.
Have a conversation with your DRE, and Adult Ed coordinator to put together a program for the parents to explain to them what can be done, and what cannot be done.

 

[otjm]

It’s not so much that they don’t think it’s a bog deal per se…but most of them cannot receive Communion, are not married in the Church, or at all even, and the Mexican priests are pretty blunt with them, even to the point of chasing people out of the confessional.
There needs to be catechesis of the parents as to how they can fix their marital situations, and the benefits of assisting at Mass.
The kids don’t drive.
Have a conversation with your DRE, and Adult Ed coordinator to put together a program for the parents to explain to them what can be done, and what cannot be done.

And perhaps the priests need to learn that there is more than one way to skin a cat; using a dull razor truly is not the best way.

Maybe we need a decade of Mercy.

 

[pianistclare]

And perhaps the priests need to learn that there is more than one way to skin a cat; using a dull razor truly is not the best way.

Maybe we need a decade of Mercy.

Yes.

 

[utah_rose]

Yes.

Thanks for all of your (name removed by moderator)ut. In our CCD program, children that will receive their Holy Communion have their parents meet once a month with our CCD director and the parents are asked to provide training (prayers,etc. ) at home. I’m not even sure they’re doing that as sadly the kids don’t seem to know their prayers. It’s good to know that other parishes have the same problem. Then these children are given easy tests to see if they know the basics.

I wish our parish priest would get more involved. I think that if he were to teach these kids as well once a month they’d understand more. Classes for the parents is an excellent idea too. Also, the children I teach meet on Saturdays (English only) and the Spanish on Sunday’s. I think perhaps if they met on Sunday’s, they’d have a better chance at attending Mass. No know too that middle school children are hard to teach and they get bored easily, but hoping to plant a few seeds.

 

[pianistclare]

We moved all formation classes to Sundays. It makes for a 12 hour day for me, but the attendance at the Spanish Mass has tripled! Few of them work on Sundays, and many work Saturday nights. With one car, it’s better for them to do Sundays.
We do charts and small incentives for the children to learn their prayers. They get a small crucifix, a chaplet, prayer books, pretty holly cards, things like that when they accomplish each thing.

I have regular classes with the Spanish and English by really fine catechists, They really enjoy the classes.

 

[utah_rose]

We moved all formation classes to Sundays. It makes for a 12 hour day for me, but the attendance at the Spanish Mass has tripled! Few of them work on Sundays, and many work Saturday nights. With one car, it’s better for them to do Sundays.
We do charts and small incentives for the children to learn their prayers. They get a small crucifix, a chaplet, prayer books, pretty holly cards, things like that when they accomplish each thing.

I have regular classes with the Spanish and English by really fine catechists, They really enjoy the classes.

I think we’d have that too but our parish is predominately Spanish, and we have a small CCD building, and not enough room for all of the classes unless some were held in the afternoon. The teachers try to provide things like holy cards, coloring and handouts to the children but our media (books , tapes) are old outdated or missing, and so far our pastor hasn’t committed to buying any. I bring rosaries, prayer pamphlets that are mailed to me and distribute it to the children, also extra Bibles. I may buy some holy cards though etc. for incentives. That sounds like a good idea although some of the 12 year olds don’t seem to care for it. I’ll let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

 

[Phemie]

Also, the children I teach meet on Saturdays (English only) and the Spanish on Sunday’s. I think perhaps if they met on Sunday’s, they’d have a better chance at attending Mass. No know too that middle school children are hard to teach and they get bored easily, but hoping to plant a few seeds.

For a year I was a catechist in a fairly well-to-do “community” (we had a chaplain but no parish). We had our classes at 11 a.m. Sunday morning, immediately after Mass. While the kids were in class the parents socialized over coffee. There were still 50% of the kids who were dropped off at the door for the classes but who never made it to Mass.

 

[MissRose73]

Its also an issue at my parish as well. Many of the catechists ask the kids if they went to Mass, and many are not going for a variety of reasons like sporting events, musical recitals, etc. Hopefully the kids who are preparing for 1st Confession, 1st Eucharist, and Confirmation are being told about importance of going to Mass by their catechist and the DRE. The parents of the kids preparing for sacraments are reminded as well about getting kids to Mass. I do see about 3 or 4 of the kids going to Mass that go to the weekly CCD classes (as I am an aide) at the Saturday evening Mass I attend.

I think parents need to be reminded that CCD and Mass attendance should take precedence over most extra curricular activities with the exception of school work/homework. I’ve seen kids come up to the priest or the DRE who is the pastoral admin if they are visiting from other churches to have Mass attendance sheets signed after Mass too which is a great idea for kids going thru sacramental prep.