Faith Formation for Children

[caugustine]

I have two girls, ages 6 and 3 who I just baptized in the Catholic Church last week. I am also divorced with the mother being Baptist. Having the children only every other week, what is the best way to handle their Catholic faith formation?

Thanks

 

[puzzleannie]

good job being the best father you can to your children under these difficult circumstances. If they are already baptized Catholic you job is easier. Bring them, or call first, to the RE director of your parish and see what she advises. We have several children who spend alternate weekends in other parishes, and make arrangements for them to attend RE in both parishes when the parents are able to cooperate. If one of the parents has no intention of bringing them to RE, you can still work something out, bring them on the weekends you have them, and of course make sure you take them to Mass, and review what they are learning in RE with them at home. Classes can be made up by home schooling, here we have a summer program for that purpose, or any of a number of creative ways. For the time being, until they are school age, if your parish has a preschool or other children’s program on Sunday before or after Mass that is also a great help. Your RE or diocesan library may also have good children’s videos you can borrow to watch at home with them.

 

[SteveG]

The first thing you should do is read this book…

Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce

…in order to see what you and your children have been signed up for due to the divorce. It will not be easy for you to read, but if you want to have the best chance of them being receptive to faith, you need to understand what is and will be going on inside them. If you ex-wife is open too it, you should try to get her to read it as well.

The lie that children are resilient and adjust to these things well needs to be done away with and the reality of what this means and does to children has to be faced head on.

This is not meant as a condemnation in the least, just a suggestion that if the best is to be made of the situation, the kids perspective (which usually is under appreciated) needs to be understood, and this is the book that best does that. There is even a chapter in the book on spirituality and the unique struggles children of divorce have in that regard.

God Bless