First CCD class of the year

[Kanda]

Tonight was our first class of the year. I am a catechist. The group I am working with this year is 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade inquirers. Basically, we have a class for these kids who are coming for the first time ever. This way they can be brought up to speed on basic things (out of 18 kids, none knew the Our Father) without holding back the kids who have been going through the classes already.

Anywho… Today was basically a meet & greet. Parents stayed in the class, kids made name tags, went over class rules, etc. I asked the kids who among them was baptized. About two thirds raised their hands. I didn’t want the unbaptized kids to feel like they weren’t part of the group, so I mentioned that it is never too late to start learning. I told them that I wasn’t baptized until Easter 2006.

After class, one of the parents came up to me. He said that his wife is Catholic, but he is not. He said that he was encouraged by what I said and asked if he could sit in on the classes and hopefully learn with his children. I am so excited! I really hope that I have a chance to talk with him and share the story of my faith journey with him.

I went tonight hoping to spark some passion in children… instead I struck a chord with an adult. I am just so thrilled and wanted to share!

 

[mommamia]

Wonderful, The Lord works through people. How great that you chose to be one of those people who listens to His voice.

 

[puzzleannie]

we occasionally have adults and teens who cannot attend RCIA or Confirmation class with their age group because of work or school schedules. Especially if they have children or younger siblings in the program, we encourage them to participate and assist with the childrens’ class to complete their own preparation. Along with the parent meetings (which are teachings on the Mass and sacraments designed for adults) and the lectionary-based teaching and discussion that is part of every class at every level, they get sometimes an even better preparation, since they are approaching things from a more basic level. They attend their retreat just before the sacraments with peers.

 

[Sr_Sally]

That’s great Kanda! Be sure to let your priest or DRE know so that the father can be offered additional adult level instruction as well.

 

[Kanda]

That’s great Kanda! Be sure to let your priest or DRE know so that the father can be offered additional adult level instruction as well.

That first night before I left I went to my DRE practically dancing! She was thrilled as well of course and will approach him soon.

God is great!

 

[puzzleannie]

forgot to say thankyou fervently for taking up this ministry, and to congratulate you.

also you have already observed the most amasing thing about this ministry, that children are great evangelizers of their parents. The greatest thing about my job is seeing whole families renewed and blessed by the Sacramental Grace of Jesus as children received sacramental initiation, parents have marriages convalidated and complete their own initiation, babies are baptized and even older teens are moved to return or begin their practice of the faith.

this is the doorway to incredible blessings, healings, and grace for families.

 

[Kanda]

forgot to say thankyou fervently for taking up this ministry, and to congratulate you.

also you have already observed the most amasing thing about this ministry, that children are great evangelizers of their parents. The greatest thing about my job is seeing whole families renewed and blessed by the Sacramental Grace of Jesus as children received sacramental initiation, parents have marriages convalidated and complete their own initiation, babies are baptized and even older teens are moved to return or begin their practice of the faith.

this is the doorway to incredible blessings, healings, and grace for families.

Thank you, puzzleannie. That is beautiful.

 

[puzzleannie]

the biggest change I have seen since I started teaching CCD about 25 yrs ago is that parents seem to be delaying the sacraments. When I started this job we had four 1st grade classes, and four 2nd grade classes (1st comm was still in 2nd grade at that time), and one class of older children preparing for communion.

This year I have three 1st grade classes, four 2nd grade classes (1st year communion prep), two 3rd grades (communion this year), one class each of 4th, 5th, 6th & teens who will make communion this year. we also have 14 teens grade 8 and up who are not baptized.

We baptize 15-20 older children at Easter every year. These are not, except in rare instances, children in families where everyone is becoming Catholic, these are children of culturally Catholic families who identify themselves as Catholic, but simply delayed baptism until school age. I am at a loss to explain this. don’t know if it is location, culture, or a wider problem.

I would also say fewer than half the children in CCD are in intact 2-parent families, in a household with their own birth parents. I would also say fewer than half the parents who identify as Catholic are validly married in the Church. There is a huge potential for evangelization through the sacraments, but a deeper problem, which I don’t see the Church addressing, of cultural but not convicted Catholic families.

 

[Love_the_Lorax]

Tonight was our first class of the year. I am a catechist. The group I am working with this year is 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade inquirers. Basically, we have a class for these kids who are coming for the first time ever. This way they can be brought up to speed on basic things (out of 18 kids, none knew the Our Father) without holding back the kids who have been going through the classes already.

Anywho… Today was basically a meet & greet. Parents stayed in the class, kids made name tags, went over class rules, etc. I asked the kids who among them was baptized. About two thirds raised their hands. I didn’t want the unbaptized kids to feel like they weren’t part of the group, so I mentioned that it is never too late to start learning. I told them that I wasn’t baptized until Easter 2006.

After class, one of the parents came up to me. He said that his wife is Catholic, but he is not. He said that he was encouraged by what I said and asked if he could sit in on the classes and hopefully learn with his children. I am so excited! I really hope that I have a chance to talk with him and share the story of my faith journey with him.

I went tonight hoping to spark some passion in children… instead I struck a chord with an adult. I am just so thrilled and wanted to share!

Awesome!! You know, last year I assisted in a class for 3rd graders in their second year of sacramental prep classes. I was in RCIA at the same time, but I learned so much listening to a kids class! Things that weren’t ever discussed in RCIA, so it really helped me.

I’m now a newly confirmed Catholic, and have told the kids that when they talk about being nervous about first confessions - I can really relate since I just did mine this month!

Good luck this year! I’m also helping in the same class this year, and look forward to having a great year.